USGS - science for a changing world

Mineral Resources On-Line Spatial Data

Mineral Resources > Online Spatial Data > Geology > by state > New Hampshire Geology

Geologic units in New Hampshire (state in United States)

[Additional scientific data in this geographic area]

Gile Mountain Formation, undivided (Lower Devonian) at surface, covers 0.4 % of this area
Gile Mountain Formation, undivided - Gray to tan metawacke and schist or phyllite; gradational into Meetinghouse Slate Member but more thickly bedded and less pelitic than the member. Includes minor metavolcanic lentils.
Lithology: schist; metasedimentary rock; phyllite; slate; metavolcanic rock
Augite monzodiorite (Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Augite monzodiorite.
Lithology: monzodiorite
Devonian - Silurian Rindgemere Formation upper member (Devonian - Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Devonian - Silurian Rindgemere Formation upper member
Lithology: mudstone; sandstone
Ordovician gabbro/diorite/ultramafic rocks (Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ordovician gabbro/diorite/ultramafic rocks
Lithology: gabbro; diorite; ultramafic intrusive rock
Fine-grained granite (Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Fine-grained granite - Commonly contains alkalic amphibole and mesoperthite.
Lithology: granite
Upper part of Rangeley Formation (Lower Silurian (Llandoverian)) at surface, covers 6 % of this area
Upper part of Rangeley Formation - Rusty-weathering, pelitic schist, metasandstone, and local coarse-grained metasandstone lentils; calc-silicate pods common; minor coticule. Probably equivalent to member C of Rangeley Formation of Maine.
Lithology: pelitic schist; metasedimentary rock; calc-silicate rock
Merrimack Group, Eliot Formation, Calef Member (Ordovician? - Silurian?) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Merrimack Group, Eliot Formation, Calef Member - Black phyllite at western contact of the Eliot Formation.
Lithology: phyllite
Granite, granodiorite, and trondhjemite (Late Ordovician) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area
Granite, granodiorite, and trondhjemite.
Lithology: granite; granodiorite; trondhjemite
Gabbro and diabase (Middle Ordovician) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area
Gabbro and diabase - Foliated to nonfoliated and coarse- to fine-grained; includes mafic dikes tentatively correlated with Chickwolnepy intrusions.
Lithology: gabbro; diabase
Rangeley Formation, Felsic metavolcanic rocks (Lower Silurian (Llandoverian)) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Rangeley Formation, Felsic metavolcanic rocks - Found in south-central New Hampshire.
Lithology: felsic metavolcanic rock
Ammonoosuc Volcanics (Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ammonoosuc Volcanics - Fine-grained chloritic and biotitic gneiss and greenstone in areas north of Bellows Falls; biotite gneiss and amphibolite south of Bellows Falls. (Southeastern Vermont).
Lithology: biotite gneiss; greenstone; amphibolite
Exeter Diorite (Early Devonian) at surface, covers 0.6 % of this area
Exeter Diorite - Includes associated intrusive rocks of southeastern New Hampshire; pyroxene and pyroxene-hornblende diorite and gabbro, along with minor granodiorite and granite.
Lithology: diorite; gabbro; granodiorite; granite
Hornblende granodiorite (Late Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Hornblende granodiorite.
Lithology: granodiorite
Merrimack Group, Berwick Formation, Unnamed member (Ordovician? - Silurian?) at surface, covers 1 % of this area
Merrimack Group, Berwick Formation, Unnamed member - Contains more calc-silicate (15 percent) than does the remainder of the formation (5 percent).
Lithology: granofels; quartz-feldspar schist; meta-argillite
Ammonoosuc Volcanics, Bimodal volcanic rocks (Middle - Upper Ordovician) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Ammonoosuc Volcanics, Bimodal volcanic rocks.
Lithology: bimodal suite
Concord Granite (Late Devonian ) at surface, covers 5 % of this area
Concord Granite - Gray two-mica granite, locally grading to tonalite.
Lithology: granite; tonalite
Hornblende granodiorite of Highlandcroft pluton (Late Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Hornblende granodiorite of Highlandcroft pluton - Contains minor tonalite and diorite.
Lithology: granodiorite; tonalite; diorite
Mesoperthitic biotite granite (Early Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.7 % of this area
Mesoperthitic biotite granite - Pink Conway-type granite of Kingsley (1931).
Lithology: granite
Littleton Formation, Lower unnamed member (Lower Devonian) at surface, covers 1 % of this area
Littleton Formation, Lower unnamed member - Thinly or poorly bedded aluminous lower part, somewhat rusty. Rare quartzite lentils. Carrabassett Formation in northwestern Maine is probably correlative.
Lithology: metasedimentary rock; metavolcanic rock; quartzite
Dead River Formation, Graded-bedded metapelite (Upper Cambrian? - Lower Ordovician?) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Dead River Formation, Graded-bedded metapelite - Found in Percy quadrangle of northern New Hampshire.
Lithology: meta-argillite
Silurian - Precambrian Z Kittery Formation (Silurian - Precambrian Z) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Silurian - Precambrian Z Kittery Formation
Lithology: metasedimentary rock; phyllite
Porphyritic (alkalic feldspar) biotite granite (Late Ordovician) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Porphyritic (alkalic feldspar) biotite granite.
Lithology: granite
Granite porphyry (Early Jurassic) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area
Granite porphyry - Granite containing phenocrysts of smoky quartz and microperthite; alkalic amphibole, hornblende, and hedenbergite or fayalite may be present. "Mount Lafayette" type granite porphyry of Billings (1955).
Lithology: granite
Littleton Formation (Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Littleton Formation - Gray slate and phyllite containing interbeds of gray schistose quartzite 1/4 inch to 6 inches thick. West of Guildhall are lustrous, light to dark gray biotite-garnet phyllite and schist, some slate, and subordinate quartzite and impure quartzite. South of Bellows Falls gray phyllite passes eastward into gray mica schist containing porphyroblasts of biotite, garnet, and staurolite.
Lithology: slate; phyllite; quartzite; schist; mica schist
Madrid Formation (Upper Silurian? ) at surface, covers 0.6 % of this area
Madrid Formation - Massive to weakly foliated, purple biotite-feldspar granofels, layered calc-silicate, and dark pelitic-sulfidic schist containing calc-silicate pods in upper member; an eastern facies equivalent to the upper part of the Fitch Formation. Locally mapped as the Warner Formation of Nielson (1981) in southern New Hampshire.
Lithology: granofels; calc-silicate schist; pelitic schist
Merrimack Group, Berwick Formation, Gove Member (Ordovician? - Silurian?) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area
Merrimack Group, Berwick Formation, Gove Member - White muscovite schist. Equivalent to the Gonic Formation of Hussey (1962).
Lithology: mica schist
Merrimack Group, Berwick Formation (Ordovician? - Silurian?) at surface, covers 3 % of this area
Merrimack Group, Berwick Formation - Purple biotite-quartz-feldspar granofels or schist and interbeds of calc-silicate granofels and minor metapelites. Stratigraphic sequence with respect to Eliot Formation uncertain
Lithology: granofels; quartz-feldspar schist; meta-argillite
Ammonoosuc Volcanics, Volcaniclastic metagraywackes (Middle - Upper Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ammonoosuc Volcanics, Volcaniclastic metagraywackes.
Lithology: metasedimentary rock
Littleton Formation, Volcanic lentils (Lower Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Littleton Formation, Volcanic lentils - Both mafic and felsic
Lithology: mafic metavolcanic rock; felsic metavolcanic rock
Mount Osceola Granite, Granite containing hornblende and, locally, hastingsite, ferrohedenbergite, or fayalite (Early - Middle Jurassic) at surface, covers 1 % of this area
Mount Osceola Granite, Granite containing hornblende and, locally, hastingsite, ferrohedenbergite, or fayalite.
Lithology: granite
Perry Mountain Formation, undivided (Lower? - Middle? Silurian) at surface, covers 3 % of this area
Perry Mountain Formation, undivided - Sharply interbedded quartzites, light-gray nongraphitic metapelite, and "fast-graded" meta-turbidites. Coticule layers common.
Lithology: quartzite; meta-argillite; metasedimentary rock
Kinsman Granodiorite (Early Devonian ) at surface, covers 9 % of this area
Kinsman Granodiorite - (Kinsman Quartz Monzonite of Billings, 1955) - Foliated granite, granodiorite, tonalite, and minor quartz diorite; large megacrysts of potassium feldspar characteristic; garnet locally abundant.
Lithology: granite; granodiorite; tonalite; quartz diorite
Newburyport Complex (early Late Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Newburyport Complex - Gray, medium-grained tonalite and granodiorite.
Lithology: tonalite; granodiorite
Lower part of Rangeley Formation (Lower Silurian (Llandoverian)) at surface, covers 5 % of this area
Lower part of Rangeley Formation - Gray, thinly laminated (5-25 mm) metapelite with local lentils of turbidites and thin quartz conglomerates in western New Hampshire. Sparse calc-silicate pods and coticule. Probably equivalent to member B of Rangeley Formation of Maine.
Lithology: meta-argillite; meta-conglomerate; calc-silicate rock
Conway Granite (Middle - Late? Jurassic) at surface, covers 4 % of this area
Conway Granite - Typically pink, coarse-grained mesoperthitic biotite (amphibole-free) granite; locally fine-grained or porphyritic.
Lithology: granite
Ordovician - Cambrian unnamed volcanic rocks (Ordovician - Cambrian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ordovician - Cambrian unnamed volcanic rocks
Lithology: mafic volcanic rock; felsic volcanic rock
Rye Complex, Breakfast Hill Granite of Novotny (1964). (Ordovician? - Late Proterozoic? ) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area
Breakfast Hill Granite of Novotny (1964) - Blastomylonitic quartz-feldspar granitic gneiss and pegmatite intruded the Rye Complex and formed a migmatite.
Lithology: granitic gneiss; pegmatite; migmatite
Ammonoosuc Volcanics, White quartz-kyanite rock and silicate iron-formation (Middle - Upper Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ammonoosuc Volcanics, White quartz-kyanite rock and silicate iron-formation.
Lithology: schist; iron formation
Biotite granite (Middle Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Biotite granite - Contains minor muscovite. Makes up Cambridge Black pluton.
Lithology: granite
Ironbound Mountain Formation, Metarhyolite and microgranite intrusions (Lower Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ironbound Mountain Formation, Metarhyolite and microgranite intrusions.
Lithology: meta-rhyolite; granite
Winnipesaukee Tonalite (Early Devonian) at surface, covers 3 % of this area
Winnipesaukee Tonalite (Winnipesaukee Quartz Diorite of Billings, 1955) - Gray, massive to foliated tonalite and minor quartz diorite, granodiorite, and granite. Probably coeval with Spaulding Tonalite.
Lithology: tonalite; quartz diorite; granodiorite; granite
Quartz syenite (Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Quartz syenite - Commonly porphyritic and mesoperthitic; contains biotite and, locally, fayalite, hastingsite, hornblende, or ferrohedenbergite.
Lithology: quartz syenite
Two-mica granite of the Sebago batholith and Effingham pluton of eastern New Hampshire (Mississippian - Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 2 % of this area
Two-mica granite of the Sebago batholith and Effingham pluton of eastern New Hampshire.
Lithology: granite
Hornblende gabbro (Late Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Hornblende gabbro.
Lithology: gabbro
Undifferentiated Granitic Rocks (Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Undifferentiated granitic rocks.
Lithology: granite
Fitch Formation (Upper Silurian; Pridolian and Ludlovian) (Upper Silurian - (Pridolian and Ludlovian)) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Fitch Formation - Metamorphosed limestone, calcareous sandstone, siltstone, and dark pelitic schist; lower contact is disconformable on the Clough Quartzite. Fossiliferous.
Lithology: marble; quartzite; phyllite; pelitic schist
Littleton Formation, Metaconglomerate and quartzite (Lower Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Littleton Formation, Metaconglomerate and quartzite - Locally fossiliferous in Whitefield quadrangle.
Lithology: meta-conglomerate; quartzite
Two-mica granite (Devonian - Mississippian) at surface, covers 0.9 % of this area
Two-mica granite - Found in northern New Hampshire.
Lithology: granite
Frontenac Formation, Proximal bimodal volcanic facies (Silurian?) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area
Frontenac Formation, Proximal bimodal volcanic facies.
Lithology: metavolcanic rock
Ironbound Mountain Formation, Euxinic metashale member (Lower Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ironbound Mountain Formation, Euxinic metashale member.
Lithology: metasedimentary rock
Oakdale Formation (Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Oakdale Formation - Metamorphosed thin-bedded, pelitic and calcareous siltstone and muscovite schist, probably low-grade equivalent of Paxton Formation. The Oakdale Formation is here revised to include strata previously mapped in CT and adjacent MA as the Hebron Formation and the Scotland Schist. The Scotland Member (Pease, 1980) is renamed the Scotland Schist Member of the Oakdale. The Oakdale is a homogeneous, calcareous metasiltstone at the base of a thick stratigraphic sequence in a geosyncline terrane and extends from NH to the Honey Hill fault in eastern CT. In central eastern CT it underlies the Hebron Formation; in northeast CT and adjacent MA it underlies conformably the Dudley Formation of the Paxton Group; in central MA it underlies the Paxton Group undivided. The lower part of the Oakdale is cut out along the Clinton-Newbury fault zone. Thickness in type area is about 1500 m. Correlative with the Gove Member of the Berwick Formation in NH and the Gonic Formation in ME. Age is Late Proterozoic(?) based on intrusion of 440 Ma Hedgehog Hill gneiss in the upper part of the Brimfield Group at the top of the stratigraphic sequence, and an age of 1188 Ma for detrital zircons from the Paxton in north-central MA (Pease, 1989).
Lithology: metasedimentary rock; mica schist
Ayer Granodiorite (Early Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ayer Granodiorite - Gneissic granite to tonalite, locally coarsely porphyritic and muscovitic, southeastern New Hampshire.
Lithology: granodiorite; granite; tonalite
Newburyport Complex (Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Newburyport Complex - Gray, medium-grained porphyritic granite with microcline phenocrysts; intrudes SOk. Newburyport Complex was divided into two facies, tonalitic granodiorite and granite, by Shride (1971). Tonalitic facies was originally termed Newburyport Quartz Diorite and included dioritic rocks north of Clinton-Newbury fault zone that are now called Sharpners Pond Diorite in Nashoba zone, and Topsfield Granodiorite in Milford-Dedham zone. These correlations are no longer tenable due to differences in age and composition. Therefore, Newburyport Complex is restricted to the two facies present in Newburyport area. Rocks formerly mapped as Newburyport Quartz Diorite and Salem Gabbro-Diorite, except for gabbros at Salem Neck, MA, are included in undifferentiated diorite and gabbro unit (Zdigb) on MA State Geologic Map (Zen and others, 1983), largely because they could not be mapped separately at 1:250,000 scale. Unit Zdigb also includes mafic dikes and sills that are probably younger or contemporaneous. Most of the dioritic rocks northeast of Boston previously assigned to Newburyport Quartz Diorite are now assigned to an undifferentiated diorite unit (Zdi) on MA State Geologic Map. Newburyport Complex forms a large mass near Newburyport and a small one to its west, both truncated by Clinton-Newbury fault. Tonalite and granodiorite facies occupies core of Newburyport Complex at Newburyport and is intruded to the north by granite facies; described as medium to dark gray in fresh rock, weathering to both green and red, fine to medium grained, and highly variable in mineralogy. A U-Pb zircon age of 455 +/-15 Ma was determined by Zartman and Naylor (1984) for the tonalite. Granite facies intrudes both the Kittery Formation and the tonalite and granodiorite facies and covers an area of about 45 sq km. Described as light gray to dark gray, buff weathering, and porphyritic. No radiometric ages available for granite facies, but it is conceivable that the two facies are different in age. [Papers presented as chapters in U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1366 are intended as explanations and (or) revisions to MA State bedrock geologic map of Zen and others (1983) at scale of 1:250,000.] (Wones and Goldsmith, 1991).
Lithology: granite
Rhyolite and fine-grained granite (Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Rhyolite and fine-grained granite - Includes some ignimbritic caldera-fill and minor intrusive rocks (part of Ossipee Mountain Complex of Kingsley, 1931); also some aphanitic gray, black, or tan quartz-feldspar porphyry.
Lithology: rhyolite; granite; ignimbrite; porphyry
Smalls Falls Formation, Felsic metavolcanic member (Upper to Middle Silurian (Ludlovian and Wenlockian)) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Smalls Falls Formation, Felsic metavolcanic member.
Lithology: felsic metavolcanic rock
Dead River Formation, undivided (Upper Cambrian? - Lower Ordovician?) at surface, covers 2 % of this area
Dead River Formation, undivided - Thinly laminated, "pin-striped" gray, green, or tan metapelite and quartzite.
Lithology: meta-argillite; quartzite
Silurian - Ordovician Frontenac Formation (Silurian - Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Silurian - Ordovician Frontenac Formation
Lithology: graywacke; slate
Silurian granite (Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Silurian granite
Lithology: granite
Porphyritic syenite (Jurassic) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area
Porphyritic syenite - Hastingsite or hornblende and (or) hedenbergite are present.
Lithology: syenite
Rangeley Formation, Ribbon-banded calc-silicate of eastern New Hampshire (Lower Silurian (Llandoverian)) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Rangeley Formation, Ribbon-banded calc-silicate of eastern New Hampshire - Probably equivalent to Patch Mountain Member of the Sangerville Formation (Llandoverian and Wenlockian) of central Maine.
Lithology: calc-silicate rock
Augite-hornblende-biotite gabbro (Cretaceous) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Augite-hornblende-biotite gabbro - Fine- to coarse-grained.
Lithology: gabbro
Perry Mountain Formation, Volcanic facies in Piermont allochthon (Lower? - Middle? Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Perry Mountain Formation, Volcanic facies in Piermont allochthon.
Lithology: felsic volcanic rock; mafic volcanic rock
Ammonoosuc Volcanics, Metasedimentary rocks (Middle - Upper Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ammonoosuc Volcanics, Metasedimentary rocks.
Lithology: metasedimentary rock
Porphyritic biotite granodiorite (Early - Late Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Porphyritic biotite granodiorite - Found in Mt. Cube quadrangle.
Lithology: granodiorite
Devonian - Silurian Towow Formation (Devonian - Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Devonian - Silurian Towow Formation
Lithology: mudstone
Hurricane Mountain Formation (Upper Cambrian?) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Hurricane Mountain Formation - Rusty-weathered, dark siliceous scaly slate or schist of flaser structure, polymictic fragments from a few mm to (in Maine) several hundred meters. A melange consisting of metasedimentary, felsic/mafic metavolcanics, and ultramafic rocks..
Lithology: slate; schist; metasedimentary rock; metavolcanic rock; ultramafic intrusive rock
Pink equigranular biotite granite (Late Devonian) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area
Pink equigranular biotite granite - Found in Woodsville and Whitefield quadrangles and in small intrusive units in northern and southeastern New Hampshire.
Lithology: granite
Trondhjemite and abundant pegmatite (Devonian - Mississippian) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area
Trondhjemite and abundant pegmatite - Gray and fine-grained; possibly belonging to the Sebago batholith.
Lithology: trondhjemite; pegmatite
Smalls Falls Formation, Metaconglomerate member (Upper to Middle Silurian (Ludlovian and Wenlockian)) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Smalls Falls Formation, Metaconglomerate member - Found in Errol quadrangle in northern New Hampshire.
Lithology: meta-conglomerate
Granite, granodiorite, and tonalite (Late Ordovician) at surface, covers 1 % of this area
Granite, granodiorite, and tonalite.
Lithology: granite; granodiorite; tonalite
Gile Mountain Formation (Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Gile Mountain Formation - Gray quartz-muscovite phyllite or schist, interbedded and intergradational with gray micaceous quartzite (graywacke northeast of Nulhegan River), calcareous mica schist, and, locally, quartzose and micaceous crystalline limestone like that of the Waits River formation. The phyllite and schist commonly contain porphyroblasts of biotite, garnet, or staurolite, and locally kyanite, andalusite, or sillimanite. Used as Early Devonian Gile Mountain Formation. Generally consists of gray to tan metawacke and schist or phyllite, gradational into its Meetinghouse Slate Member, but much more thickly bedded and less pelitic. Contains minor metavolcanic lentils. Unnamed metavolcanic member is possibly equivalent to Putney Volcanics of southeastern VT. Separately mapped interbedded gray slate or phyllite and brown-weathering calcite-ankerite metasiltstone, and minor marble and quartzite, resembles Waits River Formation of VT. Meetinghouse Slate Member consists of gray to black phyllite and silty metasandstone turbidite. Report includes geologic map, cross sections, correlation chart, and four 1:500,000-scale derivative maps (Lyons and others, 1997).
Lithology: phyllite; mica schist; quartzite; limestone; graywacke
Orfordville Formation (Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Orfordville Formation - Carbonaceous phyllite; minor quartzite.
Lithology: phyllite; quartzite
Madrid and Smalls Falls Formations, undivided (Silurian) at surface, covers 0.4 % of this area
Madrid and Smalls Falls Formations, undivided.
Lithology: granofels; schist; calc-silicate schist; pelitic schist
Hornblende-biotite quartz monzodiorite (Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Hornblende-biotite quartz monzodiorite - Composition ranges from quartz monzonite to diorite.
Lithology: quartz monzodiorite; quartz monzonite; diorite
Spaulding Tonalite (Early Devonian) at surface, covers 3 % of this area
Spaulding Tonalite (Spaulding Quartz Diorite of Fowler-Billings, 1949) - Weakly foliated to nonfoliated, spotted biotite quartz diorite, tonalite, granodiorite, and granite; garnet and muscovite may or may not be present.
Lithology: quartz diorite; tonalite; granodiorite; granite
Porphyritic hornblende diorite (Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Porphyritic hornblende diorite - Found in northwestern New Hampshire.
Lithology: diorite
Littleton Formation, Metabasaltic greenstone or amphibolite (Lower Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Littleton Formation, Metabasaltic greenstone or amphibolite.
Lithology: greenstone; amphibolite
Mesoperthitic granite (Jurassic) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Mesoperthitic granite - Contains riebeckite and (or) hastingsite.
Lithology: granite
Perry Mountain Formation, Sedimentary and subordinate distal felsic and mafic volcanic facies in Piermont allochthon (Lower?- Middle? Silurian) at surface, covers 2 % of this area
Perry Mountain Formation, Sedimentary and subordinate distal felsic and mafic volcanic facies in Piermont allochthon.
Lithology: metasedimentary rock; felsic metavolcanic rock; mafic metavolcanic rock
Ammonoosuc Volcanics, Bimodal volcanic rocks (Middle - Upper Ordovician) at surface, covers 3 % of this area
Ammonoosuc Volcanics, Bimodal volcanic rocks - Locally includes unmapped Oals.
Lithology: bimodal suite
Metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks of the lower part of Ammonoosuc Volcanics, undivided (Middle Ordovician) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area
Metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks of the lower part of Ammonoosuc Volcanics, undivided.
Lithology: metavolcanic rock; metasedimentary rock
Smalls Falls Formation, Mixed metavolcanic rocks and metavolcanic sediments (Upper to Middle Silurian (Ludlovian and Wenlockian)) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Smalls Falls Formation, Mixed metavolcanic rocks and metavolcanic sediments.
Lithology: metavolcanic rock
Hypersthene-biotite quartz diorite and hornblende or actinolite diorite or gabbro (Early Devonian - Late Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Hypersthene-biotite quartz diorite and hornblende or actinolite diorite or gabbro - Spatially associated with Spaulding Tonalite plutons.
Lithology: quartz diorite; diorite; gabbro
Ironbound Mountain Formation, undivided (Lower Devonian) at surface, covers 0.6 % of this area
Ironbound Mountain Formation, undivided - Interbedded gray phyllite, in places containing feldspathic clasts, and feldspathic metasandstone, variably graded.
Lithology: phyllite; metasedimentary rock
Mount Osceola Granite, Green biotite mesoperthitic granite (Early - Middle Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Mount Osceola Granite, Green biotite mesoperthitic granite.
Lithology: granite
Frontenac Formation, undivided (Silurian?) at surface, covers 3 % of this area
Frontenac Formation, undivided - Interbedded thick feldspathic wackes, tan and green slates, and minor calcareous lenses.
Lithology: metasedimentary rock; slate
Gile Mountain Formation, Hall Stream Member (Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Gile Mountain Formation, Hall Stream Member - Highly feldspathic grit, probably volcanic; feldspathic chlorite-ankerite schist and amphibolite; all northeast of Nulhegan River.
Lithology: schist; amphibolite
Bethlehem Gneiss (Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Bethlehem Gneiss - Two-mica granodiorite gneiss. Revised as the Bethlehem Granodiorite to emphasize its average granodiorite composition. Mapped as the Haverhill, Mount Clough, Indian Pond, and Fairlee plutons. Consists of strongly metamorphosed, foliated, gray, medium-grained biotite granodiorite and local tonalite and granite. Age is Devonian based on isotopic age of 410+/-5 Ma (J.N. Aleinikoff, this report, from Fairlee pluton), which is also consistent with age of 409+/-5 Ma reported by Kohn and others (1992) from Indian Pond pluton and Bellows Falls pluton (the latter is outside of map area in southwestern NH) (Moench and others, 1995).
Lithology: granitic gneiss
Biotite granite stock and dikes (Early - Late Silurian) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area
Biotite granite stock and dikes - Northernmost New Hampshire.
Lithology: granite
Biotite tonalite (Early - Late Devonian) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Biotite tonalite - Dark-gray; found in southeastern and western New Hampshire.
Lithology: tonalite
Augite-hornblende diorite and gabbro (Cretaceous ) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Augite-hornblende diorite and gabbro - Gray to black, coarse-grained, porphyritic. Found in Mt. Pawtuckaway quadrangle.
Lithology: diorite; gabbro
Littleton Formation, undivided (Lower Devonian; Siegenian) at surface, covers 4 % of this area
Littleton Formation undivided - Gray metapelite and metawacke and subordinate metavolcanic rocks; generally, but not everywhere, conformable with underlying Fitch or Madrid Formations. Fossiliferous in western New Hampshire.
Lithology: metasedimentary rock; metavolcanic rock
Massabesic Gneiss Complex (Late Proterozoic) at surface, covers 2 % of this area
Massabesic Gneiss Complex - Migmatite consisting of pink, foliated biotite granite intruding gneissic and granulose metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks in southeastern New Hampshire.
Lithology: migmatite; granite; metasedimentary rock; metavolcanic rock
Frontenac Formation, Metabasalt interbeds (Silurian?) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area
Metabasalt interbeds.
Lithology: meta-basalt
Devonian quartz monzodiorite - quartz diorite (pyroxene plus hornblende accessory mineral) (Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Devonian quartz monzodiorite - quartz diorite (pyroxene plus hornblende accessory mineral) - Devonian pyroxene-hornblende quartz monzodiorite and quartz diorite - pyroxene-hornblende-biotite quartz monzodiorite, and pyroxene-hornblende-biotite quartz diorite
Lithology: quartz monzodiorite; quartz diorite
Silurian - Precambrian Z Eliot Formation (Silurian - Precambrian Z) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Silurian - Precambrian Z Eliot Formation
Lithology: phyllite; quartzite; schist; calc-silicate rock
Ammonoosuc Volcanics, Metabasalt (Middle - Upper Ordovician) at surface, covers 0.6 % of this area
Ammonoosuc Volcanics, Metabasalt.
Lithology: meta-basalt
Frontenac Formation, Mixed volcanic and sedimentary facies (Silurian?) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area
Frontenac Formation, Mixed volcanic and sedimentary facies.
Lithology: metavolcanic rock; metasedimentary rock
Albee Formation (Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Albee Formation - Massive, gray, white-weathered quartzite and feldspathic quartzite interbedded with greenish-gray slate, phyllite, feldspthic phyllite and quartzose argillaceous phyllite. Micaceous quartzite, quartz-mica schist, mica schist and hornfels contining porphyroblasts of biotite, garnet, staurolite and sillimanite in the vicinity of granitic plutons. Soda-rhyolite tuff occurs locally. Micaceous quartzite characterized by thin, schistose "pinstripe" partings is common in many areas.
Lithology: quartzite; slate; phyllite; mica schist; hornfels; tuff
Granodiorite to tonalite (Late Ordovician) at surface, covers 0.8 % of this area
Granodiorite to tonalite.
Lithology: granodiorite; tonalite
Hornblende (or alkalic amphibole) syenite (Jurassic) at surface, covers 0.4 % of this area
Hornblende (or alkalic amphibole) syenite.
Lithology: syenite
Nepheline-sodalite-hastingsite syenite (Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Nepheline-sodalite-hastingsite syenite - Found at Red Hill in Mt. Chocorua quadrangle (see index accompanying "Sources of Map Data").
Lithology: syenite
Smalls Falls Formation, undivided (Upper to Middle Silurian (Ludlovian and Wenlockian)) at surface, covers 2 % of this area
Smalls Falls Formation, undivided -Very rusty weathering, thinly bedded sulfidic-graphitic schist and pyrrhotitic calc-silicate granofels. Eastern facies equivalent to lower part of the Fitch Formation. Locally mapped as Francestown Formation of Nielson (1981) in southern New Hampshire.
Lithology: schist; granofels
Rangeley Formation, Pink to green calc-silicate and purple biotite granofels (Lower Silurian (Llandoverian)) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Rangeley Formation, Pink to green calc-silicate and purple biotite granofels - Thinly bedded. Close to transition from lower to upper parts of the Rangeley Formation. Probably equivalent to part of Paxton Formation of Zen and others (1983) in Massachusetts.
Lithology: calc-silicate rock; granofels
Medium-grained mesoperthitic granite containing riebeckite and (or) hastingsite (Cretaceous) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Medium-grained mesoperthitic granite containing riebeckite and (or) hastingsite.
Lithology: granite
Metamorphosed gabbro, diorite, and intrusive basalt dikes (Devonian? - Silurian?) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Metamorphosed gabbro, diorite, and intrusive basalt dikes - Chiefly in northern New Hampshire.
Lithology: metavolcanic rock
Ammonoosuc Volcanics, Metasedimentary rocks (Middle - Upper Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ammonoosuc Volcanics, Metasedimentary rocks - Contains mafic metavolcanic lenses.
Lithology: metasedimentary rock; mafic metavolcanic rock
Rangeley Formation, undivided (Lower Silurian (Llandoverian)) at surface, covers 2 % of this area
Rangeley Formation, undivided.
Lithology: metasedimentary rock; calc-silicate rock; meta-argillite; quartzite; pelitic schist; granofels; felsic metavolcanic rock
Hornblende or alkalic amphibole quartz syenite (Jurassic) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Hornblende or alkalic amphibole quartz syenite.
Lithology: quartz syenite
Leucocratic granite to quartz syenite (Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Leucocratic granite to quartz syenite.
Lithology: granite; quartz syenite
Berwick Formation (Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Berwick Formation - Thin- to thick-bedded metamorphosed calcareous sandstone, siltstone, and minor muscovite schist. In New Hampshire: Used as Berwick Formation of Merrimack Group. Consists of purple biotite-feldspar granofels or schist. Contains interbeds of calcsilicate granofels and minor metapelites. Includes Gove Member, mapped separately. Stratigraphic sequence with respect to Eliot Formation is uncertain. Age of all formations in Merrimack Group changed to Ordovician(?) to Silurian(?) based on isotopic age determinations of approx 440 and 420 Ma from detrital zircons from Berwick by J.N. Aleinikoff (oral commun., 1994) (Lyons and others, 1997).
Lithology: metasedimentary rock; mica schist
Partridge Formation, Interstratified metavolcanic rocks (Middle - Upper Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Partridge Formation, Interstratified metavolcanic rocks - Chiefly amphibolites, found in southwestern New Hampshire.
Lithology: amphibolite; metavolcanic rock
Hornblende-biotite granite (Late Ordovician) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area
Hornblende-biotite granite.
Lithology: granite
Chelmsford Granite (Lower Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Chelmsford Granite - Light-gray, even and medium-grained, muscovite-bearing granite; locally foliated; intrudes Sb.
Lithology: granite
Ordovician unnamed volcanic and sedimentary rocks (Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ordovician unnamed volcanic and sedimentary rocks
Lithology: mafic volcanic rock; felsic volcanic rock; sedimentary rock
Biotite Quartz Diorite Gneiss (Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Biotite quartz diorite gneiss.
Lithology: granitic gneiss
Biotite granite (Late Ordovician) at surface, covers 2 % of this area
Biotite granite - Pink, moderately to weakly foliated.
Lithology: granite
Migmatitic rocks (Devonian - Silurian) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area
Migmatitic rocks - Formations unidentifiable owing to obliteration of original sedimentary or volcanic characteristics by anatexis or by numerous intrusions.
Lithology: migmatite
Rye Complex (Ordovician? - Late Proterozoic?) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area
Rye Complex - Migmatite of gray, foliated, sheared or mylonitized two-mica granite and pegmatite, minor hornblende-biotite diorite, intruding metapelites and metavolcanic rocks in southeastern New Hampshire.
Lithology: migmatite; granite; pegmatite; diorite; meta-argillite; metavolcanic rock
Gray biotite granite (Permian) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area
Gray biotite granite - Contains minor muscovite. Found in Milford quadrangle.
Lithology: granite
Hastingsite granite (Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Hastingsite granite - Leucocratic, pink or light-brown, and mesoperthitic.
Lithology: granite
Two-mica granite of northern and southeastern New Hampshire (Early - Late Devonian) at surface, covers 1.0 % of this area
Two-mica granite of northern and southeastern New Hampshire - Similar to Concord Granite.
Lithology: granite
Diorite and tonalite (Devonian and Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Diorite and tonalite - Includes Dracut Diorite, tonalite near the Ayer Granite, and equivalents of the Exeter Diorite of New Hampshire; intrudes Sb.
Lithology: diorite; tonalite
Member C (uppermost) of the Rangeley Formation in Maine and northeastern and southwestern New Hampshire (Lower Silurian (Llandoverian)) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area
Member C (uppermost) of the Rangeley Formation in Maine and northeastern and southwestern New Hampshire - Quartz-pebble conglomerate overlain by rusty metapelite and feldspathic quartzite.
Lithology: conglomerate; meta-argillite; quartzite
Hornblende-biotite tonalite (Middle Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Hornblende-biotite tonalite.
Lithology: tonalite
Gabbro (Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Gabbro - Has varying amounts of olivine, augite, and hornblende.
Lithology: gabbro
Biotite granodiorite (Late Ordovician) at surface, covers 0.4 % of this area
Biotite granodiorite.
Lithology: granodiorite
Ammonoosuc Volcanics, Felsic metavolcanic rocks (Middle - Upper Ordovician) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Ammonoosuc Volcanics, Felsic metavolcanic rocks.
Lithology: felsic metavolcanic rock
Two-mica tonalite (Early - Late Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Two-mica tonalite - Similar to Concord Granite; found in south-central New Hampshire.
Lithology: tonalite
Hornblende granite to granodiorite (Late Ordovician) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area
Hornblende granite to granodiorite - Part of Lost Nation pluton of northwestern New Hampshire.
Lithology: granite; granodiorite
Perry Mountain and Rangeley Formations, undivided (Silurian) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area
Perry Mountain and Rangeley Formations, undivided.
Lithology: quartzite; calc-silicate rock; felsic metavolcanic rock; meta-argillite; granofels; metasedimentary rock; conglomerate; pelitic schist
Jurassic granite (Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Jurassic granite - Jurassic biotite granite undivided
Lithology: granite
Ordovician - Cambrian Aziscohos Formation (Ordovician - Cambrian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ordovician - Cambrian Aziscohos Formation
Lithology: shale; quartzite; siltstone
Silurian - Precambrian Z Berwick Formation (Silurian - Precambrian Z) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Silurian - Precambrian Z Berwick Formation
Lithology: gneiss; quartzite; schist; slate
Jim Pond Formation (Upper Cambrian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Jim Pond Formation - Pillow metabasalt member. Lenses within the Hurricane Mountain Formation of northern New Hampshire interpreted as tectonic rafts of Jim Pond Formation.
Lithology: meta-basalt
Quimby Formation (Upper Ordovician?) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Quimby Formation - Black graphitic-sulfidic rusty-weathering schist and thickly bedded metagraywacke.
Lithology: schist; metasedimentary rock
Littleton Formation, Upper unnamed member (Lower Devonian) at surface, covers 1 % of this area
Littleton Formation, Upper unnamed member - Light-gray metaturbidite, lithologically identical to, and probably correlative with, the Seboomook Formation of Maine. Coticule layers common.
Lithology: metasedimentary rock
Bethlehem Granodiorite (Early Devonian) at surface, covers 4 % of this area
Bethlehem Granodiorite (Bethlehem Gneiss of Billings, 1955) - Gray, strongly foliated biotite-muscovite granodiorite and associated tonalite and granite.
Lithology: granodiorite; tonalite; granite
Merrimack Group, Eliot Formation (Ordovician? - Silurian?) at surface, covers 2 % of this area
Merrimack Group, Eliot Formation - Gray to green phyllite, calcareous quartzite, quartz-mica schist, and well-bedded calc-silicate.
Lithology: phyllite; quartzite; mica schist; calc-silicate rock
Devonian - Silurian undifferentiated sedimentary rocks in areas of extreme migmatization (Devonian - Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Devonian - Silurian undifferentiated sedimentary rocks in areas of extreme migmatization
Lithology: migmatite
Porphyritic biotite granite (Cretaceous) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Porphyritic biotite granite - Pink to gray; hastingsite or riebeckite in some varieties.
Lithology: granite
Devonian granite (Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Devonian granite
Lithology: granite
Moat Volcanics (Middle Jurassic?) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Moat Volcanics - Bedded and ignimbritic tuffs, flows, and breccias; also porphyritic rhyolite and minor trachyte.
Lithology: ignimbrite; ash-flow tuff; volcanic breccia (agglomerate); rhyolite; trachyte
Hornblende diorite (Cretaceous ) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Hornblende diorite - Coarse-grained to porphyritic.
Lithology: diorite
Ayer Granite (Lower Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ayer Granite - Granite to tonalite, partly porphyritic; locally gneissic, locally muscovitic; may include rocks older than Silurian; intrudes Sb and So. Ayer Granite is divided into the Clinton facies and the Devens-Long Pond facies (Gore, 1976). In addition, there are some masses not assigned to either facies that intrude Berwick Formation west and northwest of Lawrence, and that intrude Paxton and Oakdale Formations south of Worcester and west of probable southern continuation of Wekepeke fault. Radiometric ages obtained for facies of Ayer pose problems in assigning ages to unfossiliferous sedimentary rocks they intrude. Clinton facies has a well-defined U-Pb zircon age of 433 +/-5 Ma (Zartman and Naylor, 1984) that authors cite as Early Silurian; Devens-Long Pond facies has a similar age. This age greatly compresses the time available for deposition, burial, deformation, and metamorphism of Berwick and Paxton if these units are truly Silurian. Some of the Ayer not assigned to a facies may have been more properly correlated with Early Devonian Chelmsford Granite and muscovite-biotite granite at Millstone Hill. Bodies south of Worcester may be more properly correlated with Canterbury Gneiss of CT, which lies on strike with Ayer and has Early Devonian age of 329 +/-9 Ma (Zartman and Naylor, 1984). Zartman and Naylor (1984) believe Ayer Granite has same age range as Newburyport Complex. It is quite possible, based on textural and mineralogical differences that the two facies should be separate units, representing different magmatic events (Wones and Goldsmith, 1991).
Lithology: granite; tonalite
Devonian granite (muscovite accessory mineral) (Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Devonian granite (muscovite accessory mineral); muscovite-biotite granite
Lithology: granite
Littleton Formation, Calc-silicate rock (Lower Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Littleton Formation, Calc-silicate rock - Possibly equivalent in part to Hildreths Formation of Maine but not restricted to one horizon. Locally fossiliferous, as in Moosilauke quadrangle.
Lithology: calc-silicate rock
Partridge Formation, undivided (Middle - Upper Ordovician) at surface, covers 2 % of this area
Partridge Formation, undivided - Black, rusty-weathering sulfidic-graphitic slate or schist and sparse to abundant metagraywacke. Lies stratigraphically between upper and lower parts of the Ammonoosuc Volcanics.
Lithology: slate; schist; metasedimentary rock
Ordovician - Cambrian Dead River formation (Ordovician - Cambrian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ordovician - Cambrian Dead River formation
Lithology: slate; quartzite; phyllite
Syenite (Permian-Triassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Syenite - Hornblende, biotite, quartz and augite syenites.
Lithology: syenite; quartz syenite
Fitch and Clough Formations, undivided (Silurian) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area
Fitch and Clough Formations, undivided.
Lithology: quartzite; marble; meta-conglomerate; sandstone; mica schist; siltstone; pelitic schist; marble
Ironbound Mountain Formation, Basaltic to andesitic member (Lower Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ironbound Mountain Formation, Basaltic to andesitic member.
Lithology: basalt; andesite
Basalt (Cretaceous ) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Basalt - Black, chiefly massive to porphyritic. Includes minor rhyolitic ignimbrite and andesitic tuff. Part of Ossipee Mountain Complex of Kingsley (1931)
Lithology: basalt; ignimbrite; tuff
Metadiorite (Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Metadiorite - Dikes and sills of metagabbro, metadiabase and meta-andesite too small to show are chiefly in the Missisquoi, Albee, and Orfodville formations.
Lithology: metavolcanic rock
Porphyritic granite (Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Porphyritic granite.
Lithology: granite
Aziscohos Formation, Lower unnamed member (Upper Cambrian? - Lower Ordovician?) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Aziscohos Formation, Lower unnamed member - Rusty, dark metapelite containing thin coticule laminations, feldspathic metatuff, and vein quartz lenses.
Lithology: meta-argillite; metavolcanic rock
Porphyritic phase of hornblende-biotite tonalite (Middle Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Porphyritic phase of hornblende-biotite tonalite.
Lithology: tonalite
Clough Quartzite (Lower Silurian (upper Llandoverian)) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area
Clough Quartzite - Orthoquartzite, quartz metaconglomerate, muscovite schist, minor polymictic metaconglomerate. Disconformable below Fitch Formation and unconformable on Ordovician formations. Equivalent, in part, to member C of Rangeley Formation of Maine. Fossiliferous.
Lithology: quartzite; meta-conglomerate; mica schist
Newburyport Complex (Late Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Newburyport Complex - Medium-grained porphyritic granite.
Lithology: granite
Newburyport Complex (Silurian or Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Newburyport Complex - Gray, medium-grained tonalite and granodiorite. Newburyport Complex was divided into two facies, tonalitic granodiorite and granite, by Shride (1971). Tonalitic facies was originally termed Newburyport Quartz Diorite and included dioritic rocks north of Clinton-Newbury fault zone that are now called Sharpners Pond Diorite in Nashoba zone, and Topsfield Granodiorite in Milford-Dedham zone. These correlations are no longer tenable due to differences in age and composition. Therefore, Newburyport Complex is restricted to the two facies present in Newburyport area. Rocks formerly mapped as Newburyport Quartz Diorite and Salem Gabbro-Diorite, except for gabbros at Salem Neck, MA, are included in undifferentiated diorite and gabbro unit (Zdigb) on MA State Geologic Map (Zen and others, 1983), largely because they could not be mapped separately at 1:250,000 scale. Unit Zdigb also includes mafic dikes and sills that are probably younger or contemporaneous. Most of the dioritic rocks northeast of Boston previously assigned to Newburyport Quartz Diorite are now assigned to an undifferentiated diorite unit (Zdi) on MA State Geologic Map. Newburyport Complex forms a large mass near Newburyport and a small one to its west, both truncated by Clinton-Newbury fault. Tonalite and granodiorite facies occupies core of Newburyport Complex at Newburyport and is intruded to the north by granite facies; described as medium to dark gray in fresh rock, weathering to both green and red, fine to medium grained, and highly variable in mineralogy. A U-Pb zircon age of 455 +/-15 Ma was determined by Zartman and Naylor (1984) for the tonalite. Granite facies intrudes both the Kittery Formation and the tonalite and granodiorite facies and covers an area of about 45 sq km. Described as light gray to dark gray, buff weathering, and porphyritic. No radiometric ages available for granite facies, but it is conceivable that the two facies are different in age. [Papers presented as chapters in U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1366 are intended as explanations and (or) revisions to MA State bedrock geologic map of Zen and others (1983) at scale of 1:250,000.] (Wones and Goldsmith, 1991).
Lithology: tonalite; granodiorite
Paxton Formation (Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Paxton Formation - Undifferentiated biotite granofels, calc-silicate granofels, and sulfidic schist. The Paxton, here of group rank, includes strata formerly mapped in CT as the Hebron Formation and in MA as the Paxton Formation. It conformably overlies the Oakdale Formation and structurally and conformably underlies the Brimfield Group. It is undivided in central MA; in northeast CT and adjacent MA it is divided into the Dudley and Southbridge Formations. Age is Late Proterozoic(?) based on the intrusion of 440 m.y. Hedgehog Hill gneiss into the overlying Brimfield Group and an age of 1188 m.y. for detrital zircons from the Paxton (Pease, 1989).
Lithology: granofels; schist
Gile Mountain Formation, Meetinghouse Slate Member (Lower Devonian ) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Meetinghouse Slate Member - Gray to black phyllite and silty metasandstone turbidite.
Lithology: phyllite; metasedimentary rock
Gray augite-hornblende-biotite monzonite (Cretaceous) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Gray augite-hornblende-biotite monzonite.
Lithology: monzonite
Biotite quartz diorite in northeastern New Hampshire (Early - Late Devonian) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Biotite quartz diorite in northeastern New Hampshire
Lithology: quartz diorite
Berwick Formation (Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Berwick Formation - Mica schist. In New Hampshire: Used as Berwick Formation of Merrimack Group. Consists of purple biotite-feldspar granofels or schist. Contains interbeds of calcsilicate granofels and minor metapelites. Includes Gove Member, mapped separately. Stratigraphic sequence with respect to Eliot Formation is uncertain. Age of all formations in Merrimack Group changed to Ordovician(?) to Silurian(?) based on isotopic age determinations of approx 440 and 420 Ma from detrital zircons from Berwick by J.N. Aleinikoff (oral commun., 1994) (Lyons and others, 1997).
Lithology: mica schist
Cambrian Jim Pond Formation graywacke (Cambrian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Cambrian Jim Pond Formation graywacke
Lithology: graywacke
Eliot Formation (Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Eliot Formation - Phyllite and calcareous phyllite. In New Hampshire: Used as Eliot Formation of Merrimack Group. Consists of gray to green phyllite, calcareous quartzite, quartz-mica schist, and well-bedded calc-silicate. Includes Calef Member, mapped separately. Age of all formations in Merrimack Group changed to Ordovician(?) to Silurian(?) based on isotopic age determinations of approx 440 and 420 Ma from detrital zircons from Berwick Formation (of Merrimack Group) by J.N. Aleinikoff (oral commun., 1994) (Lyons and others, 1997).
Lithology: phyllite
Gile Mountain Formation, Interbedded gray slate or phyllite and brown-weathering calcite-ankerite metasiltstone (Lower Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Interbedded gray slate or phyllite and brown-weathering calcite-ankerite metasiltstone - Contains minor marble and quartzite. Resembles Waits River Formation in Vermont.
Lithology: slate; phyllite; metasedimentary rock; marble; quartzite
Biotite trondhjemite in Rumney quadrangle (Early - Late Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Biotite trondhjemite in Rumney quadrangle.
Lithology: trondhjemite
Undifferentiated Granitic Gneiss (Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Undifferentiated Granitic Gneiss - Small dikes and sills do not show.
Lithology: granitic gneiss
Smalls Falls Formation, Metabasalt member (Upper to Middle Silurian (Ludlovian and Wenlockian)) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Smalls Falls Formation, Metabasalt member.
Lithology: meta-basalt
Porphyritic biotite granodiorite in northern Jefferson dome in Milan quadrangle (Late Ordovician ) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area
Porphyritic biotite granodiorite in northern Jefferson dome in Milan quadrangle.
Lithology: granodiorite
Clough Formation (Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Clough Formation - Quartzite, quartz-conglomerate, and mica schist; lenses of fossiliferous calcareous quartzite in upper part. (Southeastern Vermont).
Lithology: conglomerate; quartzite; mica schist
Orfordville Formation, Post Pond Volcanics (Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Orfordville Formation, Post Pond Volcanics - Greenstone, green chloritic schist interbedded with schistose felsite, quartz-feldspar-sericite schist; fine-grained chloritic, biotitic gneiss, all west of Ammonoosuc fault; mainly amphibolite east of the Ammonoosuc fault.
Lithology: greenstone; greenschist; mica schist; biotite gneiss; amphibolite
Fitch Formation (Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Fitch Formation - Quartz-plagioclase-biotite granulite; actinolite-diopside granulite; impure limestone and dolomite; mica schist; the carbonate-rich beds are typically an inch or two thick and segmented so as to give the weathered outcrop a characteristic pitted appearance. (Southeastern Vermont).
Lithology: granulite; limestone; dolostone (dolomite); mica schist
Greenvale Cove Formation (Lower Silurian? ) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Greenvale Cove Formation - Grayish-violet interlaminated metashale, feldspathic metasandstone, and calc-silicate rock of the Piermont allochthon in western New Hampshire.
Lithology: meta-argillite; metasedimentary rock; calc-silicate rock
Gile Mountain Formation, Mafic metavolcanic member (Lower Devonian ) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Mafic metavolcanic member - Possibly equivalent to Putney Volcanics of southeastern Vermont.
Lithology: mafic metavolcanic rock
Trondhjemite (Late Ordovician) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Trondhjemite - Contains biotite and hornblende.
Lithology: trondhjemite
Massive to weakly foliated, pink and gray, fine- to medium-grained biotite granite (Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Massive to weakly foliated, pink and gray, fine- to medium-grained biotite granite - In the Townsend area; commonly contains pink magnetite-bearing pegmatite identical to granite of Milford, New Hampshire; intrudes OZma and Sp.
Lithology: granite; pegmatite
Tonalite (Middle Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Tonalite - Extended from Joslin Turn, Vermont.
Lithology: tonalite
Cambrian Hurricane Mountain Formation (Cambrian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Cambrian Hurricane Mountain Formation
Lithology: melange
Merrimack Group, Kittery Formation (Ordovician? - Silurian?) at surface, covers 0.6 % of this area
Merrimack Group, Kittery Formation - Tan, graded-bedded, calcareous metasandstone and purple and green phyllite. Grades into the Eliot formation but facing direction is uncertain.
Lithology: metasedimentary rock; phyllite
Biotite-hornblende granodiorite (Cretaceous) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Biotite-hornblende granodiorite.
Lithology: granodiorite
Porphyritic biotite quartz syenite in central Jefferson dome in Mt. Washington quadrangle (Late Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Porphyritic biotite quartz syenite in central Jefferson dome in Mt. Washington quadrangle.
Lithology: quartz syenite
Ordovician - Cambrian Dead River formation lower member (Ordovician - Cambrian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ordovician - Cambrian Dead River formation lower member
Lithology: quartzite; phyllite
Hornblende quartz monzonite (Late Ordovician) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area
Hornblende quartz monzonite.
Lithology: quartz monzonite
Gile Mountain Formation, Meetinghouse Slate Member (Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Gile Mountain Formation, Meetinghouse Slate Member - Chiefly gray slate or phyllite characterized by beds of gray schistose quartzite 1/8 inch to 3 inches thick. Gile Mountain Formation and its Meetinghouse Slate Member were previously considered to be Early Devonian based on Emsian plant fossils from Compton Formation of QUE (Hueber and others, 1990; Hatch, 1991). Age assignment here changed to Early Devonian(?) because recent mapping indicates that Gile Mountain and Compton are not coextensive across VT-QUE border as formerly believed by Doll and others (1961, State map) and St. Julien and Slivitsky (1987). Instead, the formations are separated by Ironbound Mountain Formation. Ironbound Mountain Formation is conformably overlain by Compton, but it is not yet known whether Ironbound Mountain is overlain or underlain by Gile Mountain; this is shown by queried Ironbound Mountain-Gile Mountain contact in area of Averill 7.5-min quad, VT. Correlation of Gile Mountain and Compton is justified only if Gile Mountain in this area conclusively is shown to be underlain by Ironbound Mountain; otherwise, Gile Mountain (with possible exception of its Meetinghouse Slate Member) would be coeval with Silurian Frontenac Formation. Hatch (1988) proposed that Meetinghouse represents upper part of Gile Mountain on basis of graded bedding seen south of map area. This relationship is not proven, however, because Gile Mountain-Meetinghouse contact is difficult to define and graded beds are not always easily interpreted. On this map, Meetinghouse is tentatively shown to occur below main body of Gile Mountain on basis of remarkable similarity between it and Ironbound Mountain Formation. This relationship easily explains highly pelitic character of the Meetinghouse with upward-coarsening character of Lower Devonian sequences elsewhere in map area. Meetinghouse Slate Member includes volcanic facies (Moench and others, 1995).
Lithology: slate; phyllite; quartzite
Large mesoperthitic phenocrysts in a pink to gray quartz syenite porphyry of "Albany type" (Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area
Large mesoperthitic phenocrysts in a pink to gray quartz syenite porphyry of "Albany type" - Alkalic amphibole or fayalite may be present. Part of Ossipee Mountain Complex of Kingsley (1931).
Lithology: quartz syenite
Devonian - Silurian Towow Formation conglomerate (Devonian - Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Devonian - Silurian Towow Formation conglomerate
Lithology: conglomerate
Frontenac Formation, Graded-bedded metagraywacke and subordinate gray phyllite (Silurian?) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Frontenac Formation, Graded-bedded metagraywacke and subordinate gray phyllite.
Lithology: metasedimentary rock; phyllite
Devonian Ironbound Mountain Formation (Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Devonian Ironbound Mountain Formation
Lithology: slate
Carboniferous alkali feldspar granite (muscovite accessory mineral) (Carboniferous) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Carboniferous alkali feldspar granite (muscovite accessory mineral) - muscovite-biotite granite
Lithology: granite
Diorite (Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Diorite - Contains hornblende, biotite, and hedenbergite.
Lithology: diorite
Trondhjemite and quartz diorite in northern Jefferson dome in Gorham quadrangle (Late Ordovician) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area
Trondhjemite and quartz diorite in northern Jefferson dome in Gorham quadrangle.
Lithology: trondhjemite; quartz diorite
Ironbound Mountain Formation, Grits at Halls Stream in northern New Hampshire (Lower Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Ironbound Mountain Formation, Grits at Halls Stream in northern New Hampshire - Thickly bedded feldspathic volcaniclastic grit and interbedded gray slate. Equivalent to Grenier Ponds Member of the Ironbound Mountain Formation in western Maine.
Lithology: metavolcanic rock; slate
Frontenac Formation, Massive tan- or brown-weathering calcite-ankerite-muscovite granofels and interbedded gray metapelite (Silurian?) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Frontenac Formation, Massive tan- or brown-weathering calcite-ankerite-muscovite granofels and interbedded gray metapelite - Probably partly a facies equivalent to the Waits River Formation in Vermont.
Lithology: granofels; meta-argillite
Partridge Formation (Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Partridge Formation - Rusty weathering carbonaceous mica schist locally containing porphyroblasts of biotite, garnet, or staurolite. (Southeastern Vermont).
Lithology: mica schist
Littleton Formation, Epiclastic metavolcanic sediments (Lower Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Littleton Formation, Epiclastic metavolcanic sediments.
Lithology: metavolcanic rock
Hornblende-biotite quartz syenite to syenite (Late Ordovician) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area
Hornblende-biotite quartz syenite to syenite.
Lithology: quartz syenite; syenite
Ironbound Mountain Formation, Felsic volcanic member (Lower Devonian) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area
Ironbound Mountain Formation, Felsic volcanic member.
Lithology: felsic volcanic rock
Porphyritic hornblende or alkalic amphibole quartz syenite (Jurassic) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area
Porphyritic hornblende or alkalic amphibole quartz syenite.
Lithology: quartz syenite
Devonian - Precambrian Z Gonic Formation (Devonian - Precambrian Z) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Devonian - Precambrian Z Gonic Formation
Lithology: schist; phyllite
Aziscohos Formation, Upper unnamed member (Upper Cambrian? - Lower Ordovician?) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area
Aziscohos Formation, Upper unnamed member - Gray metapelite containing sparse siltstone laminations and abundant lenses of vein quartz.
Lithology: meta-argillite; siltstone
Tonalite, diorite, granodiorite, and granite (Late Ordovician ) at surface, covers 0.4 % of this area
Tonalite, diorite, granodiorite, and granite - More mafic rocks have hornblende; part of Lost Nation pluton.
Lithology: tonalite; diorite; granodiorite; granite
Partridge Formation, White quartz-kyanite rock (Middle - Upper Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Partridge Formation, White quartz-kyanite rock.
Lithology: schist
Devonian granodiorite (Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area
Devonian granodiorite - biotite granodiorite
Lithology: granodiorite

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://mrdata.usgs.gov/geology/state/fips-unit.php?state=NH
Page Contact Information: pschweitzer@usgs.gov
Page Last modified: 10:03 on 08-May-2012