Rhode Island Formation (MAPAr;0)

Rhode Island Formation

Sandstone, graywacke, shale and conglomerate; minor beds of meta-anthracite. Fossil plants. Rhode Island Formation is thickest and most extensive formation in Narragansett basin. Does not extend to Norfolk basin. Consists of gray sandstone and siltstone and lesser amounts of gray to black shale, gray conglomerate, and coal beds 10 m thick. Interfingers with Wamsutta Formation in Narragansett basin. In places overlies Dedham Granite. Age is Middle and Late Pennsylvanian (Goldsmith, 1991).

State	Massachusetts
Name	Rhode Island Formation
Geologic age	Upper and Middle Pennsylvanian
Lithologic constituents	Major Sedimentary > Clastic > Sandstone Sedimentary > Clastic > Sandstone > Graywacke Minor Sedimentary > Clastic > Conglomerate Sedimentary > Clastic > Mudstone > Shalesome black shale Sedimentary > Coal > Anthracite (Bed)meta-anthracite
Comments	Part of Milford-Dedham Zone (Tertiary and Older Rocks). Secondary unit description per MA023.
References	Zen, E-An (ed.), Goldsmith, R. (comp.), Ratcliffe, N.M. (comp.), Robinson, P. (comp.), Stanley, R.S. (comp.), Hatch, N.L., Jr., Shride, A.F., Weed, E.G.A., and Wones, D.R., 1983, Bedrock Geologic Map of Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, scale 1: 250,000. https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70046713 Goldsmith, Richard, 1991, Stratigraphy of the Milford-Dedham zone, eastern Massachusetts; an Avalonian terrane, Chapter E, IN Hatch, N.L., Jr., ed., The bedrock geology of Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, 1366-E-J, p. E1-E62. https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/pp1366EJ
NGMDB product	NGMDB product page for 16357
Counties	Bristol - Norfolk - Plymouth

Rhode Island Formation

Zen, E-An (ed.), Goldsmith, R. (comp.), Ratcliffe, N.M. (comp.), Robinson, P. (comp.), Stanley, R.S. (comp.), Hatch, N.L., Jr., Shride, A.F., Weed, E.G.A., and Wones, D.R., 1983, Bedrock Geologic Map of Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, scale 1: 250,000.

Goldsmith, Richard, 1991, Stratigraphy of the Milford-Dedham zone, eastern Massachusetts; an Avalonian terrane, Chapter E, IN Hatch, N.L., Jr., ed., The bedrock geology of Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, 1366-E-J, p. E1-E62.