U.S. Geological Survey Home AASG Logo USGS HOME CONTACT USGS SEARCH USGS
National Geologic Map Database
Geologic Unit: Acton
Search archives
Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Acton granite*
  • Modifications:
    • Original reference
  • Dominant lithology:
    • Granite
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • New England province
Publication:

Hansen, W.R., 1956, Geology and mineral resources of the Hudson and Maynard quadrangles, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 1038, 104 p.


Summary:

Pg. 48-50, pl. 1. Acton granite. Fine-grained moderately foliated light-gray to light-olive-gray granite. Composed chiefly of quartz, orthoclase, microcline, and oligoclase. Occurs in small individual plutons, chiefly as intruded sheets or sill-like bodies, and as crosscutting dikes and irregular masses that range in thickness from a few inches to several hundred feet and in length from a few yards to more than a mile. All observed exposures lie within boundaries of Nashoba formation (new). Age is late Paleozoic(?).
Named from town of Acton, Middlesex Co., eastern MA, where it is well exposed. Also exposed in Boxborough, Bolton, Harvard, Hudson, and Stow.

Source: US geologic names lexicon (USGS Bull. 1200, p. 16).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Acton Granite*
  • Modifications:
    • Age modified
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • New England province
Publication:

Goldsmith, Richard, Wones, D.R., and Shride, A.F., 1982, Stratigraphic names in eastern Massachusetts and adjacent states, IN Stratigraphic notes, 1980-1982: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 1529-H, p. H57-H72.


Summary:

Age of Acton Granite changed to Devonian or Silurian and Ordovician(?) based on its similarity to Andover Granite.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Reston GNULEX).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Acton Granite*
  • Modifications:
    • Overview
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • New England province
Publication:

Zen, E-an (editor), Goldsmith, Richard (compiler), Ratcliffe, N.M. (compiler), Robinson, Peter (compiler), Stanley, R.S. (compiler), 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 [State Geologic Map], 3 sheets, scale 1:250,000


Summary:

Acton Granite is included within rocks mapped as Andover Granite. Age is Ordovician or Silurian. [No explanation for age given.]

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Reston GNULEX).


Search archives

For more information, please contact Nancy Stamm, Geologic Names Committee Secretary.

Asterisk (*) indicates published by U.S. Geological Survey authors.

"No current usage" (†) implies that a name has been abandoned or has fallen into disuse. Former usage and, if known, replacement name given in parentheses ( ).

Slash (/) indicates name conflicts with nomenclatural guidelines (CSN, 1933; ACSN, 1961, 1970; NACSN, 1983, 2005, 2021). May be explained within brackets ([ ]).

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

USA Gov U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
Supported by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program
Page Contact Information: Personnel
Page Last Modified: Thu 04 Apr 2024 03:10:44 PM MDT