Geolex — Nassau publications

National Geologic Map Database
Geolex — Significant Publications

Geologic Unit: Nassau

Usage in publication:
- Nassau beds
Modifications:
- Original reference
Dominant lithology:
- Shale
- Quartzite
AAPG geologic province:
- New England province

Publication:

Ruedemann, Rudolf, 1914, Paleozoic rocks of the eastern trough, IN Cushing, H.P., and Ruedemann, Rudolf, Geology of Saratoga Springs and vicinity [New York]: New York State Museum Bulletin, no. 169, p. 66-99.

Summary:

Pg. 69-70. Nassau beds. Divisions A to E of [T.N.] Dale's series in Rensselaer County, eastern New York. Consists of 150 to 800 feet of alternating reddish and greenish shales and quartzites, underlying Bomoseen grit; all Lower Cambrian.
Named for exposures in Nassau, Rensselaer Co., eastern NY.

Source: US geologic names lexicon (USGS Bull. 896, p. 1464).

Usage in publication:
- Nassau quartzite
Modifications:
- Revised
- Age modified
AAPG geologic province:
- New England province

Publication:

Ruedemann, Rudolf, 1942, Notes on Ordovician plankton and radiolarian chert of New York: New York State Museum Bulletin, no. 327, p. 45-71. [Available online from the New York State Library Digital Collections: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/snaoOLN03o/NYSL/306100041/503/68511#TOP]

Summary:

Revised as Nassau quartzite. This formation, as well as other basal quartzites of older parts of Appalachian geosyncline, is unfossiliferous. It is probable that Nassau and other basal quartzites are Precambrian south of Random quartzite in Newfoundland, eastern Canada.

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

Usage in publication:
- Nassau formation
Modifications:
- Revised
- Areal extent
AAPG geologic province:
- New England province

Publication:

Fowler, Phillip, 1950, Stratigraphy and structure of the Castleton area, Vermont: Vermont Geological Survey Bulletin, no. 2, 83 p.

Summary:

Extended into west-central VT in Castleton quad as the Nassau formation. Crops out in Taconic Range and slate belt. Previously mapped as Upper Ordovician Berkshire schist but now called late Precambrian Nassau formation because of its relation to Cambrian slates of slate belt and similarity to Nassau formation in NY. Probably does not include Schodack, Eddy Hill, or Zion Hill strata in this area.

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

Usage in publication:
- Nassau formation*
Modifications:
- Age modified
AAPG geologic province:
- New England province

Publication:

Arnow, Theodore, 1951, Ground-water resources of Columbia County, New York: New York Water Power and Control Commission Bulletin, GW-25, 48 p.

Summary:

Age of Nassau formation is Early Cambrian in this report.

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

Usage in publication:
- Nassau Formation*
Modifications:
- Revised
- Age modified
- Areal extent
AAPG geologic province:
- New England province

Publication:

Ratcliffe, N.M., 1974, Bedrock geologic map of the State Line quadrangle, Columbia County, New York, and Berkshire County, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map, GQ-1142, 1 sheet, scale 1:24,000 [http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_10682.htm]

Summary:

Geographically extended from eastern NY into northwestern MA. Age changed from Early Cambrian to late Precambrian(?) and (or) Early Cambrian(?). Considered a probable lateral facies of the probable late Precambrian and (or) Early Cambrian Everett Formation. Rensselaer Graywacke Member is tentatively assigned (with a query on map) to the Nassau Formation.

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

Usage in publication:
- Nassau Formation*
Modifications:
- Age modified
AAPG geologic province:
- New England province

Publication:

Ratcliffe, N.M., 1979, Field guide to the Chatham and Greylock slices of the Taconic allochthon in western Massachusetts and their relationship to the Hoosac-Rowe sequence, IN Friedman, G.M., ed., Joint annual meeting of New York State Geological Association, 51st annual meeting and New England intercollegiate geological conference, 71st annual meeting; Guidebook for field trips: New York State Geological Association Guidebook, Joint annual meeting of New York State Geological Association, 51st, and New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference, 71st, Troy, NY, October 5-7, 1979, no. 51, p. 388-425.

Summary:

Age changed to Proterozoic Z and (or) Early Cambrian(?).

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

Usage in publication:
- Nassau Formation*
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:

Used as Nassau Formation of Proterozoic Z and Early Cambrian. Map also covers areas of immediately adjacent east-central NY and southwestern VT. Main body of Nassau Formation mapped in NY and MA includes Bomoseen Graywacke Member and Zion Hill Quartzite Member. Rensselaer Graywacke Member separately mapped in NY and MA. Mettawee Member of Nassau is mapped in NY, MA, and VT. [No explanation given for change in age or reduction on rank of Mettawee.]

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

Usage in publication:
- Nassau Formation*
Modifications:
- Areal extent
AAPG geologic province:
- New England province

Publication:

Thompson, J.B., Jr., 1990, An introduction to the geology and Paleozoic history of the Glens Falls 1 degree x 2 degrees quadrangle, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire, IN Slack, J.F., ed., Summary results of the Glens Falls CUSMAP project, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 1887-A, p. A1-A13.

Summary:

Late Proterozoic Nassau Formation is basal part of Taconic allochthon sequence in Glens Falls quad. Includes Bomoseen Graywacke Member and Zion Hill Quartzite Member (exposed on Bird Mountain, VT), and Rensselaer Graywacke Member (exposed just south of quad boundary). Overlain by Cambrian Browns Pond Formation. [No explanation for Late Proterozoic age instead of currently accepted Late Proterozoic and Early Cambrian age used in 1980's by other workers.]

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

Usage in publication:
- Nassau Formation*
Modifications:
- Areal extent
AAPG geologic province:
- New England province

Publication:

Ratcliffe, N.M., Potter, D.B., and Stanley, R.S., 1993, Bedrock geologic map of the Williamstown and North Adams quadrangles, Massachusetts and Vermont, and part of the Cheshire quadrangle, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map, I-2369, 2 sheets, 13 p., scale 1:24,000

Summary:

Phyllites of Brodie Mountain area on this map are coextensive with phyllites called Nassau Formation in Giddings Brook slice in the Hoosic Falls area (Potter, 1972) and the Perry Peak slice and Chatham slice in the State Line quad (Ratcliffe, 1974). Therefore, greenish phyllites on Brodie Mountain are referred to here as schist of the Nassau(?) Formation.

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

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 ([ ]).

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