Late Paleozoic Tectonic Evolution of the Norfolk Basin, Southeastern Massachusetts

Cazier, Edward C.

doi:10.1086/629106

Cited by 15 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…1). Chute (1964) and Cazier (1984aCazier ( , 1984b mapped and described the Norfolk Basin and it was further described by Cameron and Murray (1979). There are several localities where the basal unconformity between the Carboniferous and Lower Paleozoic rocks has been recorded (e.g.…”

Section: Narragansett and Norfolk Basinsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Paleoenvironmental and tectonic controls of sedimentation in coal-forming basins of southeastern New England

Skehan

Rast

Mosher³

1986

Geological Society of America Special Papers

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An erosional hiatus over almost the entire area between Pennsylvania and western New Brunswick suggests that the region was mountainous from the Middle Devonian Acadian orogeny through Pennsylvanian time. Of seven basins or deposits of southeastera New England, the ages of three (Narragansett, Norfolk, and Worcester) are florally determined as Westphalian B (Middle Pennsylvanian) to Stephanian B or C (Late Pennsylvanian); three lack flora but are of inferred Carboniferous age (North Scituate, Woonsocket, and Pin Hill), and one is of possibly Carboniferous age (Sturbridge). The first three are characterized by flora suggesting a tropical or subtropical climate and by alluvial fan facies deposited in an intermontane basin. Four of these basins or deposits lie in the Avalon Terrane, three just west of the Nashoba Terrane, but none has been recognized in the intermediate Nashoba Terrane. These basin deposits can be correlated with similar deposits in Atlantic Canada.Tectonic effects of the Alleghanian orogeny are many and diverse, resulting in important tectonic controls on the formation and evolution of the coal basins. Grabens surrounded by uplands were formed by extension or strike-slip fault-related extension and were filled with Carboniferous sediments during the earliest Alleghanian orogenic episode. These sediments along with the basement complex, were multiply deformed during Permo-Carboniferous Alleghanian orogenic episodes, which involved folding, thrust faulting, plutonism, regional metamorphism, and strike-slip faulting. Metamorphism throughout the outcrop areas ranges from anchizone to K-spar zone in the Narragansett Basin; anchizone to possibly lower greenschist in the Norfolk Basin; and below the almandine zone in the "Worcester Coal Mine" deposit. Important effects of the tectonism are the widespread anthracitization and tectonic thickening of the lowsulfur and high-ash coals. on July 26, 2015 specialpapers.gsapubs.org Downloaded from Skehan, Rast, and Mosher PI-Masslite Quarry, Plainville; and J-Mackeral Cove, Jamestown, Rhode Island; between lower Paleozoic igneous rocks and Pennsylvanian sedimentary rocks at BH. The contact of basal Sachuest Arkose (formerly called Pondville Formation, Quinn, 1971) is probably a fault at S-Sachuest Point, the type locality, but an unconformity is exposed at T-Tiverton. Other named localities on Figure 2 or in the text are as follows: At-Attleboro; C-Canton; Cr-Cranston; E-Easton; F-Foxboro; Se-Seekonk, Massachusetts; B-Barrington; Br-Bristol; N-Newport; Pa-Pawtucket; P-Portsmouth; So-Somerset; VF-Valley Falls; SH-Stook Hill, Rhode Island; ME-Wamsutta volcanic outlier in Medway, Massachusetts.

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Section: Narragansett and Norfolk Basinsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Paleoenvironmental and tectonic controls of sedimentation in coal-forming basins of southeastern New England

Skehan

Rast

Mosher³

1986

Geological Society of America Special Papers

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“…The metasedimentary rocks of the northern part of the basin (northern Rhode Island and Massachusetts) and adjacent Norfolk Basin (Massachusetts) are at a lower metamorphic grade and less intensely deformed with upright, open, ENE-trending folds that parallel the northern basin margins (Quinn and Oliver 1962;Lyons et al 1976;Cazier 1987).…”

Section: Narragansett Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alleghanian deformation of Cambrian metasedimentary rocks on Avalonia in south-central Rhode Island, USA

Carter¹,

Mosher²

2013

atgeol

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Lower greenschist-facies metasedimentary rocks of the Middle Cambrian Conanicut Group occur in and around Beavertail State Park, Rhode Island. Detailed structural mapping (1:1000-scale) and petrology of these rocks indicate an early fold generation (F 1 ) and axial planar metamorphic foliation (S 1 ). F 1 is folded by a more prominent, E-verging, NNE-to NNW-trending, non-coaxial fold generation (F 2 ) and an associated pressure solution-enhanced crenulation cleavage (S 2 ). A third map-scale fold generation is inferred from NNE-trending broad folding of F 2 and S 2 . N-S extension resulted in boudins that deformed S 2 on a scale of 1-10 m, whereas late planar quartz veins indicate NW-SE extension. All structures are cross cut by faults striking N-to NE-and ENEto ESE that show dominantly normal motion with minor sinistral or dextral components. Kink bands associated with faulting trend NNE to ENE with WNW to NNW side up. The vertical Beaverhead shear zone juxtaposes the Cambrian rocks with Pennsylvanian rocks of the Narragansett Basin, and deflects S 2 in a dextral sense, consistent with motion recorded elsewhere.The Cambrian rocks record the same deformation and metamorphism as the adjacent Narragansett Basin rocks. No evidence was found for pre-Alleghanian deformation or for northwest-or north-directed thrusting and accretion of a Meguma-like terrane during the Alleghanian orogeny. If the Beaverhead shear zone was a preexisting terrane boundary within Avalonia, both the Cambrian and Pennsylvanian Narragansett Basin sediments were deposited after terrane accretion. AbStRACt RÉSUMÉDes roches profondes métasédimentaires du faciès des schistes verts, que l' on retrouve dans le groupe Conanicut du Cambrien moyen, sont présentes dans le Beavertail State Park, au Rhode Island, et dans les environs. Une cartographie structurale détaillée (à l' échelle 1:1 000) et la pétrologie de ces roches indiquent la formation précoce d'un pli (F 1 ) et une foliation métamorphique (S 1 ) de plan axial. Le F 1 est causé par la formation d'un pli (F 2 ) non coaxial plus dominant, à vergence est et d' orientation NNE-NNO ainsi que par une schistosité de crénulation (S 2 ) amplifiée en raison d'une dissolution par pression connexe. La formation d'un troisième pli à l' échelle cartographique est provoquée par un vaste plissement du F 2 et de la S 2 d' orientation NNE. Une extension N-S a produit des boudins qui déforment la S 2 sur l' échelle de 1 à 10 m, tandis que des veines de quartz planes formées ultérieurement indiquent une extension NO-SE. Toutes les structures sont traversées par des failles orientées N-NE et ENE-ESE montrant un mouvement normal dominant accompagné de composantes senestres et dextres peu importantes. Les bandes froissées associées à ces failles sont orientées NNE-ENE et présentent une tangente verticale ONO-NNO. Dans la zone de cisaillement verticale de Beaverhead, les roches du Cambrien sont juxtaposées aux roches de la Pennsylvanie du bassin Narragansett, et la S 2 dévie en un mouvement dextre, ce qui concorde...

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“…The Purgatory Conglomerate of the southeastern Narragansett basin near Newport consists dominantly of quartzite boulders whose size, though not composition, is comparable to that of the ''Giant'' Conglomerate of the Pondville. Cazier (1987) provides an integrated structural and stratigraphic analyis of the Norfolk basin.…”

Section: Norfolk Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sediments in the Narragansett and Norfolk basins are interpreted to have been deposited on wet alluvial fans formed along uplifted and tectonically active basin margins (Severson, 1981;Severson and Boothroyd, 1981;Mosher, 1983;Cazier, 1987) that formed as either extensional grabens or pull-apart basins (Mosher, 1983;Skehan et al, 1986). Mosher and Rast (1984) and Rast (1989) address possible correlations of the southeastern New England Carboniferous basins with those of Maritime Canada.…”

Section: Depositional Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tectonostratigraphic relationships and coalification trends in the Narragansett and Norfolk Basins, New England

Murray

Skehan

Raben

2004

Journal of Geodynamics

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Late Paleozoic Tectonic Evolution of the Norfolk Basin, Southeastern Massachusetts

Cited by 15 publications

References 19 publications

Paleoenvironmental and tectonic controls of sedimentation in coal-forming basins of southeastern New England

Paleoenvironmental and tectonic controls of sedimentation in coal-forming basins of southeastern New England

Alleghanian deformation of Cambrian metasedimentary rocks on Avalonia in south-central Rhode Island, USA

Tectonostratigraphic relationships and coalification trends in the Narragansett and Norfolk Basins, New England

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