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Cape Ann Complex (MASOcgr;0)

Geologic Formation in MA

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Lithology

Syenite

Geologic Age

Late Ordovician – Wenlock (459.3 Ma – 427.9 Ma ago)

Geologic Unit Label

SOcgr

Alkalic granite to quartz syenite containing ferro-hornblende. Intrudes Zdigb. Most of Cape Ann Complex forms Cape Ann peninsula of northeastern MA. Consists of alkalic granite to quartz syenite (its main phase), Beverly Syenite, and Squam Granite, all of which form a pluton covering 385 sq km. Intrudes Late Proterozoic greenschist, diorite, and gabbro that earlier workers assigned to Marlboro Formation, Salem Gabbro-Diorite, or Middlesex Fells Volcanic Complex. Dennen (1975) considered masses of diorite and gabbro within and adjacent to Cape Ann Complex to be cogenetic with it and equivalent in age to Nahant Gabbro and gabbro at Salem Neck. Authors recommend that usage of term Salem Gabbro-Diorite be restricted to these masses of diorite and gabbro in and around Cape Ann pluton that are younger than Dedham Granite and cogenetic with Cape Ann Complex. Gabbro at Salem Neck is probably representative. Radiometric ages straddle Late Ordovician-Early Silurian boundary. Age is based on Rb-Sr whole rock isochron of 426 +/-6 Ma (Zartman and Marvin, 1971) and U-Pb zircon date of 450 +/-25 Ma (Zartman, 1977) (Wones and Goldsmith, 1991).

— USGS

Taxonomy

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Geologic Formation