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Surficial geologic map of the Mount Grace-Ashburnham-Monson-Webster 24-quadrangle area in central Massachusetts

Open-File Report 2006-1260-I
Prepared in cooperation with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Geological Survey and Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS), Information Technology Division
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20061260I

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Abstract

The surficial geologic map shows the distribution of nonlithified earth materials at land surface in an area of 24 7.5-minute quadrangles (1,238 mi2 total) in central Massachusetts. Across Massachusetts, these materials range from a few feet to more than 500 ft in thickness. They overlie bedrock, which crops out in upland hills and as resistant ledges in valley areas. The geologic map differentiates surficial materials of Quaternary age on the basis of their lithologic characteristics (such as grain size and sedimentary structures), constructional geomorphic features, stratigraphic relationships, and age. Surficial materials also are known in engineering classifications as unconsolidated soils, which include coarse-grained soils, fine-grained soils, and organic fine-grained soils. Surficial materials underlie and are the parent materials of modern pedogenic soils, which have developed in them at the land surface. Surficial earth materials significantly affect human use of the land, and an accurate description of their distribution is particularly important for assessing water resources, construction-aggregate resources, and earth-surface hazards, and for making land-use decisions. This work is part of a comprehensive study to produce a statewide digital map of the surficial geology at a 1:24,000-scale level of accuracy. This report includes explanatory text (PDF), quadrangle maps at 1:24,000 scale (PDF files), GIS data layers (ArcGIS shapefiles), metadata for the GIS layers, scanned topographic base maps (TIF), and a readme.txt file.

Suggested Citation

Stone, J.R., 2013, Surficial geologic map of the Mount Grace-Ashburnham-Monson-Webster 24-quadrangle area in central Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006-1260, Report: iv, 19 p.; Downloads Directory; 24K_GRAPHICS Directory; Zip File, https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20061260I.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Surficial geologic map of the Mount Grace-Ashburnham-Monson-Webster 24-quadrangle area in central Massachusetts
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2006-1260
Chapter I
DOI 10.3133/ofr20061260I
Year Published 2013
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Eastern Geology and Paleoclimate Science Center
Description Report: iv, 19 p.; Downloads Directory; 24K_GRAPHICS Directory; Zip File
Country United States
State Massachusetts
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Additional publication details