Radiometric age (Late Ordovician) of the Quincy, Cape Ann, and Peabody Granites from eastern Massachusetts

Robert E. Zartman; Richard F. Marvin

doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[937:raloot]2.0.co;2

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Radiometric age (Late Ordovician) of the Quincy, Cape Ann, and Peabody Granites from eastern Massachusetts

Robert E. Zartman·Richard F. Marvin

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Abstract

A geochronologic study of several intrusive bodies of alkalic granite from eastern Massachusetts yields the following radiometric ages (in millions of years). Rock unit Amphibole K-Ar Whole-rock Rb-Sr isochron Pb 207 /Pb 206 zircon Quincy Granite 430-458 313 ± 22 437 ± 32 Cape Ann Granite 374-397 435 ± 6 452 ± 10 Peabody Granite 350-403 367 ± 24 435 + 12 445 ± 22 The zircon ages show only mild internal discordancies and most diffusion models used to discuss U-Th-Pb isotopic systematics would give a true age about equal to that of the Pb 207 /Pb 206 value. When plotted on a concordia diagram, the zircon data indicate a time of emplacement of 450 ± 25 m.y. for all three granite bodies. This Late Ordovician age for post-tectonic granites suggests that revisions in the commonly accepted geologic interpretation of eastern Massachusetts may be required. Previously, because of their massive, undeformed nature, the alkalic rocks were generally regarded as being Mississippian or Devonian in age and younger than the Early to Middle Devonian Acadian orogeny. The amphibole K-Ar and whole-rock Rb-Sr systems have responded in a complex way to postcrystallization disturbances. We interpret the pattern of ages for the Quincy Granite to reflect a late Paleozoic(?), low-temperature alteration that accompanied extensive faulting, and the patterns of ages for the Cape Ann and Peabody Granites to reflect a Devonian heating possibly related to contact metamorphism by a nearby mafic pluton.

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Bulletin of the Geological Society of America Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 42.11859868281563° to 42.71574118930587° latitude; -71.19621276855469° to -70.5816650390625° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Robert E. Zartman, Richard F. Marvin. 1971. Radiometric age (Late Ordovician) of the Quincy, Cape Ann, and Peabody Granites from eastern Massachusetts. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82%5B937%3Araloot%5D2.0.co%3B2

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