The tectonic history of New England includes several paleozoic orogenies that involved collision and accretion of island arc fragments and continental blocks. Because of this tectonic complexity, stratigraphic and structural correlations are difficult and despite extensive study, several key relationships are equivocal. Recent work has shown that a volcanic unit thought to be a remnant of an island arc that collided with North America during the Taconic contains rocks of two distinctly different ages - Silurian and Cambrian. This RUI project will restudy this unit by mapping and radiometric age dating in order to resolve the stratigraphic position of the fragment or fragments. Results will help to better constrain tectonic models of western New England.
