Structural Measurement Atlas
Atlas / States / Massachusetts

Massachusetts strike and dip data

8,162 structural measurements in Massachusetts, digitized from 17 published geologic maps across 5 sources. Every row carries its azimuth, inclination, measurement type, location confidence and the citation of the map it came from.

Open Massachusetts on the map

What kinds of measurement

The Atlas separates planar structures, recorded as a strike and dip, from linear ones, recorded as a trend and plunge. This is what Massachusetts holds:

Measurement typeGeometryMeasurementsShare
Other Planar — strike and dip 6,62181%
Lineation (mineral, stretching) Linear — trend and plunge 1,37417%
Foliation Planar — strike and dip 1332%
Bedding Planar — strike and dip 13<1%
Fold hinge / axis Linear — trend and plunge 8<1%
Joint Planar — strike and dip 7<1%
Fault plane Planar — strike and dip 4<1%
Vein / dike Planar — strike and dip 2<1%

Where the data comes from

Each source is a survey, agency or program whose published mapping was harvested and reconciled into one schema. Rows are published only where the source's terms permit redistribution.

SourceMeasurementsShare
USGS SIM quads (NE) 6,44379%
NGMDB legacy quads 1,54519%
NPS GRI parks 1632%
Connecticut Geol. Survey 9<1%
USGS data releases · MRDS 2<1%

Most-measured published maps

The individual quadrangles and data releases contributing the most measurements in Massachusetts. The full citation for every map behind a selection ships in the sources.csv of any export.

Published mapYearScaleMeasurements
SIM bedrock quadrangle databases, New England— 1:24,0002,697
SIM bedrock quadrangle databases, New England— 1:24,0001,972
SIM bedrock quadrangle databases, New England— 1:24,0001,774
Bedrock geologic map of the Nashua South quadrangle, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, and Middlesex County, Massachusetts2013 1:24,000898
Quaternary geologic map of the Hudson River 4 degrees x 6 degrees quadrangle, United States and Canada1992 1:1,000,000204
Bedrock geologic map of the Worcester South quadrangle, Worcester County, Massachusetts2015 1:24,000199
Bedrock geologic map of the Uxbridge quadrangle, Worcester County, Massachusetts, and Providence County, Rhode Island2014 1:24,000120
Quaternary geologic map of the Boston 4 degrees x 6 degrees quadrangle, United States and Canada1991 1:1,000,000106
adapted from: Langford, C.D., and Hepburn, C.J., 2007, Preliminary Bedrock Geologic Map of the Concord Quadrangle, Massachusetts: Boston College, Master's Thesis, scale 1:24,0002020 2400071
adapted from: Hansen, W.R., 1956, Geology and Mineral Resources of the Hudson and Maynard Quadrangles, Massachusetts (plate 1: Map and Sections Showing Bedrock Geology): U.S. Geological Survey, Bulletin 1038, scale 1:24,0002020 2400064
adapted from: Kopera, Joseph P., 2011, Preliminary Compilation of Bedrock Geology in the Vicinity of Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site: Massachusetts Geological Survey, Preliminary Report, scale 1:24,0002024 2400021
Bedrock geologic map of the Grafton quadrangle, Worcester County, Massachusetts2011 1:24,00018
Rodgers-Compilations— 1:50,0009
adapted from: Oldale, R.N., Koteff, C., and Hartshorn, J.H., 1971, Geologic Map of the Orleans Quadrangle, Barnstable County, Cape Cod, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey, Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-931, scale 1:24,0002024 240005
adapted from: Oldale, R.N., 1970, Geologic Map of the Chatham Quadrangle, Barnstable County, Cape Cod, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey, Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-911, scale 1:24,0002024 240002

Most-measured map units

Where a source recorded the geologic unit a measurement was taken on, the Atlas keeps it. These are the units carrying the most measurements in Massachusetts.

Map unitAgeLithologyMeasurements
Ponaganset Zpg n—336
Ponaganset Zpg ——323
Northbridge Zncg ——195
Northbridge Zncg n—131
Northbridge Zncgm n—121
Northbridge Zncgm ——120
Blackstone Zb n—113
Blackstone Zb ——109
Ponaganset Zphg n—33
Ponaganset Zphg ——30
Pegmatite ——29
tonalite Zt n—28

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