The Itaja�� foreland basin: a tectono-sedimentary record of the Ediacaran period, Southern Brazil

The Itajaí Basin located in the southern border of the Luís Alves Microplate is considered as a peripheral foreland basin related to the Dom Feliciano Belt. It presents an excellent record of the Ediacaran period, and its upper parts display the best Brazilian example of Precambrian turbiditic deposits. The basal succession of Itajaí Group is represented by sandstones and conglomerates (Baú Formation) deposited in alluvial and deltaic-fan systems. The marine upper sequences correspond to the Ribeir?o Carvalho (channelized and non-channelized proximal silty-argillaceous rhythmic turbidites), Ribeir?o Neisse (arkosic sandstones and siltites), and Ribeir?o do Bode (distal silty turbidites) formations. The Apiúna Formation felsic volcanic rocks crosscut the sedimentary succession. The Cambrian Subida leucosyenogranite represents the last felsic magmatic activity to affect the Itajaí Basin. The Brusque Group and the Florianópolis Batholith are proposed as source areas for the sediments of the upper sequence. For the lower continental units the source areas are the Santa Catarina, S?o Miguel and Camboriú complexes. The lack of any oceanic crust in the Itajaí Basin suggests that the marine units were deposited in a restricted, internal sea. The sedimentation started around 600?Ma and ended before 560?Ma as indicated by the emplacement of rhyolitic domes. The Itajaí Basin is temporally and tectonically correlated with the Camaqu? Basin in Rio Grande do Sul and the Arroyo del Soldado/Piriápolis Basin in Uruguay. It also has several tectono-sedimentary characteristics in common with the African-equivalent Nama Basin.     

The long life of SAMBA connection in Columbia: A paleomagnetic study of the 1535 Ma Mucajaí Complex,northern Amazonian Craton,Brazil

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the paleomagnetic data of the Amazonian Craton, with important geodynamic and paleogeographic implications for the Paleo-Mesoproterozoic Columbia supercontinent (a.k.a., Nuna, Hudsoland). Despite recent increase of paleomagnetic data for several other cratons in Columbia, its longevity and the geodynamic processes that resulted in its formation are not well known. A paleomagnetic study was performed on rocks from the ∼1535 Ma AMG (Anorthosite-Mangerite-Rapakivi Granite) Mucajaí Complex located in the Roraima State (Brazil), in the northern portion of the Amazonian Craton, the Guiana Shield. Thermal and AF treatments revealed northwestern/southeastern directions with upward/downward inclinations for samples from twelve sites. This characteristic remanent magnetization is mainly carried by Ti-poor magnetite and in a lesser amount by hematite. Site mean directions were combined with previous results obtained for three other sites from the Mucajaí Complex, producing the dual polarity mean direction: Dm = 132.2°; Im = 35.4° (N = 15; α₉₅ = 12.7°; k = 10.0) and a paleomagnetic pole located at 0.1°E, 38.2°S (A₉₅ = 12.6°; K = 10.2). The Mucajaí pole favours the SAMBA (South AMerica-BAltica) link in a configuration formed by Amazonia and Baltica in Columbia. Also, there is geological and paleomagnetic evidence that the juxtaposition of Baltica and Laurentia at 1.76–1.26 Ga forms the core of Columbia. The present paleomagnetic data predict a long life 1.78–1.43 Ga SAMBA connection forming part of the core of the supercontinent.     

The Afeição augen-gneiss Suite and the record of the Cariris Velhos Orogeny (1000–960 Ma) within the Riacho do Pontal fold belt,NE Brazil

Early Tonian (∼1000–920 Ma) rocks occur within the Transversal Zone of the Borborema Province in Northeast Brazil comprising the 700 km-long sigmoidal Cariris Velhos belt. The Afeição augen-gneiss Suite crops out in the internal zone of the Riacho do Pontal fold belt, about 100 km southwestward of the closest Cariris Velhos occurrence within the Transversal Zone, and has been proposed to represent a continuation of this belt within the Southern subprovince of the Borborema Province. Several plutons included within this unit intrude or are thrust upon metavolcanosedimentary sequences of three different units (Santa Filomena, Paulistana and Morro Branco complexes). The Afeição Suite is composed mostly of calc-alkaline, high-K, peraluminous, high-silica ferroan and magnesian granites. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns are moderate to highly fractionated, with a pronounced negative Eu anomaly. Incompatible element spidergrams show a negative Nb–Ta anomaly, akin to convergence setting (Cordilleran-type) granites. U–Pb zircon data constrain the age of crystallization between 1000 and 960 Ma, thus confirming chrono-correlation with the Cariris Velhos belt. Values of εNd(t) between −1.0 and +3.1 and T_DM of 1.2–1.5 Ga, similar to other Cariris Velhos occurrences, suggest variable mixing of Tonian juvenile sources with older crustal sources, the latter involving Archean/Paleoproterozoic basement. Although there are currently no reliable geochronological data for the supracrustal sequences of the internal zone, cross-cutting relationships indicate that the Santa Filomena and Morro Branco complexes are older or of similar age to the Afeição Suite, and thus could be related to the Cariris Velhos Orogeny. Based on petrographic, lithogeochemical, geochronological and isotope data, and according to previous models proposed for the Cariris Velhos belt, we interpret the Afeição Suite as the southwestern edge of a continental margin magmatic arc accreted to this portion of West Gondwana during the Early Tonian. Late-Brasiliano dextral displacement through the western branch of the Pernambuco shear zone separated these Cariris Velhos occurrences from its equivalents within the Transversal Zone of the Borborema Province (Recanto-type augen-gneiss of the Alto Pajeú Terrane).     

The Orosirian (1800–2050 Ma) plate tectonic episode: Key for reconstructing the Proterozoic tectonic record

Eight lines of evidence indicate that the Orosirian Period in mid-Paleoproterozoic time was characterized by plate tectonics: ophiolites, low T/P metamorphism including eclogites, passive margin formation, tall mountains, paleomagnetic constraints, ore deposits, abundant S-type granites, and seismic images of paleo-subduction zones. This plate tectonic episode occurred about 1 billion years earlier than the present plate tectonic episode began in Neoproterozoic time. The two plate tectonic episodes bracket the ‘Boring Billion’, which may have been a protracted single lid tectonic episode that began when the supercontinent Nuna or Columbia formed. Recognition of multiple lines of evidence for Orosirian plate tectonics demonstrates that Earth’s tectonic style can be reconstructed with some confidence back to at least Early Paleoproterozoic time, and thus the absence of compelling evidence for Mesoproterozoic plate tectonics is not obvious due to poor preservation. A tectono-magmatic lull ～2.3 Ga suggests an earlier episode of single lid tectonics. Evidence for two episodes of plate tectonics and two episodes of single lid tectonics indicates that Earth switched between single lid and plate tectonics multiple times during the last 2.4 Ga.     

First record of oligocene conchostracans (Tremembé formation,Taubaté Basin) from São Paulo,Brazil

In this paper the first Oligocene conchostracans are described from the Tremembé Formation (Taubaté Basin) of Brazil, these are also the first known Oligocene conchostracans in the world. References to a few other Cenozoic conchostracan discoveries are also discussed. Tremembeglypta saadi nov. gen. et sp. is compared with different members of the family Loxomegaglyptidae, specifically with Paraleptestheria menglaensis Chen, the only member of the family described from the Lower Tertiary of China. Paleobiological and environmental comments about conchostracans and their associated fish fauna are included. Finally, the importance and implication of this find are briefly discussed.     

Geochemistry and petrogenesis of late Ediacaran (605–580 Ma) post-collisional alkaline rocks from the Katherina ring complex,south Sinai,Egypt

The Katherina ring complex (KRC) in the central part of south Sinai, Egypt, is a typical ring complex of late Neoproterozoic age (605–580 Ma). It was developed during the final tectono-magmatic stage of the north Arabian–Nubian Shield (ANS) during evolution of the Pan-African crust. The KRC includes Katherina volcanics, subvolcanic bodies, ring dykes and Katherina granitic pluton. The Katherina volcanics represent the earliest stage of the KRC, which was subsequently followed by emplacement of the subvolcanic bodies and ring dykes. The Katherina granitic pluton depicts as the latest evolution stage of the KRC that intruded all the early formed rock units in the concerned area. The Katherina volcanics are essentially composed of rhyolites, ignimbrite, volcanic breccia and tuffs. Mineralogically, the peralkaline rhyolites contain sodic amphiboles and aegirine. The rhyolite whole rock chemistry has acmite-normative character. The subvolcanic bodies of the KRC are represented by peralkaline microgranite and porphyritic quartz syenite. The ring dykes are semicircular in shape and consist mainly of quartz syenite, quartz trachyte and trachybasalt rock types. The Katherina subvolcanic rocks, volcanic rocks as well as the ring dykes are alkaline or/and peralkaline in nature. The alkaline granitic pluton forms the inner core of the KRC, including the high mountainous areas of G. Abbas Pasha, G. Bab, G. Katherina and G. Musa. These mountains are made up of alkaline syenogranite and alkali feldspar granite. The mantle signature recorded in the KRC indicates a juvenile ANS crust partial melting process for the generation of this system. The evolution of the KRC rocks is mainly dominated by crystal fractionation and crustal contamination. Mineral geothermometry points to the high temperature character of the KRC, up to 700–1100 °C.     

The 1420 Ma Indiavaí Mafic Intrusion (SW Amazonian Craton): Paleomagnetic results and implications for the Columbia supercontinent

The configuration and the timing of assembly and break-up of Columbia are still matter of debate. In order to improve our knowledge about the Mesoproterozoic evolution of Columbia, a paleomagnetic study was carried out on the 1420 Ma Indiavaí mafic intrusive rocks that crosscut the polycyclic Proterozoic basement of the SW Amazonian Craton, in southwestern Mato Grosso State (Brazil). Alternating field and thermal demagnetization revealed south/southwest ChRM directions with downward inclinations for sixteen analyzed sites. These directions are probably carried by SD/PSD magnetite with high coercivities and high unblocking temperatures as indicated by additional rock magnetic tests, including thermomagnetic data, hysteresis data and the progressive acquisition of isothermal remanent magnetization. Different stable magnetization components isolated in host rocks from the basement 10 km NW away to the Indiavaí intrusion, further support the primary origin of the ChRM. A mean of the site mean directions was calculated at Dm = 209.8°, Im = 50.7° (α₉₅ = 8.0°, K = 22.1), which yielded a paleomagnetic pole located at 249.7°E, 57.0°S (A₉₅ = 8.6°). The similarity of this pole with the recently published 1420 Ma pole from the Nova Guarita dykes in northern Mato Grosso State suggests a similar tectonic framework for these two sites located 600 km apart, implying the bulk rigidity of the Rondonian-San Ignacio crust at that time. Furthermore these data provide new insights on the tectonic significance of the 1100–1000 Ma Nova Brasilândia belt—a major EW feature that cuts across the basement rocks of this province, which can now be interpreted as intracratonic, in contrast to previous interpretation. From a global perspective, a new Mesoproterozoic paleogeography of Columbia has been proposed based on comparison of these 1420 Ma poles and a 1780 Ma pole from Amazonia with other paleomagnetic poles of similar age from Baltica and Laurentia, a reconstruction in agreement with geological correlations.     

Mercury in the Waters of the Jundiaí River, SP, Brazil: The Role of Dissolved Organic Matter

Many developing countries have regions of high demographic density, where untreated residuary waters from different sources are often discharged into rivers, streams and other water bodies. This paper discusses the reducing action of organic matter of anthropic origin on the mercury redox cycle in the Jundiaí River impacted by discharged wastes, and on the Piraí River, a non-impacted water body. The total mercury concentrations in these locations vary from 1.7 to 32?ng?L^?1 in the former and from 0.6 to 10.6?ng?L^?1 in the latter. Dissolved organic carbon concentrations of up to 68.3 and 6.5?mg?L^?1 were observed, confirming the higher impact on the Jundiaí River. It was found that an inverse correlation between the concentration of dissolved organic carbon and total mercury was stronger in the Jundiaí River, given that it receives higher organic loads, suggesting that organic matter exerts a reducing action on mercury, which is released as gas into the atmosphere. This correlation was not observed in the Piraí River, where the organic matter of natural origin is probably not sufficiently labile to act intensely upon the Hg redox cycle, favoring the metal transport.     

The role of gravitational collapse in controlling the evolution of crestal fault systems (Espírito Santo Basin,SE Brazil)

A high-quality 3D seismic volume from offshore Espírito Santo Basin (SE Brazil) is used to assess the importance of gravitational collapse to the formation of crestal faults above salt structures. A crestal fault system is imaged in detail using seismic attributes such as curvature and variance, which are later complemented by analyses of throw vs. distance (T-D) and throw vs. depth (T-Z). In the study area, crestal faults comprise closely spaced arrays and are bounded by large listric faults, herein called border faults. Two episodes of growth are identified in two opposite-dipping fault families separated by a transverse accommodation zone. Statistical analyses for eighty-four (84) faults show that fault spacing is < 250 m, with border faults showing the larger throw values. Fault throw varies between 8 ms and 80 ms two-way time for crestal faults, and 60–80 ms two-way time for border faults. Fault length varies between ∼410 m and 1750 m, with border faults ranging from 1250 m to 1750 m. This work shows that border faults accommodated most of the strain associated with salt growth and collapse. The growth history of crestal faults favours an isolated fault propagation model with fault segment linkage being associated with the lateral propagation of discrete fault segments. Importantly, two episodes of fault growth are identified as synchronous to two phases of seafloor erosion, rendering local unconformities as competent markers of fault reactivation at a local scale. This paper has crucial implications for the understanding of fault growth as a means to assess drilling risk and oil and gas migration on continental margins. As a corollary, this work demonstrates that: 1) a certain degree of spatial organisation occurs in crestal fault systems; 2) transverse accommodation zones can form regions in which fault propagation is enhanced and regional dips of faults change in 4D.     

Geochemistry,U–Pb geochronology,Sm–Nd and O isotopes of ca. 50 Ma long Ediacaran High-K Syn-Collisional Magmatism in the Pernambuco Alagoas Domain,Borborema Province,NE Brazil

The Pernambuco Alagoas (PEAL) domain shows the major occurrence of granitic batholiths of the Borborema Province, NE Brazil, with Archean to Neoproterozoic range of Nd T_DM model ages, giving clues on the role of granites during the Brasiliano orogeny. SHRIMP U/Pb zircon geochronological data for seven granitic intrusions of the PEAL domain divide the studied granitoids into three groups: 1) early-to syn-collision granitoids with crystallization ages ca. 635 Ma (Serra do Catú pluton), 2) syn-collision granitoids with crystallization ages 610–618 Ma (Santana do Ipanema, Água Branca, Mata Grande and Correntes plutons) and 3) late-to post-collision granitoids with ages of ca. 590 Ma (Águas Belas, and Cachoeirinha plutons). The intrusions of group 1 and 2, except the Mata Grande and Correntes plutons, show Nd T_DM model ages ranging from 1.2 to 1.5 Ga, while the granitoids from group 3, and Mata Grande Pluton and Correntes plutons have Nd T_DM model ages ranging from 1.7 to 2.2 Ga. The studied granitoids with ages <600 Ma are high-K, calc-alkaline, shoshonitic and those with ages <600 Ma are transitional high-K calc-alkaline to alkaline. The volcanic arc signatures associated with the Paleoproterozoic Nd T_DM model ages are interpreted as inherited from the source rocks. The oldest ages and lower Nd T_DM model ages are recorded from granitoids intruded in the southwest part of the PEAL domain, suggesting that these intrusions are associated with slab-tearing during convergence between the PEAL and the Sergipano domains. Zircon oxygen isotopic data in some of the studied plutons, together with the available Nd isotopic data suggest that the Brasiliano orogeny strongly reworked older crust, of either Paleoproterozoic or Tonian ages. The studied granitoids are coeval with calc-alkaline granitoids of the Transversal Zone and Sergipano domains and rare high-K calc-alkaline granitoids from the Transversal Zone domain. Such large volumes of high-K granitoids with crystallization ages older than 600 Ma are not recorded in the Transversal Zone domains, suggesting that at least between 600 and 650 Ma, the granitic magmatism of these two areas were distinct. However, the studied granitoids (630–580 Ma) located in the north part of the PEAL domain, north of the Palmares shear zone are coeval with granitoids of similar geochemical compositions in the Transversal Zone domain. It suggests that the southeastern part of the Transversal Zone and the northern part of the PEAL domains belonged to the same crustal block during the Brasiliano/Pan-African orogeny.     

The Carrancas Formation,Bambuí Group: A record of pre-Marinoan sedimentation on the southern São Francisco craton,Brazil

The Carrancas Formation outcrops in east-central Brazil on the southern margin of the São Francisco craton where it comprises the base of the late Neoproterozoic Bambuí Group. It is overlain by the basal Ediacaran cap carbonate Sete Lagoas Formation and was for a long time considered to be glacially influenced and correlative with the glaciogenic Jequitaí Formation. New stratigraphic, isotopic and geochronologic data imply that the Carrancas Formation was instead formed by the shedding of debris from basement highs uplifted during an episode of minor continental rifting. Reddish dolostones in the upper Carrancas Formation have δ¹³C values ranging from +7.1 to +9.6‰, which is a unique C isotopic composition for the lowermost Bambuí Group but similar to values found in the Tijucuçu sequence, a pre-glacial unit in the Araçuaí fold belt on the eastern margin of the São Francisco craton. The stratigraphic position below basal Ediacaran cap carbonates and the highly positive δ¹³C values together indicate a Cryogenian interglacial age for the Carrancas Formation, with the high δ¹³C values representing the so-called Keele peak, which precedes the pre-Marinoan Trezona negative δ¹³C excursion in other well characterized Cryogenian sequences. Hence, The Carrancas Formation pre-dates de Marinoan Jequitaí Formation and represents an interval of Cryogenian stratigraphy not previously known to occur on the southern margin of São Francicso craton. Documentation of Cryogenian interglacial strata on the São Francisco craton reinforces recent revisions to the age of Bambuí Group strata and has implications for the development of the Bambuí basin.     

New petrified forest in Maranhão,Permian (Cisuralian) of the Parnaíba Basin,Brazil

This work presents a new fossil plant-bearing area located in the municipalities of Duque Bacelar and Coelho Neto, Maranhão State, Brazil, recovered from lower Permian (Cisuralian) strata of the Pedra de Fogo Formation, northeastern portion of the Parnaíba Basin. The area comprises more than five exposures with assemblages formed mostly of large gymnosperm woods, a number of them in life-position (reaching up to ∼2.30 m in height and 1.15 m in diameter) and, in lesser degree, of horizontal tree-fern stems (up to 5 m in length), some of them being referable to Psaronius sp. The fossils are recorded in sedimentary beds of continental origin that accumulated in shallow, nearshore areas of large lakes, which eventually were affected by rapid burial episodes generated by non-channelized, high energy fluvial systems. The new fossil assemblages are included within lacustrine rocks placed at the base of the Pedra de Fogo Formation, i.e., Sílex Basal Member, near the contact with the underlying Piauí Formation (Pennsylvanian). This observation contrasts with previous studies at the southwestern portion of the basin, where the stratigraphic position of plant fossils is referred to the upper Pedra de Fogo Formation (Trisidela Member) or even to the overlying Motuca Formation. The new sites currently suffer damage from human activities and require urgent actions in order to protect them. Based on the current laws, some measures of protection for these sites are discussed and proposed herein.     

The earliest Cambrian UHT metamorphism in the Qaidam block,western China: A record of the final assembly of Greater Gondwana?

The final assembly of Gondwana, known as the late Pan-African orogeny, is characterized by Ediacaran–early Cambrian ultrahigh temperature (UHT) metamorphism, which is widely identified within reconstructed East Gondwana. This distinctive feature likely provides a reliable criterion for identifying new Gondwanan terranes that lack paleo-geomagnetic data. Here we present zircon U–Pb geochronology and phase equilibria calculations for a variety of granulite types newly recognized from western Qaidam, China, which provide the first evidence that the Qaidam block, at least western Qaidam, experienced high-grade metamorphism in excess of 900 °C before/at 540–520 Ma. These UHT metamorphic rocks, similar to many well-known Pan-African UHT metamorphic terranes, is inferred to evolve along a clockwise P–T path that is usually related to collisional orogens. Comparison between new metamorphic zircon U–Pb ages from western Qaidam and the published age data from the UHT metamorphic terranes within East Gondwana suggests that the UHT metamorphic rocks found in western Qaidam similarly records the final assembly of Gondwana. Although the exact paleo-geographical location of the Qaidam block during the Gondwana period is unknown yet because of lacking paleo-geomagnetic data, new Pan-African UHT metamorphic record found in western Qaidam indicates, for the first time, that the Qaidam block is a Gondwanan terrane that split from this semi-supercontinent after the Pan-African orogeny.     

Provenance shift through time in superposed basins: From Early Cryogenian glaciomarine to Late Ediacaran orogenic sedimentations (Araçuaí Orogen,SE Brazil)

Records of Precambrian glaciation have been reported from southeastern Brazil for over a century. We present sedimentological, stratigraphic and isotopic (U-Pb and Lu-Hf on detrital zircons, C and O on carbonates) studies on diamictite-rich to diamictite-free successions of the Araçuaí Orogen, the Brazilian counterpart of the Araçuaí – West Congo Orogenic System (AWCO). From base to top, the Chapada Acauã Formation (Macaúbas Group) includes a diamictite-rich unit, with lenses of graded sandstone and clast-supported conglomerate, that gradually passes to graded sandstone, pelite with sparse oversized clasts and rare carbonate lenses on top, representing mass flow and turbidity current deposits of submarine fan, followed by finer-grained turbiditic sedimentation with iceberg discharges along fan fringes, from glaciomarine to post-glacial scenarios. The Salinas Formation comprises a deep-sea sand-mud sequence composed of pelites and pelitic wackes. The Chapada Acauã Formation was deposited in-between 750 and 667 Ma. It shows wide spectra of zircon ages (typical of continental rift to passive margin settings) that start around 3.2 Ga and display main age peaks indicating sediment provenance from the Rhyacian-Orosirian basement (εHf_(t) = +14.6 to −18.5) and Early Tonian anorogenic rocks (950–880 Ma; εHf_(t) = −3.2 to −23.2) for the diamictite-rich lower unit and, for the upper unit, also in Early Cryogenian anorogenic rocks (ca. 715 Ma, εHf_(t) = −9.6). In contrast, the Salinas Formation shows most ages in-between 676 and 620 Ma and a maximum sedimentation age around 551 Ma, with εHf_(t) from +6.9 to −18.2, unravelling an important shifting of sediment provenance to sources located in magmatic arcs and collisional granites of the Araçuaí and Ribeira orogens. The Early Cryogenian age and negative Hf signature for the glaciomarine Chapada Acauã Formation point to sediment sources in the 720–670 Ma anorogenic igneous rocks found in AWCO and adjacent Congo – São Francisco Craton, and suggest correlation with the Sturtian global glaciation.     

The Ediacaran Rio Doce magmatic arc revisited (Araçuaí-Ribeira orogenic system,SE Brazil)

Described half a century ago, the Galiléia tonalite represents a milestone in the discovery of plate margin magmatic arcs in the Araçuaí-Ribeira orogenic system (southeastern Brazil). In the 1990's, analytical studies on the Galiléia tonalite finally revealed the existence of a Late Neoproterozoic calc-alkaline magmatic arc in the Araçuaí orogen. Meanwhile, the name Rio Doce magmatic arc was applied to calc-alkaline plutons found in the Araçuaí-Ribeira boundary. After those pioneer studies, the calc-alkaline plutons showing a pre-collisional volcanic arc signature and age between 630 Ma and 585 Ma have been grouped in the G1 supersuite, corresponding to the Rio Doce arc infrastructure. Here, we revisit the Rio Doce arc with our solid field knowledge of the region and a robust analytical database (277 lithochemical analyses, and 47 U–Pb, 53 Sm–Nd, 25 ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and 7 Lu–Hf datasets). The G1 supersuite consists of regionally deformed, tonalitic to granodioritic batholiths and stocks, generally rich in melanocratic to mesocratic enclaves and minor gabbroic to dioritic plutons. Gabbroic to dioritic enclaves show evidence of magma mixing processes. The lithochemical and isotopic signatures clearly reveal a volcanic arc formed on a continental margin setting. Melts from a Rhyacian basement form the bulk of the magma produced, whilst gabbroic plutons and enclaves record involvement of mantle magmas in the arc development. Tonalitic stocks (U–Pb age: 618–575 Ma, εNd_(t): −5.7 to −7.8, Nd T_DM ages: 1.28–1.68 Ga, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(t): 0.7059–0.7118, and εHf_(t): −5.2 to −11.7) form the northernmost segment of the Rio Doce arc, which dies out in the ensialic sector of the Araçuaí orogen. At arc eastern and central zones, several batholiths (e.g., Alto Capim, Baixo Guandu, Galiléia, Muniz Freire, São Vítor) record a long-lasting magmatic history (632–580 Ma; εNd_(t): −5.6 to −13.3; Nd T_DM age: 1.35–1.80 Ga; ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(t): 0.7091–0.7123). At arc western border, the magmatic evolution started with gabbro-dioritic and tonalitic plutons (e.g., Chaves pluton, U–Pb age: 599 ± 15 Ma, εNd_(t): −4.8 to −6.8, Nd T_DM ages: 1.48–1.68 Ga, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(t): 0.7062–0.7068, and εHf_(t): −4.3 to −9.7; and Brasilândia pluton, U–Pb age: 581 ± 11 Ma, εNd_(t): −8.2 to −10.2, Nd T_DM ages: 1.63–1.68 Ga, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(t): 0.7088–0.7112, εHf_(t): −12.3 to −14.9), followed by late granodioritic intrusions (e.g., Guarataia pluton, U–Pb age: 576 ± 9 Ma, εNd_(t): −12.52 to −13.11, Nd T_DM age: 1.74–2.06 Ga, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(t): 0.7104–0.7110, εHf_(t): −12.9 to −21.6). The Muriaé batholith (U–Pb age: 620–592 Ma, εNd_(t): −8.2 to −13.6, Nd T_DM age: 1.41–1.88 Ga) and the Conceição da Boa Vista (586 ± 7 Ma) and Serra do Valentim (605 ± 8 Ma) stocks represent a segment of the Rio Doce arc correlated to the Serra da Bolívia and Marceleza complexes, making the link between the Araçuaí and Ribeira orogenic domains. We suggest three phases of arc development: i) eastward migration of arc front (632–605 Ma), ii) widespread magma production in the whole arc (605–585 Ma), and iii) late plutonism in the western arc region (585–575 Ma). Usual processes of volcanic arc development, like subduction of oceanic lithosphere under a continental margin, followed by asthenosphere ascent related to slab retreating and break-off may explain the Rio Doce arc evolution.     

The Early Cretaceous Jacuí Group,a newly discovered volcaniclastic–epiclastic accumulation at the top of the Paraná Basin,southern Brazil

The presence of volcaniclastic rocks related to the silicic magmatism within the Serra Geral Formation has been a matter of long-standing debate. In this paper, we present extensive documentation that supports the presence and abundance of these rocks in the Jacuí Group, a newly discovered volcaniclastic and epiclastic accumulation in southern Brazil. The Jacuí Group is composed of two interfingered stratigraphic units, the Volta Alegre and Tupanciretã formations, and it represents the uppermost stratigraphic unit of the Paraná Basin. The Volta Alegre Formation is primarily composed of resedimented volcaniclastic tuffites, the pyroclasts which were sourced from the Santa Maria subgroup of the Palmas-type of the Serra Geral Formation. The Tupanciretã Formation is composed of fluvial and aeolian deposits transported towards the north–northwest. Deposition of the Jacuí Group began in the Early Cretaceous (∼132 Ma) and was coeval with the acidic volcanism of the Santa Maria subgroup. This group was deposited in a probable interior sag basin that represents either the beginning of the extension in the inner part of the continent that subsequently migrated to the east or the far-field impact of extensional processes that preceded the break-up of Gondwana and the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean.     

Granites of the intracontinental termination of a magmatic arc: an example from the Ediacaran Araçuaí orogen,southeastern Brazil

The Araçuaí orogen of southeastern Brazil together with the West Congo belt of central West Africa form the Araçuaí–West Congo orogen generated during closure of a terminal segment of the Neoproterozoic Adamastor Ocean. Corresponding to an embayment in the São Francisco–Congo Craton, this portion of the Adamastor was only partially floored by oceanic crust. The convergence of its margins led to the development of the Rio Doce magmatic arc between 630 Ma and 580 Ma. The Rio Doce magmatic arc terminates in the northern portion of the Araçuaí orogen. Granitic plutons exposed in the northern extremity of the arc provide a rare opportunity to study magmatism at arc terminations, and to understand the interplay between calc-alkaline magma production and crustal recycling. The plutons forming the terminus of the arc consist of granodiorites, tonalites and monzogranites similar to a magnesian, slightly peraluminous, calcic- (68%) to calc-alkaline (24%), with minor alkali-calcic (8%) facies, medium- to high-K magmatic series. Although marked by negative Nb–Ta, Sr and Ti anomalies, typically associated with subduction-related magmas, the combined Sr, Nd and Hf isotopic data characterize a crustal signature related to anatexis of metamorphosed igneous and sedimentary rocks, rather than fractional crystallization of mantle-derived magmas. Zircon U–Pb ages characterizes two groups of granitoids. The older group, crystallized between 630 and 590 Ma, experienced a migmatization event at ca. 585 Ma. The younger granitoids, emplaced between 570 and 590 Ma, do not show any evidence for migmatization. Most of the investigated samples show good correlation with the experimental compositional field of amphibolite dehydration-melting, with some samples plotting into the field of greywacke dehydration-melting. The studied rocks are not typical I-type or S-type granites, being particularly similar to transitional I/S-type granitoids described in the Ordovician Famatinian arc (NW Argentina). We suggest a hybrid model involving dehydration-melting of meta-igneous (amphibolites) and metasedimentary (greywackes) rocks for magma production in the northern termination of the Rio Doce arc. The real contribution of each end-member is, however, a challenging work still to be done.     

A New Discovery of Cretaceous (~125 Ma) Migmatite in Liaodong Peninsula, North China Craton

正Objective The North China Craton (NCC),especially its eastern region,had experienced extensive lithospheric thinning during the Mesozoic (Zhu et al.,2011).The Liaodong Peninsula is an important constituent of the eastern NCC,and has recorded intensive lithospheric thinning-related magmatism and extensional deformation (e.g.,metamorphic core complex;Zheng et al.,2018).Previous     

Net Ecosystem Metabolism and Nonconservative Fluxes of Organic Matter in a Tropical Mangrove Estuary, Piauí River (NE of Brazil)

Net ecosystem metabolism (NEM) was measured in the Piauí River estuary, NE Brazil. A mass balance of C, N, and P was used to infer its sources and sinks. Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations and fluxes were measured over a year along this mangrove dominated estuary. DIC concentrations were high in all estuarine sections, particularly at the fluvial end member at the beginning of the rainy season. Carbon dioxide concentrations in the entire estuary were supersaturated throughout the year and highest in the upper estuarine compartment and freshwater, particularly at the rainy season, due to washout effects of carbonaceous soils and different organic anthropogenic effluents. The estuary served as a source of DIC to the atmosphere with an estimated flux of 13 mol CO₂ m^?2 year^?1. Input from the river was 46 mol CO₂ m^?2 year^?1. The metabolism of the system was heterotrophic, but short periods of autotrophy occurred in the lower more marine portions of the estuary. The pelagic system was more or less balanced between auto- and heterotrophy, whereas the benthic and intertidal mangrove region was heterotrophic. Estimated annual NEM yielded a total DIC production in the order of 18 mol CO₂ m^?2 year^?1. The anthropogenic inputs of particulate C, N, and P, dissolved inorganic P (DIP), and DIC were significant. The fluvial loading of particulate organic carbon and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) was largely retained in two flow regulation and hydroelectric reservoirs, promoting a reduction of C:N and C:P particulate ratios in the estuary. The net nonconservative fluxes obtained by a mass balance approach revealed that the estuary acts as a source of DIP, DIN, and DIC, the latter one being almost equivalent to the losses to the atmosphere. Mangrove forests and tidal mudflats were responsible for most of NEM rates and are the main sites of organic decomposition to sustain net heterotrophy. The main sources for this organic matter are the fluvial and anthropogenic inputs. The mangrove areas are the highest estuarine sources of DIP, DIC, and DIN.