Cambro-Ordovician magmatism in the Araçuaí Belt (SE Brazil): Snapshots from a post-collisional event

The focus of the present work is the rebound of the magmatism at the late stages of orogenic collapse in the Araçuaí Belt, in Brazil. At the end of the orogen bimodal inversely zoned plutons were emplaced along a tectonic corridor following the Atlantic coast of Brazil. This event culminates around 500 Ma. We review geology, petrography, geochemistry and geochronology of these plutonic structures in the region of Espírito Santo. New geochemical modeling of trace element data together with new whole rock Sm–Nd and Rb–Sr isotopic data depict a gradual process of mantle contamination during different stages of the orogen. In the post-orogenic stage contamination reaches extreme values. Basic rocks reach εNd_(0.5Ga) values below −10. Gabbros to peridotites are more enriched in Ba, Zr, LREE and Sr than the surrounding metasediments. Four new U–Pb data sets from determinations in zircon and monazite crystals, (central northern part of the belt) confirm peak magma production around 500 ± 15 Ma, ranging up to 525 ± 3 Ma in one of the structures. Based on the pictured data, we discuss the significance of this magmatism and present a possible model: a process of gradational delamination of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle and adjacent deep continental crust through underplating. As a consequence, an already enriched mantle was dramatically further contaminated. At the end of this event the intrusion of alkaline melts, with less negative εNd (−5) and further enrichment in incompatible elements, point towards a new input of deeper juvenile mantle magma. Our data suggest the possible onset of a hotspot due to the destabilization of the asthenospheric mantle after orogenic collapse.     

Hot spot volcanic tracks and their implications for south American plate motion,Campos basin (Rio de Janeiro state), Brazil

The spatial and temporal arrangement of volcanism produced by hot spots potentially can reveal the history of lithosphere plate drift. From the age of these igneous bodies, it is possible to estimate not only the drift speed of plates but also the timing of eventual route changes. This article concentrates on the apparent link between both the Poços de Caldas–Cabo Frio alkaline rocks alignment (Rio de Janeiro state) and the Vitória–Trindade chain (situated on the oceanic crust adjacent to Espírito Santo state, Brazil) to a single fixed hot spot. On the basis of geological, geomorphological, and geochronological evidence, the authors propose that the South American continent may have experienced a clockwise rotation during the Eocene, which resulted in the relative displacement of hot spot volcanic manifestations from Cabo Frio (Rio de Janeiro state) to the western border of the Vitória–Trindade chain. At this time, several tectonic, sedimentary, and magmatic events took place that were capable of causing the inferred Eocene displacement. It is worth noting the coincidence between the northeastern trend of the oil fields of the Campos basin and the suggested path of the basin as it moved over the hot spot.     

Ostracodes from the Aptian–Santonian of the Santos,Campos and Espírito Santo basins,Brazil

The Lower and Upper Cretaceous deposits from the Brazilian marginal basins present a rich and diversified fauna of ostracodes in continental, marine and mixohaline paleoenvironments. While the Cretaceous ostracodes from the northeastern region have already been the subject of many taxonomic and biostratigraphical studies, data from the southeastern basins are still scarce and restricted to the record of a few species. The present study represents a comprehensive contribution to the systematic knowledge of the Aptian–Santonian ostracodes from the Brazilian southeastern marginal basins. A total of 1045 cutting samples were analyzed from 10 wells drilled offshore in Santos, Campos and Espírito Santo basins. Thirty-eight ostracode taxa were recorded from different depositional environments, including the following six new species: Amphicytherura fragilis sp. nov., Brachycythere multidifferentis sp. nov., Fossocytheridea ballentae sp. nov., Fossocytheridea elegans sp. nov., Nigeroloxoconcha itanhaensis sp. nov. and Paracypris eniotmetos sp. nov.     

Dating Gondwanan continental crust at the Rio Grande Rise,South Atlantic

Crystalline continental rocks and associated crust‐contaminated basaltic rocks were unexpectedly dredged on the crest and at seamounts of the Rio Grande Rise, South Atlantic. Zircon U–Pb ages of one gabbro (ca. 2,200 Ma) and four granitoids (between ca. 1,430–480 Ma) indicate that the breakup of SW Gondwana left behind continental fragments of dominantly African age. These rocks may have been incorporated into the oceanic lithosphere by complex processes including rifting and interaction of the Tristan‐Gough mantle plume with hyperextended continental margins. Until ca. 80–70 Ma, the Rio Grande Rise and an old portion of the Walvis Ridge formed a conjugate pair of aseismic ridges, and the Tristan‐Gough plume was positioned at the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge. The finding of continental rock fragments in one of these conjugate pairs opens new perspectives on the mechanisms of continental break‐up, the nature of this conjugate pair, and the geodynamic evolution of rifted Gondwana margins in the South Atlantic.     

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.     

Record of the giant sloth Valgipes bucklandi (Lund, 1839) (Tardigrada,Scelidotheriinae) in Rio Grande do Norte state,Brazil, with notes on taphonomy and paleoecology

This paper presents the first record of the species Valgipes bucklandi in Rio Grande do Norte state, in the Brazilian Intertropical Region (BIR). This occurrence extends the distribution of this taxon in the BIR. Taphonomic information recovered from this finding indicated that the carcass was probably exposed in a hot and dry environment, whereas carbon isotope data revealed that V. bucklandi had a browser diet (δ¹³C = −10.17‰), living in more closed environments.     

Classification and mineralization potential of the pegmatites of the Eastern Brazilian Pegmatite Province

The potential for Nb, Ta, Li, Sn-mineralization as well as for precious stones for the Eastern Brazilian Pegmatite Province (EBPP) has been evaluated on the basis of 530 K-feldspar and 550 muscovite major and trace element analyses. The EBPP is situated mainly in the State of Minas Gerais, but encompasses also parts of the States of Bahia, Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro. The EBPP is the largest pegmatite province of South America. It was divided into the pegmatite districts of Itambé, Araçuaí, Safira, Nova Era, Aimorés and Espera Feliz. This was done to test whether the pegmatites of these districts differ in their mineralization potential and how geotectonic setting influences mineralization potential. The fractionation diagrams such as Cs, Zn, Li, Be, Ba versus K/Rb, Cs versus Ta/(Ta + Nb), and U, Na₂O versus K/Cs for the pegmatite districts of Araçuaí and Safira show the widest range in fractionation. These pegmatite districts are leaders in the production of gem-quality tourmaline, aquamarine, morganite, and contain abundant spodumene, tantalite and columbite. In contrast, the Espera Feliz and Aimorés pegmatite districts are the most primitive districts examined and have a corresponding lack of rare-element mineralization. Literature data indicate that all studied pegmatites are of Brasiliano age, i.e., formed between 600 and 480?Ma. The pegmatites of Transamazonic age (1.9?Ga), found rarely in the study area, are of economic importance in the context of emerald mineralization, but seem to be of less importance for rare metal and other gemstone mineralization.     

Manganese and copper fluxes from continental margin sediments

Total dissolvable Cu and Mn have been measured in seawaters collected from the continental shelf of the eastern Bering Sea. Copper concentrations of < 3 nmole kg⁻¹ were measured over the shelf break but concentrations increased to >4 nmole kg⁻¹ inshore of a hydrographie front over the 100 m isobath. Manganese concentrations also were low over the shelf break, <10 nmole kg⁻¹, and increased systematically to concentrations >10 nmole kg⁻¹ inshore of the hydrographic front. Depth distributions of Mn at all continental shelf stations showed gradients into the sediments, with concentrations typically >20 nmole kg⁻¹ in a bottom layer extending about 30 m off the bottom. Benthic Cu and Mn fluxes are indicated by cross-shelf pore water profiles that show interfacial concentrations more than an order of magnitude greater than in bottom water. These data and the results of a model of metal transport across the shelf suggest that Cu and Mn fluxes, estimated at 2 and 18 nmole cm⁻²y⁻¹, respectively, from continental shelf sediments may be one “source” of these metals to the deep sea.     

Ability of corals to accumulate heavy metals,Northern Red Sea,Egypt

The concentrations of six heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Pb and Zn) were studied in 11 hard and 4 soft common coral species collected from Hurghada, Wadi Al-Gemal and Gola’an along the Red Sea coast to assess the differential abilities of corals to concentrate and assimilate the heavy metals inside soft coral tissues and hard coral skeletons. These results reveal the order of Fe > Zn > Ni > Pb ≥ Mn > Cu. Fe recorded significant high concentrations in mushroom (funnel) forms of the soft corals at the different sites; 125.19, 101.71 and 90.44 ppm at Gola’an, Hurghada and Wadi Al-Gemal, respectively. The soft coral species recorded the highest average concentration of Mn, Ni, Cu and Zn than the hard corals, which were 13.22, 16.05, 13.08 and 148.17 ppm, respectively. Generally, soft corals show higher metal concentrations than the hard ones; moreover, Hurghada recorded a higher trend of metal concentrations in soft and hard corals than the other sites. The study concluded that many biological and local environmental factors influenced the metal occurrences and uptakes in both coral forms such as, the exposed surface area for metal uptake, turbidity, overlying mucus thickness and the ability of metals to substitute inside the crystal lattice of the hard corals.     

Contamination,bioaccessibility and human health risk of heavy metals in exposed-lawn soils from 28 urban parks in southern China's largest city,Guangzhou

The total concentrations and oral bioaccessibility of heavy metals in surface-exposed lawn soils from 28 urban parks in Guangzhou were investigated, and the health risks posed to humans were evaluated. The descending order of total heavy metal concentrations was Fe > Mn > Pb > Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Cd, but Cd showed the highest percentage bioaccessibility (75.96%). Principal component analysis showed that Grouped Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn, and grouped Cr and Mn could be controlled two different types of human sources. Whereas, Ni and Fe were controlled by both anthropogenic and natural sources. The carcinogenic risk probabilities for Pb and Cr to children and adults were under the acceptable level (<1 × 10⁻⁴). Hazard Quotient value for each metal and Hazard Index values for all metals studied indicated no significant risk of non-carcinogenic effects to children and adults in Guangzhou urban park soils.     

High-pressure metamorphic rocks in the Borborema Province,Northeast Brazil: Reworking of Archean oceanic crust during proterozoic orogenies

We present the first evidence of Archean oceanic crust submitted to Proterozoic high-pressure (HP) metamorphism in the South American Platform. Sm–Nd and Lu–Hf isotopic data combined with U–Pb geochronological data from the Campo Grande area, Rio Grande do Norte domain, in the Northern Borborema Province, reflect a complex Archean (2.9 ​Ga and 2.6 ​Ga) and Paleoproterozoic (2.0 ​Ga) evolution, culminating in the Neoproterozoic Brasiliano/Pan-African orogeny (ca. 600 Ma). The preserved mafic rocks contain massive poikiloblastic garnet and granoblastic amphibole with variable proportions of plagioclase ​+ ​diopside in symplectitic texture, typical of high-pressure rocks. These clinopyroxene-garnet amphibolites and the more common garnet amphibolites from the Campo Grande area are exposed as rare lenses within an Archean migmatite complex. The amphibolite lenses represent 2.65 ​Ga juvenile tholeiitic magmatism derived from depleted mantle sources (positive ε_Hf(t) values of +3.81 to +30.66) later enriched by mantle metasomatism (negative ε_Nd(t) values of –7.97). Chondrite and Primitive Mantle-normalized REE of analyzed samples and discriminant diagrams define two different oceanic affinities, with E-MORB and OIB signature. Negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu1 ​= ​0.75–0.95) indicate depletion of plagioclase in the source. Inherited zircon cores of 3.0–2.9 ​Ga in analyzed samples indicate that the Neoarchean tholeiitic magmatism was emplaced into 2923 ​± ​14 ​Ma old Mesoarchean crust (ε_Nd(t) ​= ​–2.58 and Nd T_DM ​= ​3.2 ​Ga) of the Rio Grande do Norte domain. The age of retro-eclogite facies metamorphism is not yet completely understood. We suggest that two high-grade metamorphic events are recognized in the mafic rocks: the first at 2.0 ​Ga, recorded in some samples, and the second, at ca. 600 Ma, stronger and more pervasive and recorded in several of the mafic rock samples. The Neoproterozoic zircon grains are found in symplectite texture as inclusions in the garnet grains and represent the age of HP conditions in the area. These zircon grains show a younger cluster of concordant analyses between 623 ​± ​3 ​Ma and 592 ​± ​5 ​Ma with ε_Hf(t) values of +0.74 to –65.88. Thus, the Campo Grande rock assemblage is composed of Archean units that were amalgamated to West Gondwana during Neoproterozoic Brasiliano orogeny continent-continent collision and crustal reworking.     

Site-specific accentuation of heavy metals in groundwaters from Ankaleshwar industrial estate, India

The seasonal behavior of environmentally sensitive polymetallic contaminants in groundwaters from Ankaleshwar industrial estate (AIE) India was studied. The potentially toxic elements (Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe, Mo and Ni) demonstrated accentuated enrichment signatures during post-monsoon, besides colossal spatial variability on temporal scale. GIS-based accrual factor raster mapping facilitated the spot-specific quantitative and comparative appraisal of metallic distensions during post-monsoon with a decreasing hierarchy of seasonal augmentation Ni > Cu > Mn > Fe > Co > Mo > Cr. High inconsistencies and spot (pixel) strict exceedingly high accrual factors over these maps concur with diverse land use and surface-polluting sources. Inter-annual adiabatic extension of heavy metals in groundwaters implies their widespread availability in soil and atmospheric backgrounds in the region. Dissimilar performance with contrasting accretion patterns of redox-sensitive metals (Fe and Mo) is revealed by three-component color composites. Heavy metal hyper-accrual realms warrant an immediate demand for upgrading the existing waste management methodologies and aquifer remediation, as the region is highly cultivated and groundwater is the sole source of water supply for drinking, agricultural and other purposes.     

Distribution and speciation of four heavy metals (Cd,Cr, Mn and Ni) in the surficial sediments from estuary in daliao river and yingkou bay

Heavy metal pollution in the surficial sediments derived from estuary in Daliao River and Yingkou Bay is investigated in the present work in order to assess environmental quality and pollution levels. Physicochemical parameters of surficial sediments (sediment type and TOC) and the overlying water (temperature, EC, pH and dissolved oxygen) are also studied. The total concentrations of Cd, Cr, Mn and Ni in the samples are determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The result indicates the comparatively low concentrations of the four metals (the max. of 0.67 mg/kg of Cd, 85.80 mg/kg of Cr, 1073.00 mg/kg of Mn and 38.62 mg/kg of Ni), the distribution rule of four metals in different regions of the studying area and the sources of the pollution. The methods of index of geoaccumulation, potential ecological risk index and pollution load index are used to assess the degree of contamination, distribution character and the sequence of pollution level in different regions which reflect the overall low values and low pollution level. The six-step sequential extraction method is used to determine the chemical forms of the four metals in order to evaluate their possible mobility, bioavailability and toxicity in surficial sediments. Cd and Mn are mostly concentrated in the CARB fraction, while Ni and Cr are mostly concentrated in the RES fraction. The mobility of the metals has the following order (average value): Cd > Mn > Ni > Cr.     

Basalt stratigraphy and silica gossans in Campo Grande and Serra de Maracaju,Mato Grosso do Sul,Paraná Volcanic Province

Thousands of silica gossans are exposed at the top of the Lower Cretaceous basalt hills in the Paraná volcanic province, strongly indicating the presence of calcite, amethyst and agate geode deposits along with native copper mineralization. The Embrapa silica gossan in the northwestern portion of the province (Campo Grande region) is an excellent example of such novel geological structure in the continental flood basalts. This silica gossan has a size of 450 × 350 m standing out as a treeless area in the densely wooded savanna and makes part of the stratigraphy of six basalt flows of Paranapanema intermediate-Ti chemical type. The base of the volcanic column is constituted by two Pitanga types and the overlying column is Paranapanema type. Every basalt flow has a silicified sand layer or breccia at the top and these are fed by abundant sand dikes. The Anel Viário Norte (AVN) flow is the most intensely altered by hydrothermal fluids producing voluminous secondary calcite infillings in the amygdales and fractures. In this region the basalts contain higher copper content than the average of the volcanic province. The studied silica gossans display negative anomalies in gamma spectrometry as a response to K, U and Th depletion during alteration. We propose a new exploration methodology by observing GoogleEarth images complemented with field studies and geochemistry to readily locate favorable areas for amethyst and agate geode deposits and native copper mineralization.     

Heavy metal concentrations in marine green,brown, and red seaweeds from coastal waters of Yemen,the Gulf of Aden

The purpose of this study was to investigate the concentration levels of heavy metals in different species of the main three marine algal divisions from the Gulf of Aden coastal waters, Yemen. The divisions included Chlorophyta—green plants (Halimeda tuna, Rhizoclonium kochiamum, Caldophora koiei, Enteromorpha compressa, and Caulerpa racemosa species), Phaeophyta—brown seaweeds (Padina boryana, Turbinaria elatensis, Sargassum binderi, Cystoseira myrica, and Sargassum boveanum species), and Rhodophyta—red seaweeds (Hypnea cornuta, Champia parvula, Galaxaura marginate, Laurencia paniculata, Gracilaria foliifere, and species). The heavy metals, which included cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), Iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and vanadium (V) were measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAs). The concentrations of heavy metals in all algal species are in the order of Fe >> Cu > Mn > Cr > Zn > Ni > Pb > Cd > V > Co. The results also showed that the uptake of heavy metals by different marine algal divisions was in the order of Chlorophyta > Phaeophyta > Rhodophyta. These heavy metals were several order of magnitude higher than the concentrations of the same metals in seawater. This indicates that marine alga progressively uptake heavy metals from seawater.     

Crustal thickness map of Brazil: Data compilation and main features

We present a crustal thickness map of Brazil and adjacent areas based on a compilation of data published in the literature as well as new measurements. We used crustal thicknesses mainly derived from seismic datasets such as deep seismic refraction experiments, receiver function analyses, and surface-wave dispersion velocities. Crustal thicknesses derived from modelling gravity anomalies commonly depend on assumptions, such as constant density contrast across the Moho interface, which are not always easily verifiable and were considered only along the continental shelf to fill large gaps in the seismic data. Our compilation shows that the crust in the stable continental area onshore has an average thickness of 39 ± 5 km (1-σ deviation) and that no clear difference can be observed between low altitude, intracratonic sedimentary basins, NeoProterozoic foldbelts (except for the Borborema Province), and cratonic areas. The thinnest crust is found in the Borborema Province of NE Brazil (30–35 km) and along a narrow belt within Tocantins Province (∼35 km), roughly parallel to the Eastern border of the Amazon craton, while the thickest crust is found in the Amazon and São Francisco cratons (41 ± 4 km), and the Paraná Basin (42 ± 4 km). Both the Ponta Grossa and the Rio Grande Arches are areas of thinned crust, and the western border of the Brazilian platform, near the sub-Andean region, seems to be characterized by a crustal thickness of less than 40 km. Although sparse in data coverage, we expect the resulting crustal thickness map to be useful for future studies of isostasy, dynamic topography, and crustal evolution of the country.     

Occurrence and mobility of major and trace elements in groundwater from pristine volcanic aquifers in Jeju Island,Korea

Major and trace elements in groundwater from basaltic aquifers in pristine conditions were investigated in a volcanic island to evaluate sources, sinks, and mobility of elements over a wide range of mineralization conditions with total dissolved solids from 50 mg/L to 3400 mg/L. Groundwater was highly undersaturated with respect to primary silicate minerals, indicating that dissolution of basaltic rocks may continue under conditions with precipitation of calcite and secondary silicates. Evolution of B/Cl ratio in groundwater from marine aerosols to basaltic rocks showed that the ratio could be used as a conservative tracer for interactions between water and basaltic rocks. Relative mobility (RM) of elements calculated using the concentrations of elements in the local basaltic rocks and those in groundwater showed that mobility decreased in the order of B > Rb > Na > K > Mg > Ca > Mo > V > Si > Sr > Sc > P > U > Zn > Pb > Cr > Cu > Ba > Ni > Ti > (Mn, Al, Fe, Co, Th) indicating that oxyanion-forming elements and alkali metals had the highest mobility. Compared to average RM, V had decreased mobility, and Fe and Mn had increased mobility in anoxic groundwater while V, Mo, and U had higher mobility in oxic-alkaline water. The sources of V, Cr, Cu, and Zn in rocks were estimated using the partition coefficients between minerals and basaltic melt, and the disparity between sources and mobility indicated that sinks are more important for controlling the concentrations of these elements in groundwater than the contents in the rocks. Principal component analysis (PCA) of hydrogeochemical parameters in groundwater produced three principal components (PC) which represent dissolution of basaltic rocks without significant attenuation of released solutes, higher degree of water–rock interactions resulting in oxic-alkaline conditions, and attenuation of Zn and Cu in higher pH, respectively. Spatial distribution of PCs revealed that groundwater with elevated concentrations of mobile elements was concentrated in the southwestern area and that concentrations of V and Cr were more scattered, which is likely to be controlled by pH and redox states of groundwater as well as degree of water–rock interactions.     

Hydrothermal alteration related to a deep mantle source controlled by a Cambrian intracontinental strike-slip fault: Evidence for the Meruoca felsic intrusion associated with the Transbraziliano Lineament,Northeastern Brazil

One of the most prominent geological structures in Borborema Province, northeast Brazil, is the Transbraziliano Lineament that crosscuts most of the South American Platform and was active at least until the Devonian. This continental structure is responsible for the formation of rift and pull-apart basins in Northeastern Brazil, most of which filled with volcanic and continental sedimentary rocks (Parente et al., 2004). In the region of Sobral, Ceará State, this same continental structure controlled the intrusion of the Meruoca pluton and the formation of the Jaibaras Basin, which is bounded by strike-slip shear zones. Hydrothermal alterations seem to have been pervasive in Meruoca, as indicated by disturbances in both the Rb–Sr and U–Pb systems (Sial et al., 1981; Fetter, 1999) and by the large dispersion of anisotropic magnetic susceptibility (AMS) (Archanjo et al., 2009).In this paper, we address the origin of the hydrothermal fluids that affected the borders of the Meruoca batholith and their relationship with the activity of the Transbraziliano Lineament. These fluids were responsible for carbonate veins and Fe–Cu mineral concentrations that are commonly found associated with hydrothermally altered breccias. The carbon and oxygen isotope composition of these carbonate veins suggest that they may be related to CO₂-bearing mantle-derived fluids that were channelized by the Transbraziliano Lineament. Based on oxygen isotopes, we argue that Fe–Cu concentrations may have formed in isotope equilibrium with the rhyolitic rocks at temperatures between 500 and 560 °C. This scenario points to magmatism as the main process in the formation of these rocks.We also report a K–Ar age of 530 ± 12 Ma for muscovite associated with the last ductile event that affected the Sobral-Pedro II Shear Zone and a U–Pb age of 540.8 ± 5.1 Ma for the Meruoca pluton. We further suggest that this granite is a late-kinematic intrusion that is most likely associated with the Parapuí volcanic rocks of the Jaibaras basin (535.6 ± 8.5 Ma, Garcia et al., 2010).     

Heavy metals accumulation and ecophysiological effect on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Typha angustifolia</Emphasis> L. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyperus esculentus</Emphasis> L. growing in distillery and tannery effluent polluted natural wetland site,Unnao, India

Distillery and tanneries are major source of heavy metals pollution in natural wetland sites in India. Present study deals with the heavy metals accumulation potential of Typha angustifolia and Cyperus esculentus growing in distillery and tannery effluent polluted wetland sites. The metal accumulation pattern in both macrophytes showed direct correlation with the metal content in sediments. Both macrophytes were observed root accumulator for Fe, Cr, Pb, Cu, and Cd. The metal accumulation in T. angustifolia was found higher than C. esculentus, and accumulation pattern was Fe > Mn > Cr > Zn > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cd. Simultaneously, chlorophyll, protein, cysteine, and ascorbic acid were also induced in T. angustifolia than C. esculentus. In addition, formation of multinucleolus in shoot of T. angustifolia was found an evidence of extra protein synthesis for tolerance under stress conditions. Hence, C. esculentus was observed potential but less tolerance for metals than T. angustifolia. Therefore, these wetland plants could be used for phytoremediation of heavy metals from wastewater.     

Geochronological framework of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero,with emphasis on the age of gold mineralization hosted in Archean greenstone belts

Archean terrains of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero comprise a greenstone belt association surrounded by granitoid–gneiss complexes, mainly composed of banded TTG gneisses whose igneous protoliths are older than 2900 Ma. This early continental crust was affected by three granitic magmatic episodes during the Neoarchean: ca. 2780 to 2760 Ma; 2720 to 2700 Ma; and 2600 Ma. Dating of felsic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks defines a felsic magmatic event within the greenstone belt association around 2772 Ma, contemporaneous with emplacement of several of the granitic plutons and constrains a major magmatic and tectonic event in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero. Lead isotopic studies of lode–gold deposits indicate that the main mineralization episode occurred at about 2800 to 2700 Ma.Proterozoic evolution of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero comprises deposition of a continental-margin succession hosting thick, Lake Superior-type banded iron formations, at ca. 2500 to 2400 Ma, followed by deposition of syn-orogenic successions after 2120 Ma. The latter is related to the Transamazonian Orogeny. The western part of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero was also affected by the Brasiliano Orogeny (600 to 560 Ma).