Not avilable.

Author(s)

Liliane Janikian

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Geociências (IG/BT)
• Defense date: 2001-08-06

Examining board members

Antonio Romalino Santos Fragoso Cesar; Paulo Cesar Fonseca Giannini; Sidnei Pires Rostirolla

• Advisor: Antonio Romalino Santos Fragoso Cesar

Abstract

The Camaquã Croup is composed of volcanic and sedimentary units of the Neoproterozoic III and Early Cambrian, wich crop out in the south-central region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. These units represent important tectonic events that occurred after the main orogenic period of the Brasiliano Cicle in the region. The tectonic classification of the basin is not well defined, if post-orogenic or anorogenic. The group is divided into three formations: Maricá (lower), Crespos (middle) and Santa Bárbara (upper), and is exposed in three NNE-SSW elongated sub-basins, named Camaquã Ocidental (Eastern Camaquã), Camaquã Central (Central Camaquã) and Camaquaã Oriental (Western Camaquã). These Sub-basins are isolated from each other by the basement highlands of Caçapava do Sul and Serra das Encantadas. The present work considers the northern region of the Camaquã Central Sub-basin, an area called Bom Jardim, in the municipality of Caçapava do Sul. This region exposes volcantic, volcaniclastic and siliclastic rocks of the Crespos Formation and siliclastic rocks of the Santa Bárbara Formation. These units have been mapped and characterized in terms of their depositional systems through facies analysis and studies of paleocurrents and provenance. Preliminary petrographic and structural analyses have also been considered in the characterization and interpretation of the evolution of the Camaquã Group in the area. In the Bom Jardim region, the Crespos Formation is constituted by volcanic rocks of intermediate (andesitic) composition as well as pyroclastic and sedimentary rocks interfingered with the flows. Volcaniclastic rocks during volcanic events as well as inter-eruptive deposits compose the sedimentary units of the Crespos Formation in the region. The Crespos Formation deposits were formed in a lacustrine depositional environment, within a tectonically active extensional basin. The evidences for a tectonic origin for the basin are its great thickness (over 3000 m) and the presence of deep-water and sobaquous-fan deposits near the basin\'s margin. The Crespos Formation may be divided, in the considered region, into two facies successions separated by a volcanic and pyroclastic unit: (i) Deep-Water Lacustrine Facies Sucession: composed, in its lower portion, of unconfined proximal turbiditic deposits (fine sandstones) which grade to distal turbiditic and suspension deposits (siltstones and mudstones). These interfiger with and are eroded by subaquous-fan depostis, constituted by canalized proximal turbiditic deposits (conglomerates and conglomeratic sandstones) which pass laterally and vertically to distal unconfined deposits (sandstones and siltstones). Texturally unmodified pyroclasts are found in this facies succession, indicating that volcanic activity have taken place simultaneously or soon before the depositional events. (ii) Volcanic and Pyroclastic Rocks: composed of flows of intermediate (andesitic) composition and related pyroclastic rocks that are of intermediate to acid composition. A subaquous environment of emplacement is interpreted for these rocks as they interfinger with tempestites of the upper facies succession at the top and with turbidites of the lower facies succession at the base. These rocks were petrografically classified as andesites, latite-basalts and latites. The pyroclastic rocks are manly lapillituffs, fine tuffs and pyroclastic breccias, and the composition of their fragments is andesitic or both andesitic and acid (rhyolitic). Shallow-Walter Lacustrine Facies Succession: is composed, in its lower portion, of proximal turbidites (conglomerates and conglomeratic sandstones) possibly related to alluvial input generated by tectonic reactivation. Storm waves have locally reworked these deposits. Towards the top of the succession, neatshore deposits are dominant, composed of tempestites and river dominated delaic sandstones and siltstones. Muderacks and small incursions of fluvial channels indicate changes in the relative base level. Possibly this facies succession represents the infilling of the basin during a period of tectonic quiescence. The interpretation of a lacustrine environment for the Crespos Formation in the Bom Jardim region is based mainly in the facies associations of the upper facies succession, were there is evidence for quiet waters receiving alluvial input, lacking fair-weather waves or tidal reworking even in the shallowest facies. Above the Crespos Formation lies the Santa Bárbara Formation, which represents deposition of siliclastic successions in another period of extensional tectonic subsidence, probably in a rift basin. The contact between these two units is erosional and probably angular. Four facies successions were identified in the Santa Bárbara Formation in the Bom Jardim region: (i) Offshore Marine Facies Succession: composed of proximal conglomeratic turbiditic deposits that pass to distal turbidites (sandy rhythmites), revealing an initial retrogradational cycle, and then to offshoretransition tempestites. This last passage characterizes a progradational cycle. (ii) Coastal Marine Facies Succession: shoreface tempestites (mainly sandstones) complete the progradational cycle iniated at the top of the last facies succession, and are covered by tidal-flat rhythmites that characterize an agradational cycle. (iii) Fan-Delta and Alluvial Fan Facies Succession: pró-delta rhythmites are rapidly overlain by fan-delta conglomeratic deposits, characterizing a progradational cicle continued by the deposition of alluvial conglomerates and sandstones. These conglomeratic deposits are interpreted as an evidence of tectonic rearrangement of the basin, revealed by the great contribution of basement clasts of proximal sources. (iv) Wave Dominated Marine Facies Succession: composed of shoreface deposits, with amalgamated sandstones generated mainly by storm-wave action, characterizing an agradational cycle. The Crespos and Santa Bárbara formations are affected by groups of faults, mainly with normal movement. No reverse or transcurrent faults with great displacement were identified. (AU)