Depositional architecture and dynamics of semi-arid fluvial systems: the Bauru Group in the Triângulo Mineiro region (Upper Cretaceous)

Author(s)

Marcus Vinícius Theodoro Soares

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Geociências
• Defense date: 2018-02-22

Examining board members

Giorgio Basilici; Alexandre Campane Vidal; Renato Paes de Almeida

• Advisor: Thiago da Silva Marinho; Giorgio Basilici

Abstract

Fluvial deposits are currently studied through a uniformitaristic facies model approach. This perspective considers modern tributaries, located in non-aggrading, humid settings as analogues for understanding ancient fluvial systems. The method stablishes insufficient empirical and theoretical background to the study of dryland (arid and semi-arid) fluvial systems, neglecting their highly complex spatio-temporal variability, consequently offering innacurate models for their stratigraphic framework. Current studies conducted on more than seven hundred modern continental sedimentary basins demonstrated that the totality of the analysed basins, endohreic or exohreic, are composed predominantly by alluvial and fluvial distributary systems. Consequently, current application of uniformitaristic depositional models, based primarily on tributary, non-aggrading basins, restricts the comprehension of facies architecture of fluvial succession in the geologic record. The northeastern margin of the Bauru Basin hosts fluvial deposits developed under dryland settings during the Upper Cretaceous (Bauru Group). The setting under which the deposits were formed offer ideal conditions to the development of distributary fluvial systems. Therefore, this work applies the distributary fluvial system model to explain the stratigraphic organization and reconstruct the depositional environment of the fluvial deposits, prioritizing the controlling factors on the high-frequency temporal and spatial dynamics observed in the ancient system (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/06968-5 - Depositional architecture and dynamics of semiarid fluvial systems: the Bauru Group in the Triangulo Mineiro region (Upper Cretaceous)
• Grantee: Marcus Vinícius Theodoro Soares
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master