Revista Brasileira de Geociencias 25(4):315-332, dezembro de 1995

TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE SERGIPANO BELT, NE BRAZIL

LUIZ JOSÉ HOMEM D'EL-REY SILVA

ABSTRACT The Sergipano Belt is a ESE-WNW trending, sub-greenschist to amphibolite grade meta-
volcano-sedimentary wedge between the southern part of the Borborema Province, known as the Pernambuco-
Alagoas Massif, and the São Francisco Craton, in NE Brazil, polydeformed and metamorphosed about 650Ma
ago. From S to N the belt comprises a domain of cratonic sediments, and two metavolcano-sedimentary
domains, deposited around mantled Archean-Paleoproterozoic basement gneiss domes. The northern part of
the belt also encloses a domain of migmatites and two igneous domains, and is intruded by several syn- to
late-tectonic granitic bodies. Intensive geological mapping (1:50,000 and 1:100,000 scales) carried out in a key
area of the southern part of the belt, has provided abundant stratigraphic and structural data allowing to interpret
the tectonic evolution of the belt in terms of the closure of an asymmetric, laterally continuous basin infilled
under a syn-depositional extensional regime and evolving into an oceanic basin (the Canindé sea). The
structural analysis indicates a basement-involved D1-D3 ductile to brittle-ductile deformational evolution,
D2-D3 being associated with a sinistral transpression throughout the belt. The closure of the Canindé* sea was
probably followed by an oblique collision of the Borborema Province with the São Francisco Craton, then
leading to the inversion of the extensional faults of the opening of the basin, and providing the ingredients to
understand the lithotectonic domains and the evolution of the Pernambuco-Alagoas Massif. Most tectonic
features of the Sergipano Belt fit with those found in other mobile belts of the Pan-African/Brasiliano orogeny,
and suggest a model compatible with the supercontinent that evolved by fragmentation and amalgamation along
long-lived zones of lithosphere weakness throughout the Proterozoic.

RESUMO A Faixa Sergipana é uma cunha metavulcanossedimentar de direção WNW-ESE, situada na

parte sul da Provfncia Borborema, entre o Maciço Pernambuco-Alagoas e o Craton de São Francisco, no NE
do Brasil, que foi polideformada e metamorfisada até o fácies anfibolito, localmente atingindo anatexia, há
aproximadamente 650 Ma. De sul para norte, a faixa compreende um dominio de sedimentos cratonicos e dois
dominios metavulcanossedimentares, depositados em torno de domos gndissicos do embasamento arqueano-
paleoproterozóico. Na parte norte, onde tambem existem um domfnio de migmatitos e dois dominios igneos,
ocorrem diversos corpos graniticos sin a tardi tectônicos. Mapeamento geológico intensive (escalas 1:50.000
e 1:100.000) realizado em drea chave na parte sul da Faixa Sergipana possbilitou a coleta de abundantes dados
estratigraficos e estruturais que permitem interpretar a sua evolução tectônica em termos do fechamento de
uma bacia asimetrica e lateralmente contínua, que foi preenchida durante a tectônica extensional e provavel-
mente evoluiu para abertura de um oceano (Mar do Canindé. Embasamento e cobertura foram envolvidos em
deformação polifasica D1-D3 dúctil a dúctil-ruptil, evidenciando evolução monociclica progressiva, sendo
D2-D3 associadas com transpressao sinistral. O fechamento do mar do Canindé completou-se provavelmente
através de uma colisão oblíqua do Craton São Francisco com a parte sul da Província Borborema, ocasionando
a inversão das falhas extensionais da fase de abertura da bacia, fornecendo os ingredientes necessaries ao
entendimento do significado tectonico dos diversos dominios, bem como ao entendimento da formagao e
posterior individualização do Maciço Pernambuco-Alagoas ao longo de zonas de cisalhamento regionais. As
feições tectonicas da Faixa Sergipana sao tambem comuns a outras faixas mdveis do sistema orogenético
Pan-Africano/Brasiliano e são compatíveis com a fragmentação e amalgamação do supercontinente Gondwana
ao longo de zonas de fraqueza litosferica no Proterozóico.
INTRODUCTION The Sergipano Belt of NE Brazil is Belo Monte-Jeremoabo and Macurure faults (Davison &
a triangle-shaped, highly deformed wedge lying between the Santos 1989), and cross-cut by the Phanerozoic Sergipe-
São Francisco Craton to the south, and the Pernambuco- Alagoas and Tucano-Jatoba sedimentary basins. The Est&icia
Alagoas Massif, which is part of the Borborema Province, a is a sedimentary domain deposited on the craton, the Vaza
segment of continental crust transected by continental-scale Barris is a meta(volcano)sedimentary domain deposited
ductile zones of high strain, such as the Patos and Pernambuco around the Itabaiana and Simão Dias domes, the Macurure' is
shear zones (Fig. 1; Almeida et al. 1981, Santos & Brito a (meta)volcanosedimentary domain deposited around the
Neves. 1984). The craton was consolidated in the end of the Jirau do Ponciano dome. The latter domain, plus the Po90
Paleoproterozoic and, nearby the Sergipano Belt, consists of Redondo domain of migmatites, the Marancó and Caninde
granulites, gneiss, migmatites, and granites (Fig. 2; Mascare- domains mainly of igneous-derived rocks, form the northern
nhas et al. 1984, Teixeira & Figueiredo 1991). The Province part of the belt, which is bounded to the south by the São
is a puzzle of Neoproterozoic belts and granite-gneiss blocks Miguel do Aleixo fault. The faults are high-angle thrusts
(Fig. 2) reworked since the Archean and/or created mostly in associated with sinistral and dextral sense strike-parallel
the Mesoproterozoic (Van Schmus et al. 1993,1995), perhaps movement, respectively to the E and W of the Tucano-Jatoba
a Neoproterozoic collage of terranes, some of them with basin (combining data in Davison & Santos 1989; Santos et
polycyclic evolution (Jardim de Sá 1994). al. 1988; Jardim de Sá et al. 1986, D'el-Rey Silva 1992).
The Sergipano Belt (Fig. 2) comprises six lithotectonic Following pioneer suggestions for its continuation in the
domains separated by the Itaporanga, São Miguel do Aleixo, African continent (Humphrey & Allard 1968, Allard 1969,

Universidade de Brasflia, Institute de Geociencias, Campus Universitdrio Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, CEP 70.910-900, Brasflia, DF, Brazil - FAX: (061)
347-4062 e-mail: ldel-rey@[Link] - Telefones : (061) 348-2436, 274-7966
316 Revista Brasileira de Geociencias, Volume 25,1995

relationships in the belt, as it encloses good-quality, almost

continuous outcrops along streams and rivers cutting across
the borders of the domes.

REGIONAL SETTING The cratonic Estancia domain

is an undeformed to weakly deformed, l-3km thick blanket
of continental to shallow marine siliciclastic and carbonate
sediments divided in the Estancia and Simao Dias Groups. The
miogeocline Vaza Barris domain is a 1 to ≥4km thick wedge
of sub-greenschist facies and highly deformed continental to
platformal marine siliciclastic and carbonate sediments and
volcanic rocks divided in the Miaba, Simao Dias and Vaza
Barris Groups (Fig.2; D'el-Rey Silva 1992, D'el-Rey Silva &
McClay 1995).
In the northern part of the belt, the Macurure domain is a
≥13km thick wedge of highly deformed, greenschist-amphi-
bolite facies siliciclastic and carbonate metasediments, and
metavolcanics of the Macurure Group, this one spreading
away from the Jirau do Ponciano gneiss dome, around which
have been characterised anatexis and kyanite-bearing assem-
blages of intermediate pressures (Jardim de Sá et al. 1981; da
Silva 1993). This domain encloses a small graben filled with
undeformed and nonmetamorphosed conglomerates, grey-
wackes, and arkoses (the Jua Formation, Fig.2; Silva Filho et
al. 1978a; Santos et al. 1988), and also surrounds the Poço
Redondo migmatites, the Marancó acid-intermediary meta-
Figure 1: a - The São Francisco Craton (SFC) and the volcanics and siliciclastic metasediments, and the Caninde
Borborema Province (BP) of NE Brazil, b - Simplified geo- domain. The latter consists of basic-ultrabasic intrusive rocks
logical map of NE Brazil showing part of the São Francisco and metavolcanics displaying an island arc geochemical sig-
Craton, the Pernambuco-Alagoas Massif and several fold nature (Blais et al. 1989; Bezerra et al. 1990) and hosted in an
belts of the Borborema Province, including the Sergipano (S)
- Riacho do Pontal/Rio Preto (RP) folding system. Based on
interlayered sequence of marbles, iron formation, garnet-mica
Almeida et al. (1981) and Mascarenhas et al. (1984). schists, amphibolites (Silva Filho 1976). A suite of syn- to
Figura 1: a - O Craton Sao Francisco (SFC) e a Provmcia Borborema (BP), post-tectonic calc-alkaline granites (partially shown in Fig. 2)
NE Brasil. b - Mapa geologico simplificado mostrando parte do Craton Sao intrudes all the northern domains and also the Pernambuco-
Francisco, o Maciço Pernambuco-Alagoas e varias faixas dobradas da Provm- Alagoas Massif (Giuliani & Santos 1988; Fujimori 1989; da
cia Borborema, incluindo o sistema Sergipano (S) - Riacho do Pontal/Rio Silva Filho et al. 1992).
Preto (RP). Baseado em Almeida et al. (1981) e Mascarenhas et al. (1984). Polydeformation and metamorphism resulted in an ESE-
WNW thrust-fold structural grain dominated by top to SSW
Allard & Hurst 1969), the Sergipano Belt is currently regarded movement, locally to NNE or NNW as in the northeastern part
as the central part of a megaorogen connecting the Oubangides of the belt (Brito Neves et al. 1977, Jardim de Sa et al. 1981,
Belt (or North Equatorial Belt) of Africa, with the Rio Preto 1986, Campos Neto&Brito Neves 1987, Amorim et al. 1992),
Belt in Brazil (Davison & Santos 1989, Trompette 1994) although the related stretching lineations are sistematicaly
throughout the Riacho do Pontal Belt (Fig. Ib; Jardim de Sa et oriented sub-parallel to the orogen (Fig. 2; cf. Jardim de Sa et
al. 1992, Jardim de Sá 1994). The megaorogen stretches for al. 1986, Santos et al. 1988, Davison & Santos 1989, D'el-Rey
more than 2000 Km and is a key element for global recon- Silva 1992, Amorim et al. 1992), except in parts of the Jirau
structions whereby the northern margin of the São Francisco- do Ponciano dome (Amorim et al. 1993).
Congo Craton faced a continuous ocean, the closure of which The Simão Dias gneiss dome displays a whole rock Rb-Sr
was part of the final amalgamation of western Gondwana 2505 Ma age (Humphrey & Allard 1969), and orthogneisses
about 500Ma ago (cf. Hoffman 1991, Dalziel 1992). Because of the Jirau do Ponciano dome display a whole rock 2500 Ma
the Sergipano Belt contains unique features such as mantled Rb-Sr age (Amorim et al. 1993). The São Francisco Craton
basement domes, it has strength to provide answers for ques- and the Pernambuco-Alagoas Massif yield whole rock Rb-Sr
tions on Proterozoic supercontinent cycle (D'el-Rey Silva ages around 1800 Ma, in localities close to the belt margin
1994a). (Mascarenhas et al. 1984), whereas the fold belt itself records
This paper summarises the tectonic evolution of the Sergi- a 1.0 +/-0.1 Ga old sedimentation [U-Pb data from Macurure
pano Belt with data from a PhD thesis based on a 1:50,000 domain metavolcanics, Brito Neves et al. (1993)] and a Rb-Sr
scale geological mapping carried out in the area surrounding 673-600Ma old structural-metamorphic evolution (Brito
the Itabaiana and Simao Dias domes (D'el-Rey Silva 1992), Neves & Cordani 1973) also suported by Rb-Sr ages in some
granites of the Macurure domain (Chaves 1991).
plus data from a 1:100,000 scale geological mapping in the
central part of the belt (Santos et al. 1988), and combined with Santos et al. (1988) and Davison & Santos (1989), who
firstly characterised the six lithotectonic domains, interpreted
a comprehensive survey in the more recent literature on the
the Sergipano Belt as a collage of allochtonous terranes.
belt. The study area (Fig. 3) allowed to investigate the rela-
Before them, Humphrey and Allard (1968) and Silva Filho et
tionships across the Estancia, Vaza B arris and Macurure do-
al. (1978a,b) argued for the lateral continuity between the
mains and contains the best preserved basement-cover
Revista Brasileira de Geociencias, Volume 25, 1995 317

Figure 2: Simplified geological map of the Sergipano Belt and surroundings. Modified from Davison & Santos (1989) and
D'el-Rey Silva (1992). A-G stand for areas understudy (Amorim & Torres 1994). Granites do occur in the Pernambuco-Alagoas
Massif too. See text.
Figura 2: Sumario geológico da Faixa Sergipana e arredores. Modificado de Davison & Santos (1989) e D'el-Rey Silva (1992). Letras A-G representam locais
de recente mapeamento geologico (Amorim & Torres 1994). Granites também ocorrem no Maciço Pernambuco-Alagoas. Detalhes no texto.

cratonic, miogeoclinal and eugeoclinal domains, and were Subvertical thrust, strike-slip and normal faults, together
followed by many authors. D'el-Rey Silva (1992, 1995) pre- with some major south vergent F2 folds, are the main mappa-
sented detailed and abundant evidence for a lithostructural ble structures (Fig. 3). Main faults are the Jacaré, Itaporanga,
continuity across these three domain boundaries. Simao Dias, Escarpa, Pelada, Mocambo, Ribeiropolis, Dores,
The far northern part of the belt, including the Jirau do and Sao Miguel do Aleixo faults. Main strike-slip faults are
Ponciano dome and parts of the Pernambuco Alagoas Massif, the Vaza Barris fault and the Mocambo shear. Minor, subver-
is being mapped under 1:250,000 scale. To date, the results tical, dextral and sinistral, NW-SE to E-W striking brittle-
indicate: a- the Jirau do Ponciano dome consists of a Neoar- ductile shear zones cut across the eastern and southern margins
chaean-Paleoproterozoic metavolcano-sedimentary sequence of the Itabaiana dome. Major folds are those mapped in the
intruded by tonalite-granodiorite orthogneiss, which in turn western side of the Itabaiana dome and other folds part of the
are intruded by 2,000 Ma metagranites, the whole set being Paripiranga anticline. The latter affects a F1 nappe responsible
also strongly deformed in the Brasiliano cycle (Amorim et al. for a major stratigraphic inversion, to the west of the Simao
1993); b- parts of the Macurure and Caninde domains, and Dias dome. Two overturned FI folds are interpreted within the
also part of the Pernambuco-Alagoas Massif, all enclose small narrow strip between the Ribeiropolis and Pelada faults (Fig.3;
and irregular outcrop areas of a layered sequence (around D'el-Rey Silva 1992).
localities A-G, Fig. 2) comprising high metamorphic grade
amphibolites, metacherts, banded iron formation and metacar- Stratigraphy The Neoproterozoic (volcano) sedimen-
bonates (Amorim & Torres 1994, J.L. Amorim, written com- tary wedge of the area is divided into the Estancia and Simao
munication 1995). These data are integrated in the model of Dias groups, in the cratonic domain, the Miaba, Simao Dias
tectonic evolution presented herein. and Vaza Barris groups, in the miogeocline domain, and the
Macururé Group, in the eugeoclinal domain (legend of Fig.
GEOLOGY OF THE ITABAIANA-CARIRA AREA 3). The Estancia and Miaba groups are both deposited on the
Introduction The Itabaiana-Carira area (Fig. 3) in- crystalline basement and form the base of the column as
cludes part of the Macurure domain, the main part of the Vaza correlative units. The Simao Dias Group overlies both these
Barris domain, and part of the Estancia domain. The Sergipe- groups and is continuous across the cratonic-miogeocline
Alagoas Mesozoic Basin (not included in this study) occupies domain boundary, whereas the Vaza Barris Group occurs only
the southeastern corner of the area. The Itabaiana dome is an to the north of the Itaporanga fault. All these groups are
elliptical structure around the town of Itabaiana. The Simao laterally correlated to the pelitic schists and marbles of the
Dias dome is the outcropping western end of a WNW-ESE Macurure Group (D'el-Rey Silva 1992,1993,1995, D'el-Rey
trending, steeply-dipping tectonic slice stretching for about Silva &McClay 1995).
150km. It crops out from the Atlantic coast (outside, to the E The crystalline basement domes consist of amphibolite
of the map area) along the trace of the Itaporanga fault, and grade, granitic to granodioritic, generally well banded gneiss
continues to the W, below the metasediments outside the map and orthogneiss, locally intruded by sheet-like basic-
area, reaching the Tucano basin (gravity data in D'el-Rey ultrabasic rocks and granites, together with derived mylonitic
Silva 1992, 1995). rocks, all retrometamorphosed to the greenschist facies.
318 Revista Brasileira de Geocienclas, Volume 25,1995

Figure 3: Summary geological map of the Itabaiana-Carira Area. Sediments of the Mesozoic Sergipe-Alagoas Basin are omited
from the legend for simplicity. AB and EF are the structural cross sections lines of Figure 4. x, y, z, and w are particular outcrops
described in the text. From D 'el-Rey Silva (1992).
Figura 3: Mapa geológico sumário da região Itabaiana-Carira. Por simplificação, foram omitidos os sedimentos da bacia Mesozóica Sergipe-Alagoas na legenda. AB e EF sao as linhas
das seções verticais da Figura 4. x, y, z, e w são afloramentos especiais descritos no texto. Segundo D'el-Rey Silva (1992). Detalhes no texto.

Gneiss and orthogneiss are composed of coarse-grained dome and in the western side of the Simao Dias dome, but
quartz, plagioclase, and K-feldspars, biotite (hornblende), dips at high-angles in the rest of the area. Rocks on both sides
muscovite, sericite, chlorite and epidote. Accessories are apa- of the contact are generally sheared, except in parts of the
tite, sphene, zircon, and opaque minerals. Garnet occurs eastern margins of the Itabaiana dome, and locally on the
locally. These rocks are generally well banded or occur as western margin of the Simao Dias dome, where undeformed
basement-derived S-C mylonites generally consisting of a mm basal conglomeratic lithofacies of the Itabaiana Formation
fine-grained matrix and mm-size porphyroclasts of K-feld- rest unconformably on basement gneiss isoclinally folded
pars, plagioclase, and epidote. The matrix consists of recrys- (Davison & Santos 1989; D'el-Rey Silva 1992, 1995).
tallised quartz and feldspars grains with a preferred planar- Of particular interest are the contact relationships on the
parallel orientation cross-cut by planes defined by extremely western margin of the Itabaiana dome, where the Itabaiana
fine grained quartz, epidote, sericite, chlorite, and biotite. The quartzites are sheared and occur directly above basement-
amphibolite grade banding and the mylonitic foliation are the derived quartz-feldspar-sericite-chlorite phyllonites display-
reference planes (Sn) in the basement for deformational analy- ing a sinusoidal map pattern (Fig. 3; the Macambira phyllo-
sis in the area. nites of Humphrey and Allard 1969). Detailed mapping
The basement-cover contact dips at low-angles around showed that the phyllonites are mostly derived from basic
the northern, eastern, and western margins of the Itabaiana rocks intruded within the gneiss, dip 20°-55° to the WNW
Revista Brasileira de Geociencias, Volume 25, 1995 319

(Fig. 3) and are affected by an anastomosed set of finely The Simão Dias Group is a new lithostratigraphic unit
spaced extensional shear bands dipping 25°-50° to WNW, identified in the southern part of the Sergipano Belt and
indicative of a top down to WNW extension affecting the comprising the interfingered Lagarto-Palmares, Jacare and
western part of the dome and its quartzitic cover (D'el-Rey Frei Paulo Formations. Far into the craton, the Simao Dias
Silva 1992, 1995). Group is represented by the ≈700-2500m thick Lagarto-
The Estância Group unconformably overlies the crystal- Palmares Formation. The entire group is seen in the core of
line basement and is subdivided in the Juete and Acaua the Paripiranga anticline, to the W of the Simao Dias dome,
formations. The ≤100m thick Jueté Formation consists of and to the S and E of the Itabaiana dome (Fig. 3). In the
massive or laminated arkosic sandstones, with conglomeratic Itabaiana-Carira area the Lagarto-Palmares Formation
lenses of basement derived clasts, and brown to red argillites. (D'el-Rey Silva 1992) is a ≤700m thick coarsening-upwards
The upper section is marked by red brown to purple, fine to sequence of mudstones, siltstones, fine- and medium-grained
medium grained feldspathic sandstones with clasts of red calcite-cemented sandstones, and lithic wackes which spreads
argillites (Saes 1984, Silva Filho 1982). The ≤300m thick on the craton and on the southern part of the area (Fig. 3). It
Acauã Formation conformably overlies the-Juete Formation stands for the Lagarto and Palmares Formations described in
and unconformably overlies the basement gneiss. It consists gradual passage by Saes (1984), in the cratonic domain. There,
of limestones, dolomites and calcitic argillites with lenses of the basal Lagarto sandstones have detrital, carbonate grains
limestones, overlain by limestones and dolomites with thin and the contact with the Palmares Formation is gradual and
intercalations of fine-grained, cross-bedded, red sandstones interfingered, although enclosing local carbonate breccia and
and green argillites. These rocks are blanketed by 700-2000m lenses of conglomerates with clasts of carbonates and base-
of arkoses and lithic sandstones (the Palmares sandstones, ment-derived high and low metamorphic grade rocks. The
Silva Filho 1982, Saes 1984) incorporated in the siliciclastic Jacare Formation (D'el-Rey Silva 1992) accounts for an
Lagarto-Palmares Formation (D'el-Rey Silva 1992), de- E-W trending strip of light brown, micaceous and massive or
scribed ahead. thinly laminated, light brown to variegated metasiltites (with
The Miaba Group is ≈l 100m thick, unconformably over- lensoid bodies of fine- to medium-grain, light brown meta-
lies the Itabaiana and Simao Dias basement domes, and com- sandstones), mapped between the typical Lagarto-Palmares
prises the Itabaiana, Ribeiropolis and Jacoca Formations. The sandstones and Frei Paulo phyllites (Fig. 3). The Frei Paulo
Itabaiana Formation is ≈400-700m thick in the southern, Formation is ≈100m up to ≥500m thick and consists of light
eastern and western sides of the Itabaiana dome, and consist grey to brown or variegated silty phyllites with intercalations
of (discontinuous, basal conglomerates) medium- to fine- of metasandstones and wackes, both to the south of the Es-
carpa fault and to the north of the Mocambo fault. In this latter
grained, cross-bedded feldspathic quartzites that passes
area it contains important lenses of calcite-cemented lithic
gradually up section into grey to red brown metasiltites and
wackes with the same petrographic characteristics of the
meta-argillites. These contain ≈10m thick lenses of matrix-
Lagarto-Palmares sandstones (lithofacies FP1; Fig. 3). In the
supported conglomerates and conglomeratic sandstones, with area between the Escarpa and Pelada faults, and also to the
basement-derived clasts, particularly in the eastern and west- east of the Itabaiana dome, the dominant lithofacies (FP3)
ern sides of the Itabaiana dome. Elsewhere this formation is includes green-grey, quartz-sericite-chlorite phyllites, thinly
≈10m-50m thick and generally consists of muddy, micaceous interbedded metagreywackes and metalimestones, metarhyth-
quartzites and/or arkosic sandstones intercalated with red mites, minor metasandstones, together with local lenses of
brown phyllites. The Ribeiropolis Formation varies from Om highly weathered metavolcanics. The formation also occurs
to ≈100m up to ≥500m thickness, conformably overlies the in the stratigraphic inversion to the west of the Simao Dias
Itabaiana quartzites, and consists of light to red brown silty dome (Fig. 3), and consists of sandy phyllites with intercala-
phyllites with intercalations of metagreywackes, pebbly phyl- tions of metasandstones, displaying a strong layer-parallel Si
lites, argillites and (weathered) acid/intermediary to basic foliation very close to the basal contact with Olhos D'agua
metavolcanics. It may consists of thin bodies of conglomerates Formation metacarbonates.
with clasts of the underlying rocks (western margin of the The Vaza Barris Group is ≥2000m thick and comprises
Itabaiana dome) or highly foliated black-dark brown metavol- the Palestina and Olhos D' água formations that unconformaby
canics (western margin of the Simao Dias dome). Up to overlye the Simão Dias Group (Fig. 3). The Palestina For-
Im-size clasts of gneiss have been described in outcrops of mation consists of diamictites and pebbly phyllites, minor
diamictites along the northeastern margin of the Itabaiana phyllites, and ≤l0m thick lenses of coarse-grained, iron-
dome (cf. Humphrey and Allard 1969) in a stream very close cemented quartzites. The diamictites contain clasts of base-
to the trace of the Mocambo fault. The Jacoca Formation ment rocks, quartzites, phyllites and metacarbonates, sup-
occurs as ≈100-300m thick discontinuous bodies around the ported in a green grey, extremely foliated quartz-sericitic
Itabaiana dome (Fig. 3) and consists of light grey meta- matrix. The thickest sections (≥500m?) are between the
dolomites passing to thinly intercalated metadolomites, meta- Escarpa and Pelada faults, where the matrix is finer and the
chert and black calci-phyllites, metre-thick metadolomites >10cm size clasts are abundant. Around the Simao Dias dome
thinly intercalated with metacalcilutites, metacalcarenites and it is ≈10-100m thick, the matrix may be siltier and ≥10cm
black and locally carbonaceous phyllites. The upper succes- clasts are generally rare, despite of a 4m-long block of gneiss
sion consists of ≤lm thick layers of metadolomites. Elsewhere found in a large outcrop near the western end of the trace of
(Fig. 3) this formation consists of a ≤300 m thick sequence of the Simao Dias fault. East of the Itabaiana dome the diamic-
≤10m thick lenses of metadolomites intercalated with light tites are barely mappable (Fig. 3), but contain boulders of
brown phyllites (Simao Dias dome), or Im-thick layers of Itabaiana quartzite and Lagarto-Palmares metasandstones
black, fine-grained metalimestones intercalated with ≈10cm which have not been found elsewhere, nor described in the
thick variegated metapelites (north of the Mocambo fault). previous literature of the area (D'el-Rey Silva 1992). The
320 Revista Brasileira de Geociencias, Volume 25,1995

Olhos D'agua Formation is ≈200m up to ≥1300m thick and foliation, together with variations in the trends of S2 and L2
mostly occurs around the Simao Dias dome, to the east of the (D'el-Rey Silva 1992).
Itabaiana dome and to the north of the Pelada fault (Fig. 3). The cratonic domain is to the S of the Itaporanga fault and
The typical section (from the Simão Dias dome to NNW) comprises mostly flat-lying sediments locally affected by
comprises a basal unit of 100's metres of thinly interbedded, gentle folds; the Simao Dias and Itabaiana domains consist of
light grey to black, fine-grained metalimestones with minor highly deformed gneiss of the two basement domes; the
intercalations of metasiltites, meta-argillites and metachert, regional domain comprises the metasediments outside of the
which passes to 100's m of interbedded, oolitic, pelloidal, dome and spreads over the rest of the Itabaiana-Carira area,
black metalimestones with intercalations of brown metape- northward of the Itaporanga fault. The east and west domains
lites, and metre-thick layers of grey, cross-bedded and wave- are on both sides of the Itabaiana dome, very close to the dome
reworked metadolarenites. Approaching the Escarpa fault this margin, and correspond to metasediments which structures
unit passes gradually into a sequence of 100's metres of have a particular orientation relative to the regional domain
10-100cm thick layers of fine-grained, black metalimestones (Fig. 3). Details are given ahead in this paper.
intercalated with ≈10cm thick layers of red. brown pyritic The D1 Deformation is characterised by folding, thrusting
metapelites. and by a pervasive foliation. The F1 folds range in size from
The Macurure Group consists mostly of biotite- and 10's of centimetres to 10's of metres, are generally rootless,
staurolite-garnet schists, chlorite-quartz schists, metacarbon- and have their overturned limbs transposed by subhorizontal
ates, phyllites, metasiltites, metagreywackes, mylonitic thrusts. These folds are WNW-ESE trending, SSW verging,
quartzites and intermediary metavolcanics intruded by isoclinal and recumbent folds that affect the sedimentary
granite-granodiorite bodies (Silva Filho et al. 1978 a,b; Santos bedding (S0) and the basement metamorphic banding (Sn) and
et al. 1988). develop a strong axial planar foliation (Si) better seen in
carbonate rocks and in poly folded phyllites. Good examples
Megasequence stratigraphy and basin geometry of Fi folds and thrusts are in the Jacoca Formation of the
According to D'el-Rey Silva (1992), D'el-Rey Silva and largest outcrop of the belt (the Capitão farm outcrop detailed
McClay (1995), the lithologic record of the southern part of ahead in this paper), and in the Acauã carbonates in the
the Segipano Belt may be divided in two sedimentary cycles, cratonic area of the western part of the belt (Jardim de Sa et
each one formed by a siliciclastic and a carbonate megase- al. 1986).
quences. Cycle I holds a lower siliciclastic megasequence (the
S1 is mainly a mineral foliation and a slaty cleavage. The
Juete-Itabaiana and Ribeiropolis Formations) and a lower
former is defined in thin sections by planar-parallel oriented
carbonate megasequence (the Acaua-Jacoca Formations).
Cycle II holds an upper siliciclastic megasequence (the Simao sericite, muscovite, biotite, chlorite, and flattened, very fine
grained quartz (also feldspars and epidote substituting for
Dias Group and Palestina Formation) and an upper carbonate
hornblende in the basement rocks). The latter consists of finely
megasequence (the Olhos D'água Formation). The lithofacies
and thickness distribution of the metasediments throughout spaced partition planes in phyllitic rocks. Thin quartz and
carbonate veins are observed sub-parallel to S1, increasing in
the Itabaiana/Carira area allows to conclude that the sedimen-
intensity to the N of the Itabaiana dome. S1 is generally
tation records tectonically controlled sedimentation whereby
a continental to shallow marine environment developed, and sub-parallel to So or Sn, and the attitude of the whole set is
WNW-ESE with dips of 90°-60° to the NNE (regional and
the original basin had a paleogeography dominated by base-
Simao Dias domains), or 60°-50° to NNE (Itabaiana domain).
ment paleohighs (the precursors of the Itabaiana and Simao
Dias domes) and by a WNW-ESE trending, ≈300km long Atitudes varying from 20°/318° to 60°/033° and from
30°/046° to 15°/130° characterise the west and east domains,
trench. This trench, which is bounded by the Escarpa and
respectively (Fig. 5a).
Pelada faults, received relatively deeper-water rocks of the
Jacoca and Frei Paulo formation, and the Palestina diamictites. L1 linear features are the fold axes (B1), the intersection
The data strongly suggest that most of the regional faults lineation (L1-0) and a mineral lineation (oriented flakes of
in the southern part of the Sergipano Belt are original normal micaceous minerals, ribbons of quartz and feldspars). The few
faults positively inverted (Fig. 4). The diamictites formations observed examples plunge gently to WNW or ESE.
probably record gravitational instability and dominance of The D2 Deformation comprises a set of structures compa-
mass flow processes, whereas the carbonate formations prob- rable to D1 plus a penetrative stretching lineation. The F2 folds
ably record a relative tectonic quiescence in the basin follow- are WNW-ESE trending, open to isoclinal, gently inclined to
ing the deposition of each siliciclastic megasequence. The upright, generally SSW verging and gently plunging folds
precursor Sergipano basin was probably asymmetric, shal- (Fig. 6a). They co-axially refold the D1 structures, range in
lower to the W, deeper to the E and to the N, possibly recording size from micro crenulations to km-scale (observed in aerial
an event of oblique extension of the craton margins. photographs) and develop a penetrative axial planar foliation
(S2).
Structures Three main deformational events (D1-D3) S2 dips 60°-90° to NNE in the regional, Simao Dias and
affected the sedimentary cover and the gneiss basement of the Itabaiana domains, and to NE in the west and east domains
southern part of the belt. These events are distinguished on (Fig. 5b). It is a pressure solution (Fig. 6b) or a mineral
the basis of refolded folds and overprinting relationships of foliation, but may consist of a spaced cleavage in more com-
folds and foliations. The superposition of D1 and D2 events petent rocks. In thin sections the pressure solution cleavage is
on mechanically different rocks resulted in structural parti- normally defined by iron or manganese oxide seams, and in
tioning in the area, and six structural domains have been phyllitic rocks it is marked by very fine sericite and chlorite
defined, on the basis of different styles of the F2 folds, the (minor biotite) flakes, resembling the discrete crenulation
relative attitude of S1 and S2 and also the nature of the S2 cleavage of Gray (1977). The mineral foliation is also marked
Revista Brasileira de Geociencias, Volume 25, 1995 321

Figure 4: Vertical cross sections AB and EF (respectively a and b) as indicated in Figure 3. From D'el-Rey Silva (1992). See
text.
Figura 4: Secoes verticals AB e EF (respectivamente a e b) como indicadas na Figura 3. Segundo D'el-Rey Silva (1992). Detalhes no texto.

by parallel flakes of these minerals, as well as very fine grained mally correspond to mylonitisation and intense F2 folding of
quartz and feldspars in diamictite and gneiss. the country rocks, with the mylonitic foliation generally dip-
L2 linear features (Fig. 5c) are the fold axis (62), the ping at high angles or sub-vertically to the NNE (Fig. 3;
intersection lineation (Li-2) and the stretching lineation (Ls), D'el-Rey Silva 1992). Indicators such as S-C relationships
all parallel to each other and plunging in average 08°-16°, (Lister & Snoke 1984, Shimamoto 1989), porphyroblast-tail
either to the WNW or ESE - in the regional, Simao Dias and systems (Passchier & Simpson 1986), extensional shear bands
Itabaiana domains - or to the NNW or SSE in the west and (Plat & Vissers 1980, Passchier 1984), and a penetrative
east domains, confirming the change of the strike of 82 in these stretching lineation, best seen along the Simão Dias, Itapo-
domains relative to the other. L1-2 is rather strong and may ranga and Dores faults, all indicate top to the south kinematics,
consist of an intense, pencil-like lineation extremely similar combined with E-W strike-parallel slip.
in several outcrops of metasediments and basement rocks (Fig. The regional F2 folds and the folds inside the fault zones
6c). Ls is defined by flattened and elongated oolites and pellets have compatible mineral assemblages along their axial planar
in metacarbonates; by pyrite and fine-grained quartz in phyl- foliations and have similar orientation of the axial planes, axial
lites; pulled-apart grains of K-feldspar, plagioclase and clasts planar foliations, fold axes, intersection and mylonitic linea-
of basement rocks in diamictite and pebbly phyllite; ribbons tions. The regional faults are probably zones of high strain
of quartz, trains of deformed opaque minerals and pressure during D2 event and the latest strike-slip movement post-dates
shadow zones developed around K-feldspar or tourmaline the regional metamorphism, as indicated by the D3 structures,
clasts in quartzite (Fig. 6d); quartz ribbons, trains of elongated and as interpreted for the Sao Miguel do Aleixo fault by
feldspars, and aligned grains of epidote or pulled-apart grains Davison & Santos (1989).
of K-feldspars and hornblende (these ones with needles of The structural pattern in vertical cross-sections through the
actnolite/tremolite infilling the pressure voids) in gneiss and Simao Dias and Itabaiana basement domes (Fig. 4a-b) is that
basement derived mylonites. of large-scale F1 folds -perhaps nappes associated with sub-
horizontal thrusts -refolded by F2 folds to form a classical type
The regional faults and vertical cross-sections 3 -coaxial interference pattern (Ramsay 1967) subsequently
The regional faults have a clear signature in aerial photographs disrupted and uplifted by reverse faults, mostly corresponding
and aeromagnetic maps, and in the field the fault zones nor- to positively inverted extensional faults. The cross sections
322 Revista Brasileira de Geociencias, Volume 25,1995

Figure 5: Lower hemisphere, Schmidt-Lambert stereograms to show the plot of the D1-D2 structural elements for each structural
domain in the Itabaiana dome area. For each diagram the contour intervals are shown in the upper right corner, the average
atitude is in the upper left corner as well as the atitude(s) of the maxima, a - poles to S0, S1 and Sn; b - poles to PA2 and S2. c -
n diagrams of B2, L2 and Ls.
Figura 5: Diagramas Schmidt-Lambert (hemisferio inferior) dos polos das estruturas de D1-D2 para cada um dos domfnios estruturais. Em cada diagrama, os
intervalos de contorno sao mostrados no canto superior direito e a atitude media e indicada no canto superior esquerdo, juntamente com a(s) maxima(s). a - polos
de So, S1 and Sn ; b - polos de PA2 and S2. c - diagramas π para B2, L2 and Ls.

show a balance between areas of metasediments and basement F2 folds. Close to the NW margin of the Itabaiana dome, the
which has been validated by interpretations of gravimetric and fault zone is < 1km wide zone of poorly exposed, intensely
aeromagnetic data in the Itabaiana-Carira area. Although the foliated and brecciated Frei Paulo metasandstones and phyl-
representation of the structures above the erosion line must be lites.
taken as a cartoon illustration, the folded F1 nappe interpreta- The Pelada fault is marked by a < 1 km wide zone of intense
tion (Fig. 4a) accounts for the stratigraphic repetition of the quartz veining, stretching for ≥1 km to the west of the Itabaiana
Frei Paulo Formation to the west of the Simao Dias dome and dome, and by a local zone of shearing in the Palestina diamic-
explains the lithostratigraphic interpretations across the area, tites, close to the NW limit of the area. The Escarpa fault
particularly to the north of the Mocambo fault (Fig. 3; D'el- places tightly folded Frei Paulo variegated phyllites on tightly
Rey Silva 1992). Moreover, the nearly 30km of F1 nappe folded and transposed Olhos D'água metacarbonates (Fig. 3).
displacement to the SSW (Fig. 4a) matches with the magni- A road-cut for enlargement and pavement of a main road
tude of other nappe descriptions elsewhere in the belt (Jardim (1995; locality x in Fig. 3) shows 15m along strike of the
de Sa et al. 1986; Campos Neto & Brito Neves 1987). sub-vertical, 1m-wide fault zone which is marked by intense
The São Miguel do Aleixo fault is a ≥lkm wide sinistral
fluid percolation, through a complex array of quartz veining
mylonitic zone which last movements imprinted some sinis-
tral rotation on the regional S2 foliation in the Macururé in the contact between the Olhos D'água and Frei Paulo
domain (Fig. 3). More detailed descriptions are in Santos et formations. Few metres to the N, still within the Frei Paulo
al. (1988) and Davison & Santos (1989). The Dores fault phyllites, there is a ≤50m wide zone of sub-vertical Palestina
places highly sheared quartzites and basement-derived phyl- diamictites and isoclinally folded, sub vertical and transposed
lonites over Frei Paulo phyllites, as observed in a road-cut of Olhos D'água metacarbonates, suggesting fault imbrication in
the eastern corner of the area, where the ≤0.5m thick fault zone the hangingwall of the main fault. The Simão Dias fault is a
is sub-vertical and is marked by percolation of manganese and <2km wide zone of imbricated steep-dipping slices of highly
iron oxides. The Ribeirópolis fault is interpreted on the basis folded quartzite- and basement-derived mylonites and phyl-
of lithostratigraphic correlations whereby the Ribeiropolis lonites, better exposed at the northern border of the Simao
Formation is structurally above the Frei Paulo Formation in Dias dome. To the south of the Itabaiana dome, the Simão Dias
the northern part of the area (Fig. 3). The Mocambo fault fault is a ≈2km wide zone of sub-vertically imbricated slices
changes characteristics along the trace. In the northern margin of tightly to isoclinally folded mylonitic Itabaiana quartzites,
of the Itabaiana dome, the fault is a 30m wide zone of Ribeirópolis phyllites and gneiss (detailed in D'el-Rey Silva
imbricated, metre-thick tectonic slices of weathered basement 1992, 1995), all exhibiting a strong pencil-like intersection
gneiss and mylonitic Itabaiana quartzites, all dipping 40°-60° lineation parallel to a mineral stretching lineation (e.g. Figs.
to NNE and associated with asymmetrical, almost recumbent 6c-d).
Revista Brasileira de Geociencias, Volume 25, 1995 323

Figure 6: The D2 deformation, a - Very tight, up-right, F2 folds

affecting Frei Paulo Formation distal turbidites in the north-
ern mapped area. Note the fold hinge thickening (arrow), b -
The S2 foliation marked by subvertical and anastomosed
surfaces of strong pressure solution cross-cutting finely lami-
nated Olhos D'água metalimestones, in the SW of the area, c
- F2 folds affecting Basement-derived mylonites in the south-
ern margin of the Itabaiana dome, and showing the pencil-like
L2 intersection lineation (arrow). S2 dips at lower angle to
NNE (right) than the average dip of the mylonitic foliation,
exception for the hinge of the folds. In thin sections of this
locality, the stretching lineation (Ls) of the mylonites is par-
allel to L2. Few meters to the left, outside of the photo but in
the same outcrop, the mylonitic Itabaiana quartzites exhibit
similar structural relationships, d - Photograph under plane-
polarized light of a thin section perpendicular to S2 and
parallel to Ls, in the Itabaiana quartzites along the southern
margin of the Itabaiana dome. Ls is defined by ribbons of
quartz, trains of opaque minerals and shadow zone tails
around tourmaline crystals (arrow).
Figura 6: Deformação D2. a - Dobras F2 muito apertadas e normais, afetando
turbiditos Frei Paulo na parte norte da area mapeada. A seta aponta as
charneiras espessadas. b - Foliação S2 marcada por anastomose de superficies
de intensa dissolucao por pressao desenvolvidas em calcarios Olhos D'água,
na parte sul da area, c - Dobras F2 afetando milonitos do embasamento no
contato sul do domo de Itabaiana e mostrando a Iineação de intersecção tipo
lápis (seta). Note que S2 mergulha para NNE (direita) porem menos que a
foliação dobrada, exceto nas charneiras. Laminas delgadas desta localidade
mostram a lineacao de estiramento (Ls) dos milonitos paralela a L2. Pouco metres a sul, fora da foto porem no mesmo afloramento, quartzitos miloniticos Itabaiana
exibem relacoes estruturais equivalentes. d - Microfotografia sob luz paralela de lamina delgada perpendicular a S2 e paralela a Ls, em quartzitos Itabaiana
miloniticos, na margem sul do domo de Itabaiana. Ls e defmida por fitas de quartzo, trem de minerals opacos e zonas de pressao em torno de cristais de turmalina
(seta).
The Itaporanga fault is a ≤500m wide phyllonite-mylo- The Vaza Barris fault and the Mocambo shear, as well
nite zone mostly affecting the Simao Dias gneiss and the Olhos as the strike-slip faults of the eastern-southern border of the
D'agua metacarbonates (Fig. 3). In locality y of the SW part Itabaiana dome, are all observed in aerial photographs rotating
of the study area (Fig. 3), the fault plane dips 85° to 356° and the regional foliation and/or displacing contacts. Some kine-
contains a striae lineation plunging 24° to 080°. It separates matic indicators are seen in the field, as dextral shear zones
highly folded metacarbonates, to the N, from sheared and affecting the S2 foliation in diamictites along the Vaza Barris
silicified Lagarto-Palmares sandstones, to the S, and is also fault zone. The Jacaré fault is the most prominent of several
marked by a well-cemented and badly stratified carbonate NW-SE to WNW-ESE trending lineaments traceable from
breccia, without sandstone clasts. aerial photographs and topographic maps inside and outside
324 Revista Brasileira de Geociencias, Volume 25,1995

the southern part of the area (Fig. 3). Lagarto-Palmares sand- The D3 Deformation is a non-penetrative event indicated
stones and metasiltites are intensely fractured, silicified and by 10cm- to l0m-scale, NE-SW trending, open to tight and
indurated in different places along the Jacare fault trace. generally upright, kink-style F3 folds and 1mm-10cm size
Despite of the lack of kinematic indicators, this fault is inter- crenulations and kink bands affecting the S2 foliation and the
preted as a normal fault, as it roughly separates 600m high older planar elements. The mesoscopic F3 folds are normally
hills to the south from 400m high hills to the north of its trace. associated with a spaced cleavage axial planar foliation (83).
The age of this faulting is uncertain relative to the other The average fold axial plane and the S3 foliation both trend
regional faults (see further discussion ahead). NE-SW and generally dip at moderate to high angles (60°-90°)
D2 inter-S2 foliation slip and strain analysis Base- to the NW or to the SE, in all the structural domains. Even
ment-derived clasts, porphyroclasts and competent minerals where the F3 folds are absent, S3 is marked by a set of closely
are brittlely-ductilely deformed in diamictites, pebbly phyl- spaced, steep dipping to subvertical partition planes. These
lites, gneiss, and mylonites, either inside or outside the fault planes may be the loci of pressure solution seams and may
zones, suggesting a certain similarity in regional conditions of also host subvertical and undeformed quartz or carbonate
strain and metamorphism. As well as in the. mylonites, the veins. L3 linear features are the F3 fold axis (B3) and the
resistant grains in diamictites and pebbly phyllites are flat- intersection lineation (L3-2.1) which plunges gently to subver-
tened, fractured, pulled-apart and rotated within the S2 planes tically into a fan of directions between NNW to ENE.
(Fig. 7a-e) and have a pressure shadow tail consisting of very The F3 folds and kinks are better developed in highly
fine grained, dynamically recrystallised quartz and feldspar, anisotropic and subvertical rocks, probably because where S2,
with fibrous overgrowth of very fine sericite, chlorite and S0 (or Sn) and S1 are made parallel after F1 and F2 folding, the
minor biotite in the tails and intraclasts voids. contrasting competence of layers provided many slippery
This deformational pattern is observed in quartzites and surfaces parallel to the regional anisotropy. In such areas, the
metacarbonates too, indicating that D2 shortening was cou- transverse F3 folds deform the co-axial interference pattern
pled with a component of inter-foliation shearing along the developed by the F1 and F2 folds, whereas trains of tighter FS
WNW-ESE structural grain of the southern part of the Sergi- folds may occur locally, associated along with strike-slip
pano Belt, thus recording a top to the south movement com- faults. Best example is seen in the southern part of the Simao
bined with an E-W sinistral strike-slip along the steep dipping Dias dome, in an outcrop of Olhos D'água metacarbonates
S2 foliation and probably other sub-parallel surfaces. (locality z, Fig. 3; details in D'el-Rey Silva 1992).
Late stage shearing In some localities of the regional
An extensive study of hundreds of deformed clasts and domain, the sub-vertical S2 and S3 foliations are affected by
respective tails in subhorizontal and subvertical surfaces NNE dipping, discrete brittle fault planes or local brittle-
nearly parallel to the XZ, XY and YZ planes of the finite strain ductile shear zones, with a listric geometry, and accompanied
ellipsoid in Palestina Formation outcrops (some examples are by sets of en-echelon sigmoidal tension fractures, rotated
in Fig. 7) has shown that the ellipsoids have a prolate geometry foliation and quartz veins, all indicative of a top to SSW
with X-parallel axis parallel to B2 and L1-2 and generally much relative movement late in the evolution of the area.
longer than the Y-parallel axis (D'el-Rey Silva 1992). This is
particularly observed in areas protected from D2 deformation
The Structural domains Sediments in the cratonic
- such as in the west domain and in the core of large F2 folds
domain are barely deformed, but in a locality about 50km to
of the regional domain - but, in highly compressed areas the
the south of the study area, far inside the cratonic domain, the
X: Y ratio is much smaller. This situation suggests a constric-
Lagarto-Palmares Formation is affected by a layer-parallel
tional orogen-parallel strain superimposed by a component of
foliation (S1) along discrete, ≤lm thick layers of siltite/
flattening during D2. However, as part of the finite strain is
argillite intercalated in sandstones. Approaching the trace of
certainly due to D1 deformation, not all the elongation can be
the Itaporanga fault from the S, the Lagarto-Palmares sedi-
taken as evidence of D2-related stretching.
ments are affected by broad, NW to WNW trending folds, and
The data have led to the conclusion that D2 strain has been show a gradual increase in D2 deformation, as S2 passes from
taken up by folding and thrusting, with development of the S2 micro-crenulation cleavage imprinted in intercalated mud-
pressure solution foliation, coupled with the ductile elonga- stones, into well defined spaced planes in the Jacare meta-
tion and flattening followed by brittle fracturing and rotation siltites and into a mineral foliation in tightly folded Frei Paulo
of the clasts. A superimposition of =65% of shortening of the phyllites.
S2 foliation around the clasts, computed according to the The regional and Simão Dias domains display generally
method in Borradaile (1981), highlights the importance of D2 very tight to isoclinal F2 folds, with axial planes generally
flattening in the area. dipping ≥60° to NNE, recording a more intense N-S shorten-
Syn-D2 veins and shear bands Quartz and calcite ing and more penetrative F3 structures than elsewhere. The
veins commonly cross-cut the S2 foliation in diamictites, in Itabaiana domain displays important differences in the struc-
highly foliated metasandstones, phyllites and metacarbonates. tural styles and deformational patterns between the gneiss and
As observed in thin sections, these veins are dissolved and the Itabaiana quartzites, on each part of the Itabaiana dome.
shortened by the S2 pressure solution and by micro-scale F2 The F2 folds tend to be opener than in the regional and Simao
folds, or are even displaced along extensional shear bands, Dias domains, and the Sn//S1 surfaces are also affected by
rotated and brought sub-parallel to S2. Such features indicate gentle to open, 100-l000m-scale F3 folds, resulting in the
a D2 progressive deformation and are probably due to the scattered plot of Sn//S1, concentrated near the centre of the
orogen-parallel extension following the strain hardening of a diagram (Figs. 5a-b), and also the relative dispersion of L2/B2
highly anisotropic sequence (Platt & Vissers 1980), probably between 270°-320° and 090°-140° (Fig. 5c). The east and
recording the final stages of ductile deformation before it west domains are characterised by opener F2 folds affecting
enters the field of brittle fracturing (Passchier 1984). a generally flat-lying, penetrative S1 foliation and by the
 Revista Brasileira de Geociendas, Volume 25, 1995 325

de extensão ao longo da direção A. A matnz clorítica e também afetada pelas fraturas (seta). Comprimento do martelo = 30cm. c - Fraturas de extensao e sombras
de pressao assimetricas em clasto de ortognaisse, indicando cisalhamento intrafolial sinistral ao longo de S2. Comprimento da caneta = 12cm. d - Lineação de
estiramento definida por clastos estirados na superfftie sub-vertical de S2. e - Clastos com fraturas extensionais e sombras de pressao compatíveis com cisalhamento
intrafolial subvertical, topo para sul (esquerda da foto), como indicado pelas setas.
326 Revista Brasileira de Geociendas, Volume 25,1995

SSE-NNW trend of S2 and L2 relative to the other domains. Actually, if the Macurure Group consists of Miaba- and
In these domains, the bulk of the =700m-thick column of the Simao Dias Group-equivalent metasediments, the continua-
Itabaiana quartzites is almost undeformed, being affected only tion of the F1 structures from the southern into the northern
by subvertical shear zones (eastern side of the Itabaiana dome) part of the belt would easily stack ≥10km of folded and thrust
and broad-open F2 folds (western side), strongly suggesting metasediments above the granites of the Macurure domain
that the quartzites acted as a barrier to the deformation (D'el- (Fig. 4a) and this interpretation agrees with the predicted depth
Rey Silva 1992, 1995). of granite intrusion (cf. Giuliani & Santos 1988).

Mi and M2 metamorphism The mineralogical as- SERGIPANO BELT TECTONICS Structural-

semblages of sericite, chlorite, and biotite associated with the metamorphic evolution The structural and metamor-
S1 and S2 foliations and found in fibrous overgrowth around phic evolution of the Sergipano Belt (Fig. 8) may be summa-
deformed resistant grains suggest similar greenschist facies rised in terms of three events (D1-D3) under sub-greenschist
metamorphism affecting basement and metasediments during to amphibolite facies metamorphism and is interpreted as a
D1 and D2, around the Itabaiana and Simap Dias domes.
Nevertheless, thin section of Ribeiropolis phyllites have
shown interleaved flakes of muscovite and biotite in a single
crystal, biotite being partially or totally replaced by chlorite,
suggesting that M1 conditions were stronger than the M2 ones.
Other specific studies (Jardim de Sa et al. 1981) indicate that
metamorphism in the metasediments around the Itabaiana and
Simao Dias domes varies from prehnite-pumpelyite to green-
schist facies, probably recording temperatures of 300°C to
450°C and pressures of l-3kbar. However, the presence of
hornblende-epidote paragenesis in the basement of the area
may indicate that temperature reached 450°-550°C (cf. Essene
1989). Metamorphism increases gradually from absent to very
low grade conditions, in the cratonic domain, up to greenschist
facies northwards, with increasing grain size of phyllitic rocks
and increasing amount of syn- and post-D1 quartz veins close
to the Sao Miguel do Aleixo fault. Crossing this fault in the
central part of the area (Fig. 3) metamorphism passes abruptly
to amphibolite facies of intermediate pressures (Santos et al.
1988; Davison & Santos 1989), but this passage is smoother
everywhere else between the southern and northern parts of
the Sergipano Belt (Jardim de Sa et al. 1986; Campos Neto &
Brito Neves 1987; D'el-Rey Silva 1992).

LITHOSTRUCTURAL CONTINUITY ACROSS THE

DOMAIN BOUNDARIES The geology of the Itaba-
iana-Carira area supports a craton-miogeocline lithological
and structural continuity across the Itaporanga fault (see pre-
vious sections) and across the miogeocline-eugeocline bound-
ary.
For the mio-eugeocline continuity the lithological evidence
is provided by sheared Itabaiana quartzites and thin slices of
phyllonitic gneiss in the hangingwall of the Dores thrust fault.
The outcrops of Itabaiana quartzites in the northern part of the
area form continuous ranges (Fig. 3) and are probably associ-
ated in the field with other outcrops of basement gneiss (M.A.
Silva Filho, pers. commun. 1994, based on ongoing regional
studies by CPRM). Additional evidence are the similarities
between Macurure Group lithologies with the Miaba and
Simao Dias groups, and the continuity of the aeromagnetic
pattern of the Itabaiana dome gneiss to NNE, across the Dores
fault (D'el-Rey Silva 1992, 1995). The structural evidence is
provided by the extreme similarity of structural styles across
the São Miguel do Aleixo and Dores faults (cf. cross sections
in Campos Neto & Brito Neves 1987, Santos et al. 1988), with
support in geophysical indications of the depth of the crystal-
line basement in the hangingwall of the São Miguel do Aleixo Figure 8: Summary structural and metamorphic evolution of
fault (cf. integrated geophysical sections by Motta 1990, in the Sergipano Belt.
D'el-Rey Silva 1992). Figura 8: Sumário da evolução estrutural e metamórfica da Faixa Sergipana.
Revista Brasileira de Geociencias, Volume 25, 1995 327

monocyclic tectonic regime under ductile to ductile-brittle therein) and accretionary wedges (Kimura & Hori 1993)
conditions of progressive deformation. The crystalline base- commonly display more deformational events than the exter-
ment in the Itabaiana and Simao Dias domes is clearly in- nal zones. Therefore, caution is a must when interpreting
volved in these events (D'el-Rey Silva 1992) and this is also tectonic evolution based on simple structural data. Addition-
valid for the other basement domes in Figure 2, according to ally, their folded quartz veins are kinematically compatible
Campos Neto & Brito Neves (1987), Jardim de Sá et al. (1986) with a first stage of the progressive D1 event in the Sergipano
and Amorim et al. (1993). Belt.
D1 deformation is interpreted as a progressive event of
layer-parallel shearing and shortening, and D2 deformation Evolution of the basement domes The evolution
records a progressive shortening by nearly upright folding and of the basement domes in the Itabaiana-Carira area has been
high-angle faulting with a kinematics of top to the SSW up-dip treated in detail (D'el-Rey Silva 1992,1995). In summary, the
movement with a component of orogen-parallel strike-slip Itabaiana dome likely started to evolve as a syn-depositional
movement, probably under a sinistral transpressive regime. rollover anticline-syncline pair developed above a ramp-flat
The regional faults are interpreted as zones .of strain concen- listric extensional detachment, in order to explain the huge
tration in the D2 progressive shortening and wrenching. About thickness of the Itabaiana Formation and the lithofacies of the
55% of N-S shortening is implied by D1-D2 deformation Ribeiropolis Formation around the dome. The crown of
(computations on the Olhos D'agua metacarbonates above the Jacoca carbonates records the progressive uplift of the dome
erosion line, Fig. 4a; D'el-Rey Silva 1992). D3 is interpreted whereas the Vaza Barris trough may have been a ramp syn-
as a non penetrative and non metamorphic event of shortening cline or a crestal collapse graben developed at this time. Under
and extension transversal to the belt. compression, this precursor dome evolved into a progres-
A transpressive regime is supported by several features of sively overturned anticline by superimposed D1-D2 shorten-
the Sergipano Belt matching descriptions of other deformed ing. Because of the barrier of quartzites, the basement below
belts where a combination of shortening and wrenching strains was hotter and more ductilely deformed, and the sediments
has been evoked: e.g. the parallelism of fold axes and stretch- above were detached and tightly folded.
ing lineations, both perpendicular or at high-angle with the The Macambira phyllonites and the extensional shear
direction of tectonic transport (Lagarde and Michard 1986; bands affecting the S/C foliation in the western part of the
Ridley 1986; Ellis and Watkinson 1987) and the interfoliation dome (Fig. 3) probably play the role of an extensional collapse
slip along strike and dip of the axial plane foliation of the of the hinge of the major fold (top down to WNW, along the
regional folds (Ghosh 1982). fold axis), made easier by the existence of a gliding plane
The local metamorphic break across the São Miguel do along the contacts of the Itabaiana thick quartzites with the
Aleixo fault and the local northerly vergence of D2 structures basement (below) and the Ribeiropolis phyllites (above). Late
in the northeastern part of the belt (Fig. 2) may be explained in the evolution of the area, the dome also underwent a 25°
as part of a late-D2 positive flower structure (D2 event in Fig. counter-clockwise rotation.
8), which is also commonly developed under transpression The Simao Dias dome probably evolved as a series of
(e.g. Odonne and Vialon 1983). A transpressive regime extensional basement slices, simultaneously with the sedi-
accounts for the opening of small late- to post-tectonic inter-
mentary stage in the evolution of the Itabaiana dome and the
montane basins by continued belt-parallel extension, such as Vaza Barris trough. These slices were subsequently folded and
the Ju£ Formation graben. uplifted during the positive inversion of the listric faults. Other
Amorim et al. (1992) and Amorim & Torres (1994) basement domes in the belt (Fig. 2) still demand a detailed
described an ESE-WNW trending stretching lineation to the study.
north of the Jirau do Ponciano dome and to the north of the
Macurure fault, associated with SW-NE trending F2 folds and
low-angle faults dipping to SSE with top to WNW and NW Progressive deformation and late- to post-Di
movement, in areas where several ESE-WNW trending strike- extension The Capitao farm outcrop (Fig. 9) is a
slip faults also occur (nearby localities C, E, F and G, Fig. 2). ≥400m long and about 60m high, SW-NE trending wall
Although these authors argue for a polycyclic evolution in the digged up by the main river in the area, in the western side of
northernmost part of the Sergipano Belt, such set of structures the Itabaiana dome (locality w, Fig. 3). It displays cross-
may be alternatively interpreted as a template of frontal and bedded Itabaiana quartzites (at the bottom, in the southern
lateral ramps affecting the high-grade metasediments and part), overlain by 5m thick Ribeiropolis coarsening-up meta-
reworking the Pernambuco-Alagoas Massif, kinematically conglomerates that underlain Jacoca metacarbonates (the
compatible with the Neoproterozoic deformational evolution main features of part of the outcrop are in Fig. 9a). The lowest
of the belt, as described here. 8 meters of the wall were mapped at a 1:100 scale (D'el-Rey
Destro et al. (1993) proposed that the entire northern part Silva 1992; part of it is in Fig. 9b).
of the Sergipano Belt should be considered a completely The dominant structures are F1 folds and sub-horizontal
different belt, just on the basis of structural data collected thrusts (Fig. 9a), and a strong S1 foliation which is layer-
mostly from deformed quartz veins in an area to the south of parallel in dolomitic layers and refracts to a low angle in
the Jirau do Ponciano dome, but away from the border of the intercalated metapelite/metasiltite layers of the Jacoca Forma-
Vaza Barris and Macururé domains. Their arguments are tion. Several small-scale structures indicate that D1 deforma-
highly debatable because among the tectonic requirements to tion took place progressively by top to SSW layer parallel
demonstrate that two belts were brought together, the São shearing, developing and folding the S1 foliation to generate
Miguel do Aleixo fault system has no affinities with any kind a less penetrative S1a foliation (details 1-3), emplacement,
of terrane boundary. Moreover, as is being increasingly rotation, and subsequent folding of S1-parallel dolomite veins
recognised, the internal part of orogens (Wu 1993 and others (details 4-5, sketch 6).
328 Revista Brasileira de Geociencias, Volume 25,1995

In the lowest part of the outcrop (see left end of Fig. 9b), sitional extensional tectonism associated with craton uplift
the basal section of the metacarbonates and the metaconglom- and continental break-up leading to the opening of the
erates are ductilely-brittlely extended and are cut by a se- Caninde Sea.
quence of NNE dipping, high-angle normal faults that bend
and flatten into a listric geometry (see right end). They most DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS The Sergi-
likely merge in a top-down to the N basal detachment that must pano Belt is a single and continuous tectonic entity with many
exist somewhere below in the quartzites. This is because the features typical of other Proterozoic belts, particularly those
metaconglomerates are highly sheared along the basal and in the Pan-African/Brasiliano orogeny. The continuity within
upper contacts, just in the vicinities of the brittle-ductile the sedimentary-volcanic record has been also demonstrated
extensional features (Fig. 9b). Well developed S-C foliations in other parts of the megaorogen, such as in the North Equa-
clearly indicate a top down to NNE, and top to SSW move- torial (Oubanguides) Belt of Africa (Nzenti et al. 1988), in the
ments, respectively in these basal and upper contacts. The Rio Preto Belt (Egydio da Silva et al. 1989), and is not
2m-thick basal layer of massive dolomites is disrupted by the disregarded in the Riacho do Pontal Belt (e.g. Gomes 1990,
normal faults and appears again outside, to the right of Figure Jardim de Sá et al. 1992).
9b, being separated into Im-sized boudins with l0cm-scale The Sergipano Belt may be interpreted in terms of a clas-
internal folds and occurring meters away from each other, sical collisional orogen resulting from the closure of the
along the flat-lying contact with the conglomerates. Caninde sea, the life of which may explain the Estancia-Vaza
In the hangingwall of the normal faults, the Si foliated Barris-Macurure domains as a craton-miogeocline-eugeo-
Jacoca Formation is affected by mesoscopic, asymmetric, cline single wedge developed on an asymmetric basin that
isoclinal folds with NNE dipping curved axial planes that evolved into an ocean, and may explain the Marancó and Pogo
mimic the fault planes (Fig. 9a-b show only an example). Redondo domains, for example as a magmatic arc (Marancó)
These folds develop a penetrative pressure solution axial developed by subduction of the oceanic crust underneath a
planar foliation, and the overturned limbs are associated with continental fragment (Poço Redondo). Alternatively, the
reverse faults parallel to the normal faults (Fig. 9b), whereas Marancó domain may be the record of felsic-intermediary
the normal limbs, which are very close to the normal fault volcanism within the precursor basin undergoing large-scale
planes, are extremely thinned and affected by conjugate ex- syn-depositional extension, and the Poço Redondo domain is
tensional shear fractures (detail 7). The data indicate that these a reworked and uplifted slice of the northern margin of the
folds, and the reverse faults developed in their overturned São Francisco Craton. Although the second alternative fits
limbs, are accommodation ductile-brittle structures related to better with isotopic data in Van Schmus et al (1993), both
the deformation normally affecting the hangingwall of listric interpretations argue for more detailed studies on the geo-
extensional systems (cf. Wernicke and Burchfiel 1982, Gibbs chemistry of the Marancó domain and about the characteris-
1984). tics and provenance of the siliciclastic sedimentation already
Because the normal faults affect Si-foliated metacarbon- described within the Marancó domain by Santos et al. (1988).
ates, it may be concluded that the top-down to the N sub-hori- The island arc-like geochemical signature of most of the
zontal extensional detachment to which these faults are asso- Caninde domain, coupled with a northward polarity in the
ciated records late- to post-D1 extensional deformation in the alkalinity of the granites in the Macurure, Marancó and
area, perhaps contemporaneous with the D2 event in the study Caninde domains (da Silva Filho et al. 1992), both support the
area, simply because no F2 folds have been seen affected by interpretation of an episode of B-subduction to the north,
normal faults in the area, nor have they been described in the perhaps with a back-arc setting.
literature of the belt (D'el-Rey Silva 1992). Overall, a suture line has been interpreted along the trace
of the Macurure fault (Fig. 2; D'el-Rey Silva 1992) which
Implications of the upper siliciclastic megase- continues into the Riacho do Pontal Belt (Jardim de Sá et al.
quence The geology of the Itabaiana-Carira area does 1992), according to an aeromagnetic geophysical anomaly
not support thrust belt-foreland basin models to explain the along the northern margin of the São Francisco Craton (Torres
upper section of the cratonic sediments in the southern part of et al. 1994). This suture drives attention on the role of the
the belt [the massive sandstones of the Palmares Formation], Pernambuco-Alagoas Massif in the evolution of the Sergipano
as thoroughly accepted in the literature. Instead, the origin of Belt and the Borborema Province.
these sandstones and the whole of the Simao Dias Group, plus The first systematic descriptions pointed to the massif as a
the Palestina diamictites (in fact the origin of the upper silici- wide variety of Archean to Paleoproterozoic gneiss-granite-
clastic megasequence) is better assigned to a progressively migmatitic rocks, pierced by Neoproterozoic granites and
faster uplift of the centre of the Sao Francisco Craton, resulting syenites (Brito Neves et al. 1982). More recently Silva Filho
in the peripheral delamination of the craton margins and (1995) suggests that the massif may be in part a plutonic arc
forming a rim of precursor basins (D'el-Rey Silva 1992, built around 980 Ma ago. New Sm-Nd and U-Pb isotopic data
1994a). from samples of the southern part of the massif have driven
The erosion of such a dynamic source, far to the south, Van Schmus et al. (1993,1995) towards preliminary interpre-
would provide an increasing supply of coarsening-upwards tations that parts of the massifs gneiss and Brasiliano-cycle
sands (The Lagarto-Palmares Formation), possibly trans- granites derive from 1.3-1.7 Ga protoliths, and that the massif
ported by a braid delta system (sensu McPherson et al. 1987) itself is a fragment of a continental crust increased by juvenile
and reworked by waves, after deposition on top of the Acaua material during a major, 1.0 +/- 0.1 Ga old episode of conti-
carbonates into a shallow water platform. The Jacare meta- nental extension that affected a much wider block, a remnant
siltites and the Frei Paulo phyllites record a more distal of which is possibly the Sao Francisco Craton.
position of the Simao Dias Group within the basin. The Although these authors question the existence of any Neo-
Palestina diamictites most likely record the peak of syn-depo- proterozoic island arc in the Borborema Province, they accept
Figure 9: Structural relationships in the Capitão Farm outcrop (a - b). Skectches 1-5 and 7 are line drawing on photographs of the outcrop, and 6 is an interpretation. See text.
Relates estruturais no afloramento da Fazenda Capitão (a - b). Diagramas 1 -5 e 7 são desenhos sobre fotografias do afloramento, e 6 e interpretação. Detalhes no texto.
330 Revista Brasileira de Geociencias, Volume 25, 1995

a drift (how far?) of the massif from the São Francisco Craton. shortened by internal nappes and external thrusts (Epard &
This interpretation matches the initial stage of opening of the Escher 1996, in press, and references therein). The nappes in
precursor Sergipano basin (D'el-Rey Silva 1992,1994b), but the cratonic area in the western part of the belt (Fig. 10; Jardim
their data neither rule out the Canindé sea nor constrain its de Sá et al. 1986) may even be explained by basement-cored
width. Moreover, even being an extensional terrane, the Bor- diapiric extrusion of less viscous material below the upper
borema Province may not be derived from the Sao Francisco cover, as demonstrated experimentally by Talbot (1974). Such
Craton, and the Caninde domain may be entirely allochtonous. a process should be added to the whole evolution of the
Therefore, the Pernambuco-Alagoas Massif may play the basement domes in the belt, because all of its ingredients are
role of another continental margin, or a microcontinent - available.
whichever is the age of its splitting and drift - colliding with The model (Fig. 10) also suggests that the border of the Sao
the São Francisco Craton and being reworked in the Brasiliano Francisco Craton underwent post-D1, possibly syn- to late-D2
orogeny, about 650Ma ago (Fig. 10). In both situations, a extension in response to tectonic loading (similarly as in
plutonic arc may have been built on the massif and a 980Ma Bradley & Kidd 1991) and that compressive and extensive
old arc, if the age is correct, does not disagree, with the 1.0 +/- stresses may have operated simultaneously along some of the
0.1 age of sedimentation in the Sergipano Belt. The available regional contractional faults. These assumptions account for
data do not rule out even the possibility that the amphibolites, the post-D1 extension in the Capitao farm outcrop, and pro-
metachert, metacarbonates and banded iron formations of vides a feasible explanation for the Jacare extensional fault in
layered sequences recently characterised in localities A-G the cratonic area, and for the carbonate breccia along the
(Fig. 2; Amorim & Torres 1994) compare with deep-water Itaporanga fault.
assemblages found in other Pan-African/Brasiliano fold belts, A comprehensive research is required in a key area com-
and interpreted as part of accretionary prisms (e.g. Kukla & prising part of the Pernambuco-Alagoas Massif and adjacent
Stanistreet 1991, Pedrosa Scares et al. 1994). In this case, lithotectonic domains in the belt, based on sedimentary,
these sequences in the Sergipano Belt may even contain paleomagnetic, structural-metamorphic analysis coupled with
tectonic slices of the oceanic crust (the amphibolites). determination of absolute and relative ages of deformational
The lack of a foreland basin in the southern part of the events, P-T-t history, and more detailed geochemistry and
Sergipano Belt may be due to erosion, or it has not been isotopic studies. These will provide more definitive answers
developed at all (D'el-Rey Silva 1992). In that case, the about poly or monocyclic evolution, and about the evolution
progressive crustal loading in the inner parts of the belt may of the massif and its role in the tectonics of the area. Detailed
have been accompanied by downwarping of the attenuated studies are also required on the deformation of the sediments
continental crust of the Sao Francisco Craton (Fig. 10), so that in the Estancia domain, far into the Craton, to understand the
no significant relief emerged above sea level. A similar argu- role of the layer-parallel foliation existing there. Similar
ment was proposed by Tankard (1986) for the Paleozoic ongoing studies in the cratonic domain of the Brasilia Belt
evolution of the North American margin on the basis of (D'el-Rey Silva & Pereira 1995) have pointed out into alter-
geophysical data. Fold belts with low topographic elevation native models, other than the classical foreland fold-and-
and little denudation can also be generated at plate boundaries
where the rate of subduction exceeds the rate of overall
convergence (Royden & Burchfiel 1989).
Any degree of obliquity or a continued convergence would
lead to a transpressive regime (e.g. Shackleton 1986), giving
rise to the dextral Pernambuco Shear Zone (Fig. 10) in mature
stages of collision. As the Pernambuco-Alagoas Massif
moved to the west along the bending of the Pernambuco Shear
Zone (Fig. 2), the maximum differential stress (91-3 3) may
have rotated to a more southerly direction, and this, combined
with the probable tooth-shaped geometry of the western part
of the precursor basin (D'el-Rey Silva 1992), may explain the
dextral strike-slip along the regional faults of the western part
of the belt (Fig. 2). Late- to post-tectonic granites in the belt
(Giuliani & Santos 1988) are probably due to partial melting
of an overthickened crust.
The abundant indicators for a top up to the SSW movement
and the strati graphic inversions demonstrate the contractional
nature of the regional faults in the Sergipano Belt, but do not Figure 10: Cartoon to illustrate a model for the tectonic
allow to decide whether over or underthrusting was the main evolution of the Sergipano Belt (D'el-Rey Silva 1992), based
process for crustal thickening. If the craton was pulled down on the oblique collision of the São Francisco Craton (SFC)
to the north by a sinking oceanic slab (Fig. 10), then under- and the southern part of the Borborema Province (BP), result-
thrusting should be the dominant process, because the lower ing in the displacement of the Pernambuco-Alagoas Massif
continental crust carries down the more buoyant upper crust (PAM) to the west, along the dextral Pernambuco Shear Zone.
and sedimentary cover, but all going into subduction. Recent See text.
geophysical data confirm earlier predictions that compres- Figura 10: Diagrama ilustrando modelo de evolufao tectônica da Faixa
sional mountain belts result essentially from the passive sink- Sergipana (D'el-Rey Silva 1992), a partir da colisao obliqua do Cráton de São
Francisco (SFC) com a parte sul da Província Borborema (BP), resultando no
ing of the lower continental crust attached to the underlying deslocamento do Maciço Pernambuco-Alagoas (PAM) para W e para cima,
lithospheric mantle, so the upper continental crust is then ao longo do cisalhamento Pernambuco. Detalhes no texto.
 Revista Brasileira de Geociencias, Volume 25, 1995 331

thrust belt, in order to explain simultaneous extensional and the Sergipano Belt contains unique features that provide data
contractional structures found more than 50km inside the São for the lack of foreland basin sediments in its southern part,
Francisco Craton. this must be considered as a strong possibility at least for other
The Sergipano Belt is a single tectonic unit comprising belts around the Sao Francisco Craton.
three (meta)sedimentary-volcanic domains deposited around
basement gneiss domes, two igneous domains and a migma- Acknowledgments CNPq-Brazil is thanked for
titic domain, all separated by regional faults with composite Grants 200.025/88-3, 301.102/92, 400.037/93-9 and
up-dip and strike-slip movements. These domains may be all 520.241/95.9. B.B. Brito Neves (USP, Brazil) is thanked for
explained by the time-life of an ocean basin (the Canindé sea), discussion on the deformation of the cratonic cover of the belt
and by a typical collision between the southern part of the (February 1995). R.A. Fuck (UnB, Brazil) is thanked for
Borborema Province and the Sao Francisco Craton. Because reading and criticism on the manuscript.
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