Revista Brasileira de Geociências 30(1):110-114, março de 2000

EVIDENCE OF NEOPROTEROZOIC BACKARC BASIN DEVELOPMENT IN THE

CENTRAL RIBEIRA BELT, SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL: NEW GEOCHRONOLOGICAL
AND GEOCHEMICAL CONSTRAINTS FROM THE
SÃO ROQUE - AÇUNGUI GROUPS

PETER CHRISTIAN HACKSPACHER1, ELTON LUIZ DANTAS2, ÂNGELO SPOLADORE3,

ALLEN HUTCHESON FETTER1 AND MARCOS AURÉLIO FARIA DE OLIVEIRA1
ABSTRACT The Ribeira Belt (RB) of southeastern Brazil represents an important manifestation of the Brasiliano Orogeny formed during
the assembly of West Gondwana. Contemporaneous sedimentation and volcanism within the RB provide a basis for helping understand its
tectonic evolution and paleogeography. U-Pb monazite data from the basal metavolcanic rocks of the São Roque Group indicate a crystallization
age of 628 Ma and the upper sequence is cut by a 605 Ma (U-Pb zircon) rhyolite intrusion. Zircon and monazite analyses of metavolcanic
(mafic) rocks and from metagabbros of the lower Açungui Supergroup yield crystallization ages of 614 and 617 Ma, respectively. This
supergroup is intruded by a 607 Ma granite. Geochemical signatures of basal mafic units in both sequences are characteristic of E-MORB
subalkaline tholeitic basaltic rocks. Nd isotopic signatures of the metamafic rocks indicate that they were derived in part from the asthenospheric
mantle (consistent with emplacement in an extensional setting), whereas the felsic bodies appear to have come from the melting of
Paleoproterozoic lithosphere. The paleogeographic reconstruction of part of the RB suggests that the São Roque/Açungui groups represent
extensional sequences, with features of backarc basins, which evolved during the syn-collisional phase of the Brasiliano Orogeny. These data
support the hypothesis that we have a rapid evolution (10-20 Ma) between extensional and compressional tectonics during the geological history
of the São Roque/Acungui Backarc.

Kewords:

INTRODUCTION The Ribeira Belt (RB) (Almeida et al. 1973) is

a Brasiliano-Pan-African mobile belt along the southeastern Brazilian
coast comprising lithologies of different origins and ages. The present
work was carried out in the central portion of the RB in the southern
part of the São Paulo State and the northeast of the Paraná State. The
lateral positioning of blocks and exposure of different crustal levels
have hindered the understanding of the Brasiliano Cycle in the area
(Fig. 1).
Among the several models for the tectonic history of RB, Trompette
(1994) considered an evolution beginning with west-dipping
subduction followed by collision between the São Francisco, Congo
and Paraná cratons. Formation of a backarc in the region, however,
was not considered in that model.
To the north, in the State of Rio de Janeiro, the RB records four
tectonic phases (Heilbron et al. 1995, Machado et al. 1996) subdivided
into 1) pre-collisional (630-600 Ma); 2) syn-collisional (590-565 Ma);
3) late-collisional (540-520 Ma) and 4) post-tectonic (520-480 Ma). In
the central area, in the State of São Paulo, the RB is subdivided,
according Campos Neto and Figueiredo (1995) as Brasiliano Orogeny
(670 - 600 Ma) and Rio Doce Orogeny (590 - 480 Ma).
Recent studies based on distinct Sm/Nd signatures recognize the
juxtaposition of different terranes related to accretion and reworking in
the central section of RB (Dantas et al. 1999). Hackspacher et al.
(1999) proposed the existence of a Neoproterozoic Backarc related to
the evolution of the RB.
The late-collisional phase is characterized by intense lateral escape
tectonics with related NE/SW transcurrent/transpressive shear zones
and associated subalkaline granitogenesis. These tectonic features are
responsible for the present block configurations and alternating high
and low metamorphic grades in the metasedimentary sequences within
the central section of the RB (Hackspacher and Godoy 1999).
The period of the opening and closing of paleo-basins of the RB is
still an unresolved controversy. The depositional history of the São Figure 1 - Schematic geological map of the southern and central parts of the
Roque Group was believed to have initiated around 1.8 Ga (Van Ribeira Belt. After Schobbenhaus e t ai. (1981). The dots represent the U-Pb
Schmus et al. 1986), as post-Transamazonian crustal extension. Cam- and Sm/Nd sample locations (P-Pirapora do Bom Jesus; Ar- Araçariguama;
panha and Sadowski (1999), among others, proposed an evolution A- Apiai; I- Iporanga) and the squares represent cities. IJSZ- Itu-Jundiuvira
starting at this time for the Açungui Supergroup. On the other hand, Shear Zone; FESSZ- Figueira- Espirito Santos Shear Zone; TSZ- Taxaquara
this evolution is difficult to reconcile owing to the presence of the 1.4 Shear Zone; AGSZ- Agudos Grandes Shear Zone; CSZ- Caucaia Shear Zone;
Ga Serra do Itaberaba Group (Juliani et al. 1986) below the São Roque LCSZ- Lancinha-Cubatão Shear Zone; RSZ-Ribeira Shear Zone
Group.
In this sense, the main propose of the present work is to constrain monazite, and Sm/Nd whole-rock methods), geochemical studies and
the timing of sedimentation and volcanism in the São Roque and traditional field investigations of the metasedimentary sequences and
Açungui groups and to evaluate a possible correlation between the two surrounding basement was undertaken.
(Fig.2). A secondary objective of this work is to develop a geotectonic
model for the evolution of the Central RB. To achieve these goals, a LITOSTRATIGRAPHY The greenschist facies São Roque and
systematic study integrating geochronological studies (U/Pb zircon and Açungui groups are separated from the higher grade Itapira and Embu
groups (amphibolite facies), and Archean and Paleoproterozoic

1 - Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista. CP 178, CEP 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brasil. E-mail: phack@[Link]
2 - Instituto de Geociências, Universidade de Brasília. CEP 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brasil.
3 - Departamento de Geografia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina., Londrina, PR, Brasil.
 Revista Brasileira de Geociências, Volume 30, 2000 111

According to Bergmann (1988) the São Roque Group (Fig. 2) is

composed by: the basal Pirapora do Bom Jesus Formation, consisting
of metavolcanics and metalimestones/ metadolomites; the Estrada dos
Romeiros Formation, made up of metarhythmites, metaarenites and
conglomerate layers with smaller intercalations of phyllite and
metamafic volcanics; and the Boturuna Formation, composed of
quartzites and metasiltstones. All the lithologies are slightly deformed
with normal to northwest vergent folds that are strongly stretched
adjacent to shear zones. Metamorphism associated with deformation
varies between middle and upper greenschist facies. This deformation
is intimately associated to late-collisional transcurrent/transpressive
processes (Hackspacher and Godoy 1999) responsible for huge shear
zones, such as the Itu - Jundiuvira, Taxaquara and others of the Ribei-
ra Belt (Fig. 1)
The São Roque Group was deposited over parts of the Serra do
Itaberaba Group and probably over sections of the Embu and Itapira
groups. Juliani et al. (2000) recognized metamorphosed pebbles of the
lower Serra do Itaberaba Group in basal metaconglomerates of the São
Roque Group. The metavolcanics of the Pirapora do Bom Jesus
Formation are probably representative of subaquatic flows, as
evidenced by the presence of pillow structures (Figueiredo et al. 1982).
Chemically, these flows are sub-alkaline tholeitic basalts, have
enriched MORE signatures, and appear to have been deposited in an
oceanic environment, as evidenced by negative Ce anomalies (Oliveira
et al. 1999). The depositional environment is consistent with a shallow
sea or typical backarc setting, with sediments ranging from proximal
deltaic facies to deeper water turbidities, accompanied by subaqueous
volcanic activity (Bergmann 1988).
The Açungui Supergroup in the State of São Paulo is characterized
greenschist facies supracrustal rocks discordantly overlying basement
rocks. Campanha and Sadowski (1999) describes i) continental margin
assemblages laterally represented by the Itaiacoca Group to the
northwest and Capiru Formation to the southeast; ii) a central domain
with a carbonate platform in the western part and deeper turbidite
facies, with associated mafic rocks (ocean floor and/or immature island
arc) to the east (Lajeado and Ribeira subgroups of the Votuverava
Group) (Fig. 2). The Iporanga Formation (Ribeira Subgroup)
represents both continental and oceanic margin associations that
include mafic volcanic rocks whose geochemistry indicates a transition
from a tholeitic island arc environment to MORE to the southeast.
Campanha (1991) interpreted this association as representing advanced
oceanic basin development, while Maniesi and Oliveira (1999) identify
E-MORB character as belonging to a young or restricted ocean basin.
The Apiaí metagabbro is intrusive in the superior portion of the
Açungui Group, Lajeado Subgroup (Campanha 1991). It was only
slightly affected by Brasiliano metamorphism, hence preserves a
geochemistry revealing an original magmatic liquid with a saturated
tholeitic character, whose ETR patterns present a sub-horizontal
alignment corresponding to oceanic basalts with characteristics of
enriched MORE (Maniesi et al. 1999).
GEOCRONOLOGY To constrain the timing of sedimentation and
volcanism in the two groups presented above, U/Pb age determinations
of zircons and monazites were done on their basal igneous units and on
igneous intrusions that cut the upper levels of the sequences.
Both zircon and monazite fractions from the basal mafic
metavolcanic (H351) of the Pirapora do Bom Jesus Formation of the
São Roque Group (Fig.2) were analyzed to determine the age of this
Figure 2 - Lithostratigraphic chart of the São Roque and Açungui groups unit. The best estimate of the crystallization age comes from a nearly
showing the locations ofmetamaflc and intrusive rocks (H351, H352, A13, concordant monazite age of 628 ± 9 Ma (Fig. 3a). Numerous single
A17 and A44). (1) Serra do Itaberaba Group; (2) Pirapora do Bom Jesus grain analyses of zircons in this rock demonstrate the presence of
Formation; (3) Estrada dos Romeiros Formation; (4) Boturuna Formation;
(5) basement; (6) Perau Formation; (7) volcano-sedimentary sequence; (8)
several inherited populations, ranging between 730 and 2000 Ma
Iporanga Formation; (9) Betari Formation; (10) Bairro da Serra Formation; (Table 1), suggesting a complex basement structure, as well as the
(11) Água Suja Formation; (12) Mina de Furnas Formation; (13) Serra da presence of some Neoproterozoic crust. High Samarium enrichment
Boa Vista Formation; (14) Passa Vinte Formation; (15) Apiaí Gabbro; (16) (relative to Nd) in sample H351 precludes obtaining any meaningful
Gorutuba Formation, (modified from Bergman 1988 and Campanha and Sm-Nd data from it. Additional samples from this unit are required to
Sadowski 1999). assess whether or not this enrichment is pervasive throughout the body.
Mafic metavolcanic rocks (A13) of the Iporanga Formation (Fig.2)
contain two different zircon populations, the first with light pink
basement units (migmatitic gneisses, charnokites, metasediments and prismatic grains, yielding nearly concordant data with the upper
ortogneisses) by northeast-south west trending shear zones (Fig. 1). intercept of 614 ± 19 Ma (Fig.3c), reflecting the age of crystallization
Dantas et ai. (1999) and Janasi (1999) considered part of this group to of this rock. Other populations of metamictic, broken, prismatic, milky
be associated with Brasiliano orogenesis with metamorphism at ca. grains define different components of isotopic inheritance between 1.8
620 Ma. Both basement gneisses and the supracrustal sequences are and 2.2 Ga (Table 1). The positive EpsilonNd(t=600) of 0.85 obtained
intruded by different Neoproterozoic igneous suites (ca. 620 to 580 from this rock unit indicates that was derived primarily from
Ma).
 112 Revista Brasileira de Geociências, Volume 30, 2000

Table l - V-Pb results for the studied rocks.

asthenospheric mantle rather than from the older surrounding Table 2 - Sm-Nd results for the studies rocks.
Paleoproterozoic lithosphere. The presence of some older zircons,
however, do show that older lithosphere was involved in the genesis of
this body. Owing to an enriched Í47Sm/144Nd ratio (i.e. >0.150), the
calculated T(DM) age of 1.79 Ga is an overestimate of the mantle
extraction age and should be ignored (Table 2).
The Apiaí metagabbro (A44) is intrusive in the Açungui
Supergroup (Fig.2). One zircon and one monazite fraction (very close
to concórdia) yield an upper intercept age of 617 ± 4 Ma (Fig 3d),
which we interpret to be the age of crystallization of this rock. Three
other zircon fractions (Table 1) yield an upper intercept age of around fractions yields a concordant age, the error on this upper intercept age
2.1 Ga, interpreted to reflect inherited wallrock grains entrained during is highly overestimated. An εNd(t=600) value of-18.67 from this sample
the intrusion of the gabbro. An EpsilonNd(t=600) value of-0.89 from this shows that it represents a meu of the older surrounding lithosphere. A
sample also indicates that it was derived in large part from T(DM) of 2.99 Ga suggests that Archean lithosphere may exist in the
asthenospheric mantle, but the slightly negative EpsilonNd(t=600) value region, but additional studies are required to evaluate this possibility.
and the presence of older zircons attest to contributions from older The Apiaí granite (A 17) is intrusive in the Açungui Supergroup
lithosphere. This body also has an enriched 147Sm/144Nd ratio (i.e. (Fig.2) being considered related to the late-collisional magmatism.
>0.150), thus calculated T(DM) age of 2.03 Ga is an overestimate of Data from four zircon fractions define a collinear array with an upper
the mantle extraction age and should be ignored. Spidergram intercept age of 605 ± 3 Ma (Fig 3e), which we interpret to be the age
anomalies of Rb, Ba and Th also suggest that the origin this body is of crystallization of this rock. A T(DM) of 2.36 Ga from this unit
comparable to that of E-MORB (Maniesi et al 1999). indicates that it was probably derived from older Paleoproterozoic
A rhyolite dike (H352) near Araçariguama (Fig.2), that cuts the lithosphere.
upper Estrada dos Romeiros Formation, places constraints on the The data above suggest that the rocks of the São Roque and
minimum age of deposition. Four zircon fractions from this rhyolite Açungui groups represent identical and continuous paleogeographical
plot on a cord having an upper intercept age of 607 ± 28 Ma (Fig.3b), environments in which a Paleoproterozoic (and possibly some
which we interpret to be the crystallization age. Because one of the Archean) crust suffered rifting with subsequent incipient ocean
formation during the Neoproterozoic.
Revista Brasileira de Geociências, Volume 30, 2000 113

Figure 3 - Concórdia diagrams for: a) metavolcanic (mafic) rock of the São Roque Group, Pirapora do Bom Jesus Formation. Monazite defines a 628 Ma
crystallization age. b) metarhyolite dike cutting the São Roque Group. The zircons define a 607 Ma crystallization age. c) metavolcanic (mafic) rock of the
Açungui Group-Iporanga Formation. The zircons define a 614 Ma crystallization age. d) Apiaí Gabbro cutting the Açungui Group. Monazite and zircon de-
fine a 617 Ma crystallization age. e) Apiaí Granite cutting the São Roque Group. The zircons define a 605 Ma crystallization age.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Age constraints on the 1999), possibly with some Neoproterozoic contributions; iv) the
initiation and termination of magmatism and sedimentation in the São extensional phase (rifting) is represented by a continental backarc with
Roque and Açungui groups suggest that formation of backarc complex the formation of a restricted shallow ocean, with submarine mafic
in the central RB, between the states of São Paulo and Paraná, began volcanism, in the São Roque and Açungui groups, between 628 and
between 628 and 614 Ma and continued until around 607 and 605 Ma. 614 Ma. The Apiaí gabbro may be a magmatic representative
This indicates that these localized basins formed and evolved rapidly, associated to the extensional process of the backarc. The E-MORB
i.e., ca. 10 to 20 m.y., during the syn- and late-collisional phases of the character of the metamafic rocks is shown by the tholeitic subalkaline
Brasiliano Orogeny. geochemistry. The Nd data indicate that these mafic bodies were
Based on the available data, we propose the following derived largely from Neoproterozoic asthenospheric mantle, further
paleogeographic reconstruction for this scenario: i) a beginning reinforcing the rifting hypothesis; v) the late-collisional phase, around
platformal deposition the Embu, Itapira and corresponding sequences 600 Ma is characterized by lateral escape tectonics with the northeast/
(possibly around 700-750 Ma based on the presence of detrital zircons southwest shear zones and emplacement of granitic bodies
(Hackspacher and Godoy 1999). As magmatic representatives we have
of this age in other regional supracrustal units); ii) westward calc-alkaline to alkaline granites of the I-type, locally S-type in the São
subduction of oceanic crust beneath the RB; iii) syn-collisional phase Roque, Sorocaba, and San Francisco granitic bodies (Godoy 1989); vi)
through collision with the formation of a cordilleran magmatic arc the pos-tectonic phase is represented by the Itu granite, (Rapakiwi
around 620 Ma (Hackspacher et al. 1999), along with migmatization Province) at 580 Ma (Tópfner 1996, Galembeck 1997) and the
and calcium-alkaline plutonism, represented by the Piedade/Ibiúna beginning of the extensional phase and future structuring of the Paraná
body in the Embu Complex, the Cachoeira body in the Itapira basin.
Complex and and other related granite in the Setuva Complex. Janasi The syn-collisional phase, in the central part of RB, has an older
(1999) defined a main phase of metamorphism at 625 Ma related to evolution, when compared with same phase of deformation in the State
this collisional process. At present, it is unclear if this collisional phase of Rio de Janeiro to the north. This fact, associated with the presence
in the RB involved any exotic terranes, but further studies should help of an extensional phase (backarc) in São Paulo/Paraná, indicates a
to resolve this question. Structurally, this collisional process in São diacronism in the evolution of the belt.
Paulo State involved a northwest main thrusting, and in the State of
Paraná transport was to the southeast, which may reflect a backthrust. Acknowledgements To Fapesp (grants 97/06544-8, 97/1397-
T(DM) model age of metasediments of the Itapira Complex possess 7 and 99/00358-3) and CNPq (grant 52.2388/95-7) for finnancial
values between 1.9-2.0 Ga, while Embu has values among 1.6-1.8 Ga, support and two annonymour referres of RBG for their crytical review
suggesting the existence of different sedimentary sources (Dantas et al. of the manuscript.

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