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Geological Society, London, Memoirs

Chapter 45 Glacially influenced sedimentation of the Puga Formation, Cuiabá Group

and Jacadigo Group, and associated carbonates of the Araras and Corumbá groups,
Paraguay Belt, Brazil
Carlos J. S. Alvarenga, Paulo C. Boggiani, Marly Babinski, Marcel A. Dardenne, Milene F.
Figueiredo, Elton L. Dantas, Alexandre Uhlein, Roberto V. Santos, Alcides N. Sial and Roland
Trompette

Geological Society, London, Memoirs 2011, v.36; p487-497.

doi: 10.1144/M36.45

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Chapter 45

Glacially influenced sedimentation of the Puga Formation, Cuiabá Group

and Jacadigo Group, and associated carbonates of the Araras
and Corumbá groups, Paraguay Belt, Brazil

CARLOS J. S. ALVARENGA1 *, PAULO C. BOGGIANI2, MARLY BABINSKI2, MARCEL A. DARDENNE1,

MILENE F. FIGUEIREDO2, ELTON L. DANTAS1, ALEXANDRE UHLEIN3, ROBERTO V. SANTOS1,
ALCIDES N. SIAL4 & ROLAND TROMPETTE5
1
Instituto de Geociências, Universidade de Brası́lia, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, CEP 70910-900, Brası́lia, Brazil
2
Instituto de Geociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Lago, 562, CEP 05508-080, São Paulo, Brazil
3
Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus da Pampulha,
CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
4
Departmento de Geologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, CEP 50732-970, Recife, PE, Brazil
5
CEREGE, University d’Aix-Marseille III, CNRS-FU017, BP 13545, Aix-en-Provence, Cedex 04, France
*Corresponding author (e-mail: alva1@[Link])

Abstract: Discontinuous exposures of diamictite (.1000 km) termed the Puga Formation (Fm.) and interpreted as being related to a late
Cryogenian glacial event are known in the Paraguay Belt (Brazilian– Pan-African Orogeny) and part of the Amazon craton and Rio Apa
Block. These diamictite units and a mixed assemblage of sandstone, conglomerate and claystone were first named the Jangada Group.
Recent interpretations have shown that the diamictite of the Puga Formation passes laterally into metasediments of the Cuiabá Group,
interpreted as glacially influenced turbidites. The correlative Jacadigo Group in the southern Paraguay Belt includes a thick succession of
banded iron formation (BIF) bearing large boulders that have been interpreted as recording glacially influenced sedimentation. The dia-
mictite of the Puga Fm. is overlain by two different carbonate-bearing successions, the Corumbá Group (Cadieus, Cerradinho, Bocaina,
Tamengo and Guaicurus formations) in the south and the Araras Group (Mirassol d’Oeste, Guia, Nobres formations) in the north. Evi-
dence of glaciation in the Puga Fm. consists of striated and faceted pebbles and blocks, and dropstones in the turbidites. Sedimentary and
geochemical data from the associated carbonate reinforce the interpretation of a glacial origin. C, O and Sr isotope data from the northern
Paraguay Belt are consistent with the proposed late Cryogenian age for the Puga Fm. sedimentation.

Discontinuous outcrops of the Puga Fm. extend for more than by the economic manganesiferous bed and banded iron formation
1000 km along the Paraguay Belt and over the Amazonian (BIF) of the Santa Cruz Fm. (type section, 198 110 24.3600 S, 578
Craton and Rio Apa Block (Fig. 45.1). The glacial diamictite 360 31.4500 W). Fe formations bearing large granite boulders have
succession was first described from the isolated Puga Hill (198 been interpreted as recording a glacial influence (Barbosa 1949;
370 20.0300 S, 578 310 40.0100 W), SE of Corumbá (Fig. 45.1; Maciel Walde et al. 1981; Hoppe et al. 1987; Urban et al. 1992; Klein
1959), but its best exposures are located in the northern Paraguay & Ladeira 2004; Walde & Hagemann 2007). The Jacadigo
Belt, where the diamictite of the Puga Fm. passes laterally into tur- Group, in contrast to the huge exposure area of the Puga Fm.
bidites with dropstones of the Cuiabá Group (Fig. 45.2) (Alvarenga and Cuiabá Group in the northern Paraguay Belt, is restricted to
& Trompette 1992). A glaciogenic origin was first proposed by a few hills on the border of Bolivia and Brazil near Corumbá
Maciel (1959), but Alvarenga & Trompette (1992) were the first (Fig. 45.1).
to suggest a glaciomarine setting; they interpreted the fine-grained There are two Fe formation units in the southern Paraguay Belt.
sediments of the Cuiabá Group as glacially influenced turbidites. The most significant is the economic Fe formation and Mn ore
The diamictite exposures in the northern Paraguay Belt were deposits of the Jacadigo Group in Urucum Hill (Almeida 1945l
first described by Almeida (1964a, b) as part of Acorizal, Dorr II 1945); the second is an Fe formation in diamictite of the
Engenho, Bauxi and Marzagão formations within the Jangada Puga Formation (Boggiani et al. 2006; Piacentini et al. 2007).
Group. The type section was described between Jangada and Carbonate rocks of the Araras Group and mixed clastic-
Bauxi (Fig. 45.1). Quartzite and sandstone units below the diamic- carbonate rocks of the Corumbá Group overlie diamictite of the
tite (Puga Fm.) and above the slate (Cuiabá Group) were described Puga Fm. and in some areas are interpreted as cap carbonate
as the Bauxi Fm. (Almeida 1964a; Vieira 1965), whereas diamic- (Nogueira et al. 2003; Boggiani et al. 2003; Alvarenga et al.
tite and associated conglomerate, quartzite and slate were named 2004, 2008). Historically, ‘Corumbá and Arara Limestones’
the Jangada Group (Almeida 1964a, b; Rocha-Campos & Hasuı́ were the first names given to these carbonate rocks in the Paraguay
1981). The name ‘Jangada Group’ is not used in the current Belt (Evans 1894). Most studies about carbonate rocks that overlie
nomenclature. the diamictite of the Puga Fm. focus on isotope geochemistry,
In the southern Paraguay Belt, glacial deposits include the Jaca- chemostratigraphy (Boggiani et al. 2003; Alvarenga et al. 2004,
digo Group and the Puga Fm. These two units occur in isolated 2008; Font et al. 2006; Nogueira et al. 2007; Riccomni et al.
hills making it difficult to confirm the stratigraphic relationships 2007) and palaeomagnetic data (Trindade et al. 2003).
between them. The Jacadigo Group (Almeida 1945; Dorr II Outcrops of the Araras Group extend for more than 600 km
1945; Almeida 1946) is exposed in some hills south of the town along the Northern Paraguay Belt. This group is subdivided into
of Corumbá extending into Bolivia. The Urucum Fm. (lower three carbonate formations (Fig. 45.1, Table 45.1): (i) the Mirassol
unit) is characterized by conglomerate and arkose and is overlain d’Oeste Fm., described as a cap dolomite (Nogueira et al. 2003;

From: Arnaud, E., Halverson, G. P. & Shields-Zhou, G. (eds) The Geological Record of Neoproterozoic Glaciations. Geological Society, London,
Memoirs, 36, 487– 497. 0435-4052/11/$15.00 # The Geological Society of London 2011. DOI: 10.1144/M36.45
 Downloaded from [Link] at UQ Library on October 15, 2014

488 C. J. S. ALVARENGA ET AL.

Fig. 45.1. Geological map of the Paraguay

Belt (modified from Alvarenga &
Trompette 1993; Boggiani 1998).

Alvarenga et al. 2004, 2008), (ii) the Guia Fm. (Almeida 1964a; (148 440 13.700 S, 578 490 52.4500 W) quarries and in a drill core
Hennies 1966), and (iii) the Nobres Fm. (Hennies 1966; Luz & from the Bauxi region (158 090 06.1400 S, 568 410 00.7400 W). The
Abreu 1978). Good exposures of the Mirassol d’Oeste Fm. over- Guia Fm. can be found in the Terconi and Tangará quarries
lying the Puga Fm. in the Northern Paraguay Belt can be found as well as at the Cimento Tocantins Mine (148 380 12.0200 S,
at the Terconi (158 400 41.8700 S, 588 040 18.2200 W) and Tangará 568 150 57.5000 W) in the Nobres region and the Nossa Senhora
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PUGA FORMATION, PARAGUAY BELT 489

Platformal glaciomarine depositional system Glacial diamictite-turbidite

Slope depositional system Outer slope depositional system

Araras Group

Puga Formation
Bauxi Formation
Amazonian Craton
(3.0 - 1.0 Ga.)
Cuiabá Group

Diamictite Conglomerate and Fine-grained sediments

graded pebbly sandstone with occasional clasts

Fig. 45.2. Schematic cross-section showing the glacial facies relationships for the late Cryogenian glacial event (c. 635 Ma) along the southeastern edge of the
Amazonian Craton (modified from Alvarenga & Trompette 1992). Diamictites of the Puga Fm. are in the platformal glaciomarine system, while the diamictites of the
Cuiabá Group are in the slope and outer slope depositional system.

da Guia Quarry (158 210 15.0700 S, 568 110 24.4700 W). The Nobres Structural framework
Fm. is exposed in the Provı́ncia Serrana.
The Corumbá Group, in the southern Paraguay Belt, is subdi- Outcrops of the Neoproterozoic rocks extend along the southeast-
vided into five formations (Tables 45.2 & 45.3). The basal ern border of the Amazonian Craton as well as along the eastern
Cadieus and Cerradinho formations occur only in the Serra da Bod- margin of the Rio Apa Block, and contain a thick sequence of gla-
oquena (Fig. 45.1, Table 45.2; Boggiani 1998). Above this unit lies ciomarine, turbidite, carbonate and siliciclastic sedimentary rocks
the grey dolomite of the Bocaina Fm. (Almeida 1945), which is formed on an extensional continental margin. In the northern Para-
exposed in the Serra da Bodoquena and Corumbá regions and guay belt, the Puga Fm. is mostly subhorizontal and c. 100 m thick
which outlines the geographical extent of exposures of the on the craton, whereas in the central part of the belt, in the deepest
Corumbá Group in the southern Paraguay Belt. The pink carbonate part of the basin, the glacially influenced sediments (Cuiabá
of the Bocaina Fm. overlies the Puga Fm. at Puga Hill (Table 45.3). Group) are more than 3000 m thick (Alvarenga & Saes 1992;
The uppermost two units of the Corumbá Group are the Tamengo Alvarenga & Trompette 1992, 1993; Dantas et al. 2009). In the
and Guaicurus formations (Almeida 1965) exposed in the southern Paraguay Belt, the NE – SW-trending extensional struc-
Corumbá region and in the eastern part of Serra da Bodoquena. tures, with sub-vertical faults of a half-graben system, were filled
In the northern Paraguay belt, two Neoproterozoic diamictite- by conglomerate, arkose sandstone and jaspilite of the Jacadigo
bearing glacial intervals are described (Table 45.1): the units Group. The present landscape in the south is due to a later
described in this chapter and attributed to a late Cryogenian glacia- tectonic event and erosion during the Neogene subsidence of the
tion (c. 630 Ma), as well as the Serra Azul Fm. attributed to the Pantanal Basin, with blocks defined by vertical faults (Trompette
Ediacaran glaciation (580 Ma; Alvarenga et al. 2007; Figueiredo et al. 1998).
et al. 2008, 2011). Most rocks in the region have experienced The overlying Corumbá and Araras groups were deposited in a
low-grade metamorphism. In order to facilitate subsequent rock passive margin environment. The total thickness of the sedimen-
descriptions, the prefix ‘meta’ has been omitted. tary pile increases from c. 200 m in the western cratonic area

Table 45.1. Neoproterozoic lithostratigraphy nomenclature in the northern Paraguay Belt

Period Group Formation Lithology Ages

Diamantino Siltstone and arkose sandstone

Alto Paraguay Sepotuba Siltstone Rb–Sr: 569 ± 20 Ma

Raizama Sandstone
Ediacaran
Serra Azul Diamictite and mudstone

Nobres Dolostone and sandy dolostone

Araras Guia Limestone and mudstone
Mirassol d'Oeste Pink dolostone Pb/Pb: 633 ± 25 Ma

Puga Formation Diamictite

Cryogenian Diamictite,
conglomerate,
Cuiabá Group sandstone and
fine-grained rocks
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490 C. J. S. ALVARENGA ET AL.

Table 45.2. Neoproterozoic lithostratigraphy nomenclature in the Serra da Bodoquena region, southern Paraguay Belt

Period Group Formation Lithology U–Pb Ages

Guaicurus Shale
Tamengo Limestone, mudstone and shale 543 ± 2 Ma

Corumbá Bocaina Dolostone

Ediacaran
Cerradinho Limestone, shale, sandstone
Cadieus Conglomerate, arkose and shale

Puga Diamictite
Cryogenian

(inner-shelf domain in Mirassol d’Oeste region) to more than Stratigraphy

1000 m eastwards (middle-outer shelf domain) along the Provı́ncia
Serrana (Alvarenga & Saes 1992; Alvarenga & Trompette 1993; The Puga Fm. and the Cuiabá and Jacadigo Groups include diamic-
Trompette 1994; Alvarenga et al. 2008, 2009). tite and fine-grained rocks with outsized clasts. In the north Para-
The Neoproterozoic rocks along the Paraguay Belt were folded guay Belt, the Puga Fm. and Cuiabá Group are overlain by the
and metamorphosed to very low-grade metamorphism during the carbonate rocks of the Mirassol d’Oeste Fm., Araras Group
Brasiliano/Pan-African Orogeny, in the Ediacaran – Cambrian (Table 45.1; Nogueira et al. 2003; Alvarenga et al. 2008, 2009).
Period (Alvarenga 1990; Trompette 1994; Pimentel et al. 1996; In the south Paraguay Belt glaciogenic deposits are named the
Trindade et al. 2003; Tohver et al. 2006). This event was followed Puga Fm. and the Jacadigo Group; these are in turn overlain by
by post-orogenic sub-alkaline granitic magmatism at c. 500 Ma mixed clastic and carbonate rocks of the Corumbá Group
(Almeida & Mantovani 1975). (Tables 45.2 & 45.3).
Deformation and metamorphism increase from imperceptible
effects on flat-lying rocks overlying the stable Amazonian craton
border to low-grade metamorphism within the Paraguay Belt, Puga Fm. and Cuiabá Group
determined by folding and crystallization of the illite parallel to
cleavage planes (Alvarenga et al. 1990; Alvarenga & Trompette The diamictite lying concordantly below the dolomite of the
1993). Despite low metamorphism, diamictite, quartzite, slate Bocaina Fm. originally described in the southern Paraguay Belt
and phyllite of the Cuiabá Group and Puga Fm., as well as the at Puga Hill (Maciel 1959) has been found in other areas of the
limestone, marl, dolostone and shale of the Araras and Corumbá Paraguay Belt, and is also named Puga Fm.
groups, have well-preserved sedimentary structures in most In the northern Paraguay Belt, the Puga Fm. consists of
outcrops. diamictite, sandstone and claystone units that are part of a

Table 45.3. Neoproterozoic lithostratigraphy nomenclature in the Corumbá and Puga hill region, southern Paraguay Belt

Period Group Formation Lithology U–Pb Ages

Guaicurus Shale

Corumbá Tamengo Limestone, mudstone and shale 543 ± 2 Ma

Ediacaran

Bocaina Dolostone

Puga* Diamictite

Cryogenian Santa Cruz BIF, Mn beds and arkose

Jacadigo
Urucum
Conglomerate and arkose

*Puga Fm. is thought to be coeval with the sedimentation of the Jacadigo Group, although isolated outcrops make it difficult to
confirm their stratigraphic relationship.
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PUGA FORMATION, PARAGUAY BELT 491

marine succession (c. 100 m thick) close to the western border of

the Neoproterozoic basin. To the east, in the deeper parts of the
basin, layers of diamictite intercalated with conglomerate, sand-
stone and fine-grained rocks of the Cuiabá Group (c. 3000 m

Santa Cruz Formation

thick) were deposited as sediment gravity flows (Table 45.1;
Alvarenga & Trompette 1992).
In the Bauxi region (Fig. 45.1), the Puga Fm. contains diamictite
associated with conglomerate, sandstone and siltstone in its lower Mn
part followed by a massive diamictite. At this site, the massive dia-
mictite, interbedded with conglomerate and sandstone, passes to
the east into a thick fine-grained facies with a few isolated clasts
of the Cuiabá Group.

Jacadigo Group
The exposed section of the Puga Fm., at its type section on Puga Mn
Hill (Fig. 45.1), consists of a 95-m-thick massive diamictite with a
sandy matrix, which in the lower 50 m, contains a sandstone layer Mn
intercalated with a clay matrix massive diamictite (Maciel 1959).
A pink limestone of the Bocaina Fm. rests on the diamictite
(Table 45.3; Maciel 1959) and was interpreted as a cap carbonate
typical of other Neoproterozoic successions (Boggiani & Coimbra

Urucum Formation
1996; Boggiani et al. 2003).
Diamictite of the Puga Fm. at the Serra da Bodoquena (Fig. 45.1,
Table 45.2) are found along the axis of folded rocks, overlain by 200
carbonate rocks of the Corumbá Group (Almeida 1965). To the
east of the Serra da Bodoquena a massive foliated diamictite
with a ferruginous matrix is intercalated with centimetre-thick
hematite and magnetite layers, and sub-millimetre layers of 100
quartz and chert (Piacentini et al. 2007).

Jacadigo Group 0 (m)

Between Corumbá and Puga Hill (Fig. 45.1), the Neoproterozoic

exposures of the Jacadigo Group occur in isolated hills (up to Basement
900 m high), surrounded by lowlands of the wetland Pantanal (granite)
plain (Neogene Basin). The Jacadigo Group (Fig. 45.3) differs
from the Puga Fm. in the presence of significant ferruginous
and manganesiferous chemical deposits and the absence of
diamictite. The lower unit of the Jacadigo Group (Urucum
Fm.) comprises conglomerate and arkose sandstone, with
discontinuous conglomerate interbeds, c. 200 m thick. The Santa
Cruz Fm. is c. 400 m thick, and forms the upper part of the Jaca- 1 2 3 4 5
digo Group. The lower part of this formation starts with a continu-
ous layer of red-violet ferruginous-manganese arkose with a Fig. 45.3. Lithostratigraphy of the Jacadigo Group (modified from Almeida
jaspilite/hematite cement along Urucum Hill (Almeida 1945; 1945). 1, Arkose sandstone; 2, conglomerate and arkose sandstone; 3, siltstones;
Walde & Hagemann 2007); this unit was named the Banda 4, BIF with five Mn beds; 5, ferruginous arkose sandstone, sometimes with
Alta Fm. by Dorr II (1945). Towards the top of the Santa boulders and clasts.
Cruz Fm., there are bedded hematite-rich rocks and jasper
(BIF) with arkose and manganese ore intercalations bearing
large granite boulders. In Bolivia, the lower part of the Boqui
Group has been interpreted as correlative to the Jacadigo Group
(Litherland et al. 1986). formation reaches c. 250 m in thickness in the Nobres region. In
the Terconi and Tangará quarries (inner shelf carbonate basin),
this unit overlies the dolostone of the Mirassol d’Oeste Fm. and
Araras Group, northern Paraguay Belt presents at its base fan-like crystals interpreted as aragonite pseu-
domorphs (Alvarenga et al. 2008). Interbedded graded grainstone
The thickness of the Araras Group varies from 100 to 150 m in the and cross-bedded grainstone occur in the middle part of this
western area, overlying the cratonic region (inner shelf), to more formation. Locally, in the fore slope basin, an interbedded
than 1300 m eastwards and in the middle-outer shelf domain. 12-m-thick layer of dolostone (grainstone and breccia) was
Deeper-water rocks are chiefly marl limestone, rhythmite and silt- described at the Nossa Senhora da Guia Quarry (Alvarenga et al.
stone that mark the slope deposits of the basin (Alvarenga et al. 2004, 2008).
2008). This unit was subdivided into three formations The uppermost Nobres Fm. consists of a uniform, light grey
(Table 45.1). The lower Mirassol d’Oeste Fm. consists mostly of dolostone (c. 1100 m) that forms the main karstic relief
dolostone. The 18- to 32-m-thick type section at the Terconi of the region. This formation is exposed in the Provı́ncia
Quarry is characterized by laminated dolostone associated with Serrana but is absent in the eastern part of the Paraguay Belt
microbialites, giant wave ripples, tube-like structures and (Fig. 45.1). The base of this unit is characterized by 2– 4 m of
fan-like crystals (Nogueira et al. 2003; Nogueira & Riccomini dolomite brecciated layers intercalated with fine-grained and
2006; Alvarenga et al. 2008). laminated dolomite. Most of the sequence consists of a thick
The overlying Guia Fm. consists of dark grey laminated micrite succession of grainstone and packstone dolostone (Alvarenga
limestone with thin interbedded shale or marl laminae. This et al. 2000, 2004).
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492 C. J. S. ALVARENGA ET AL.

The Corumbá Group, southern Paraguay belt The mudstone comprises an alternation of silt-shale, siltstone
and very fine-grained sandstone, with clasts cutting or disturbing
The Corumbá Group is exposed both in unfolded and folded the bedding (Alvarenga & Trompette 1992). Some thin beds and
domains. In the unfolded domains, this unit overlies the Rio Apa lenses, up to 0.3 m thick, made up of clast-rich diamictite, have
Craton, located on the western margin of the Paraguay erosive basal contacts. Lenses of fine-grained sandstone com-
River, whereas in the folded domains, it crops out in the eastern monly show load structures. Some massive or laminated sandstone
part of the Serra da Bodoquena (Fig. 45.1). The Corumbá intercalations, up to 15 m thick, include isolated clasts.
Group is the uppermost Neoproterozoic succession exposed in
the southern Paraguay Belt and was subdivided into five for-
mations: Cadieus, Cerradinho, Bocaina, Tamengo and Guaicurus Cuiabá Group
(Tables 45.2 & 45.3).
The Cadieus and Cerradinho formations occur only in the Serra The Cuiabá Group includes a thick sequence of fine-grained rocks,
da Bodoquena (Fig. 45.1) and comprise a mixed assemblage of sandstone, conglomerate and diamictite (Fig. 45.2; Alvarenga &
clastic and carbonate rocks that unconformably overlies the Rio Trompette 1992). Diamictite in this group is massive, with an
Apa Craton (Boggiani 1998). The Cadieus Fm. consists of con- abundant clay-silt matrix. Most clasts are millimetre to centimetre
glomerate and arkosic sandstone that was deposited in an alluvial scale, although a few reach 1 m in diameter. Some clasts of carbon-
fan atop the igneous-metamorphic basement. The proximal facies ate rocks are found in clast-poor diamictite.
of this fan grades upwards and laterally into the arkosic sandstone, Sandstone and coarse-grained rocks are widely distributed in
shale and grainstone that comprises the more distal alluvial facies this group. Conglomerate with beds 0.3–15 m thick is commonly
of the Cerradinho Fm. (Boggiani et al. 1993; Boggiani 1998). Cross- interbedded with sandstone and diamictite. The clast size ranges
bedding and hummocky cross-stratification found within grainstone from less than 1 cm to c. 10 cm. The matrix represents less than
facies in the upper portion of the Cerradinho Fm. suggest a rise in sea 10%, and consists of a clay-silt-sand mixture (Alvarenga &
level at the end of the rift phase (Boggiani 1998). Trompette 1992). Pebbly sandstone exhibits normal grading, start-
The Bocaina Fm. is present in the Serra da Bodoquena, Corumbá ing with a pebbly conglomerate and passing upward to a fine-
region and in Puga Hill, where it may reach thicknesses up to grained conglomerate followed by sandstone. The individual
300 m (Maciel 1959). This unit is placed directly above the lime- graded bed is normally 0.5–3.0 m thick, with a sharp erosive
stone of the Cerradinho Fm. at the Serra da Bodoquena and the basal contact. Clasts include quartz, feldspar, quartzite, mudstone,
diamictite of the Puga Fm. at Puga Hill. limestone and some granite. Flame, load casts and ball and pillow
The Tamengo Fm. is up to 100 m thick and consists of dark, structures are observed at the contact between two graded
organic-rich limestone and shale rhythmically interbedded with sequences, with an injection of sandy material into the overlying
uncommon limestone grainstone. In the Corumbá area, the pebbly sandstone layer. Fine-grained sandstone layers grade
organic-rich limestone and shale of this formation contain a rich upwards into mudstone. Occasionally, isolated clasts can be
Ediacaran microfossil assemblage that will be described below. found cutting the underlying layers of laminated claystone.
The dominance of shale in the Bodoquena region suggests In the Puga Fm., east of the Serra da Bodoquena, a BIF occurs
deeper waters when compared to the Corumbá region (Boggiani as a bed, c. 2 m thick, confined within a massive diamictite with
1998), thus explaining the absence of Cloudina lucianoi in the a ferruginous matrix. The BIF is formed by centimetre-thick
Serra da Bodoquena limestone-shale. layers of hematite and magnetite, alternating with millimetre-thick
The Guaicurus Fm. was first described by Almeida (1965) as a layers of quartz and chert (Piacentini et al. 2007).
thick shale succession on the top of the Corumbá Group that
extends over the eastern part of the Serra da Bodoquena and Jacadigo Group
along the Miranda River valley. It consists of fine-grained silici-
clastic rocks, mainly shale. Diamictite and pelite with clasts that A BIF at the top of the Jacadigo Group (Santa Cruz or Banda Alta
occur as lenses in the pelite of the Guaicurus Formation at formations) consists of a thick succession (up to 450 m thick) of
Laginha Mine, Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, have been inter- interbedded (i) ferruginous arkose sandstone, (ii) hematite-rich
preted as sediment gravity-flow deposits in a slope setting (Bog- jaspilite (BIF), (iii) arkose and feldspathic sandstone, sometimes
giani et al. 2004). There are no equivalents of both the Tamengo containing isolated granite blocks and boulders, (iv) siltstone and
and Guaicurus formations in the northern part of the Paraguay ferruginous mudstone, (v) mudstone with banded jaspilite, and
belt (Fig. 45.1; Tables 45.1, 45.2 & 45.3). (vi) four manganese ore beds between 0.3 and 4 m thick
(Fig. 45.3). Beds vary from centimetres to a few metres in thick-
ness. Arkose and feldspathic sandstone ranges from massive to
Glaciogenic deposits and associated strata bedded, and is rarely graded. Some arkose beds exhibit isolated
granite-gneiss boulders, some of them bigger than 1.5 m in diam-
Puga Fm. eter. Deformation around the boulders is generally more pro-
nounced above them (Trompette et al. 1998).
In the northern Paraguay Belt, the Puga Fm. consists of a succes-
sion of diamictite units intercalated with sandstone, conglomerate
and mudstone. The matrix of the diamictite varies from sandy to Mirassol d’Oeste Fm.
clayey. Diamictite is massive or stratified and contains clasts
from a few centimetres up to 1 m in diameter. Clasts mainly of The Mirassol d’Oeste Fm. (20 –32 m thick) is the basal pink
basement rocks (granite, gneiss, quartzite, quartz, schists, etc.), dolostone of the Araras Group, resting on the diamictite of the
some of them deflecting the underlying laminae, faceted and Puga Fm. (Nogueira et al. 2003). The first 8 m of the formation
striated, and abundant detrital mica, are found in outcrop, close consists of laminated pinkish dolostone that grades upward
to the Palaeoproterozoic basement rocks. Massive diamictite through a diffuse and transitional contact to a grey laminated
shows great variations in the relative proportions of matrix dolostone. The basal dolostone has stratiform and wave microbia-
(muddy sand) and clasts. Occasionally, a crude stratification can lite with dispersed tube-like structures (Nogueira et al. 2003; Font
be observed. Some stratified diamictite consists of few- et al. 2006; Elie et al. 2007). The upper part of the dolostone has
centimetres-thick, massive diamictite beds associated with mud- an enigmatic wave bed form that was interpreted as a giant wave
stone with graded bedding and outsized clasts clearly deflecting ripple by Allen & Hoffman (2005) but described as a tepee-like
the underlying laminae. structure by Nogueira et al. (2003). Fan-like crystals interpreted
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PUGA FORMATION, PARAGUAY BELT 493

as aragonite pseudomorphs are commonly found in the upper part -5 0 +5 +10

of the dolostone and in the overlying limestone of the Guia For-
mation (Nogueira et al. 2003; Alvarenga et al. 2008). Carbonate
has also been described from a drill core in the Bauxi area 1500
(Fig. 45.1) in the middle-outer shelf domain where the Araras
Group is c. 1300 m thick. In this area, 18-m-thick white laminated
dolostone overlies the diamictite of the Puga Formation in sharp
contact (Alvarenga et al. 2008). Other common sedimentary struc-
tures found in this dolostone include stromatolite, and breccia.

Basal member of the Bocaina Fm.

Maciel (1959) was the first to describe the carbonate of the Bocaina
Fm. that overlies the diamictite of the Puga Fm. at Puga Hill. The A
succession starts with a succession of 4-m-thick massive pink 1000
limestone overlaid by c. 10 m of a purple limestone/dolostone, R
mudstone and sandstone that grade upwards to grey dolostone A Nobres
and light grey dolostone. This upper dolostone is the common R FM.
rock of the Bocaina Fm., which also presents grainstone, pack- A
stone, breccia and stromatolites with poorly developed stratifica- S
tion (Almeida 1945; Boggiani et al. 1993).

Boundary relations with overlying and underlying G

non-glacial units R
The basal diamictite of the Puga Fm. lies unconformably above the 500 O
Palaeoproterozoic metamorphic rocks, in the western part of the U
basin, around Mirassol d’Oeste (Fig. 45.1). This contact is P 87
Sr/ 86
Sr
usually poorly exposed, but a road cut section exhibits 12 m of
0.7077
massive diamictite above the unconformity, followed upwards
by mudstone with isolated cobbles and pebbles, including some
0.7078
intercalations of massive diamictite, up to 0.80 m thick (Alvarenga Mirassol 0.7076
1990; Alvarenga & Trompette 1992). Guia d' Oeste Fm. 0.7075
Good exposures of the upper contact of the Puga Fm. with the Fm
Araras Group can be found at the Terconi and Guia quarries and 0.7075
0.7078
in a drill core in the Bauxi region (Alvarenga & Trompette 0.7075
1992; Nogueira et al. 2003; Alvarenga et al. 2004, 2008). The 0
best exposure of this contact (Terconi Quarry) exhibits dolostone (m) Puga Fm.
of the Mirassol d’Oeste Fm. overlying diamictite along a conform-
able sharp contact. This contact exhibits soft-sediment defor- -10 -5 0 +5 +10
mation (Nogueira et al. 2003). In the southern Paraguay Belt, the
13
pink limestone from the Bocaina Fm. overlies the diamictite at d C (PDB)
Puga Hill (Maciel 1959; Boggiani et al. 2003).
Fig. 45.4. Stratigraphic section and variations of d13Cpdb and 87Sr/86Sr for the
Araras Group (data from Nogueira et al. 2003, 2007; Alvarenga et al. 2004,
Chemostratigraphy 2008; Font et al. 2006; Figueiredo 2006).

The chemostratigraphic data discussed here take into account all

available C, O and Sr isotope data from the Araras and Corumbá range from –8.2 to –1.3‰, whereas 87Sr/86Sr ratios are high
carbonate successions (Gaucher et al. 2003; Boggiani et al. and variable with low Sr content (44 – 96 ppm) and high Mn –Sr
2003; Nogueira et al. 2003, 2007; Pinho et al. 2003; Alvarenga ratios (.18).
et al. 2004, 2008; Figueiredo 2006; Font et al. 2006; Misi et al. Dark grey laminated micritic limestone interbedded with the
2007; Riccomini et al. 2007). The discussion will focus on C iso- thin shale or marl layers of the Guia Fm. lie above the Mirassol
topes, because they are more resistant to post-depositional altera- d’Oeste Fm. This grey limestone presents increasing d13C values
tion. The Sr-isotope ratios were also considered for those across the first 20 m from the base, with a narrow range of C-
samples in which the Sr concentration was higher than 400 ppm. isotopic values (between –1.6 and þ0.1‰; Fig. 45.4). The
87
Sr/86Sr ratios for limestone samples with high Sr content
(750 –4351 ppm) and low Mn –Sr (,0.2) range between 0.70763
Northern Paraguay Belt and 0.70780 (Fig. 45.4).
The dolostone of the overlying Nobres Fm. presents a wide
The d13C profiles of the Mirassol d’Oeste Fm. were constructed range of C-isotopic values (Alvarenga et al. 2004; Nogueira
from three sections in the northern Paraguay Belt: Terconi and et al. 2007). In the Bauxi-Nobres area, for instance (Fig. 45.1),
Tangará quarries, both located on the western cratonic domain, the dolostone at the base of the sequence (900 m thick) is charac-
and the João Santos borehole, which is located in the fold belt terized by homogeneous and positive d13C values (þ1.9 to
near Bauxi (Figs 45.1 & 45.4). While the d13C values of the first þ2.7‰), while the upper dolostone, which consists of thin
20– 30 m in the cratonic region range between – 10.5‰ and layers of sandy dolostone, exhibit increasing d13C values up to
–3.0‰, the d13C values along the profile located in the folded þ9.6‰ (Fig. 45.4; Alvarenga et al. 2004; Figueiredo 2006). On
domain range from –4.8‰ to –1.7‰. Corresponding d18O ratios the other hand, in the Cáceres area, the lowermost 300 m of the
 Downloaded from [Link] at UQ Library on October 15, 2014

494 C. J. S. ALVARENGA ET AL.

dolostone placed on top of the Guia Fm. have d13C values ranging intercalations (Walde et al. 1981; Hoppe et al. 1987; Trompette
from – 2.2 to þ0.3‰ (Fig. 45.4; Nogueira et al. 2007). et al. 1998; Walde & Hagemann 2007). The manganese deposits
consist of four individual layers ranging from 0.3 to 4.0 m in thick-
ness. Beds of Mn ore, up to 5 m thick, are mined in the under-
Southern Paraguay Belt
ground Urucum Mine. Isolated granite clasts up to 1.5 m in
diameter have been identified in the arkose intercalations
Boggiani et al. (2003) presented d13C values close to –5‰ for the
(Trompette et al. 1998; Walde & Hagemann 2007).
first 12 m of laminated carbonate rocks overlying the Puga Fm. in
The BIFs in the eastern part of the Serra da Bodoquena are thin
the Puga Hill (Fig. 45.5). In the Jacadigo Group, thin limestone
beds (2 –3 m thick) in a massive diamictite with a ferruginous
intercalations in the BIF show d13C ratios between –5.2 and
(magnetite) matrix, suggesting the relationship of these sediments
–7.0‰ (Klein & Ladeira 2004).
with Fe precipitation (Piacentini et al. 2007). The magnetite matrix
The Tamengo Fm. occurs in the Corumbá area and along the
has an Fe content ranging from 15 to 72%, with an average of 27%
eastern part of the Serra da Bodoquena. The isotopic data of lime-
(Piacentini 2008).
stone from this unit were obtained at the Laginha, Saladeiro and
Corcal quarries, located in the Corumbá area (Figs 45.1 & 45.5;
Boggiani 1998; Boggiani et al. 2003; Misi et al. 2007). Limestone Palaeolatitude and palaeogeography
of the lower part of the Tamengo Formation records a negative
d13C excursion (–3.3 to –2.5‰), which is followed by limestone Palaeomagnetic data are only available for the Neoproterozoic
with positive d13C values (up to þ5.8‰). In the Serra da Bodo- Mirassol d’Oeste Fm. and are restricted to 19 samples from the
quena, located about 200 km SE of Corumbá, limestone correlated Terconi Quarry, in the northern part of the Paraguay belt (Trindade
to the Tamengo Fm. shows homogeneous d13C values around et al. 2003). These palaeomagnetic data indicated five polarity
þ3‰ (Boggiani 1998). The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the Tamengo car- reversals within the first 20 m of the dolomite, suggesting a
bonate rocks from both areas are clustered between 0.7084 and primary magnetization and a low palaeolatitudes (22 þ 6/– 58)
0.7085 (Boggiani 1998; Babinski et al. 2008). for these rocks.

Other characteristics Geochronological constraints

Mn and Fe ore bodies with 36 billion metric tonnes of hematite, A U– Pb zircon age of 543 + 2 Ma (Ediacaran) has been obtained
and estimated Mn ore reserves of 608 million metric tonnes from an ash bed intercalated with the Cloudina bearing limestone
(Urban et al. 1992) are known around south Corumbá. of the Tamengo Fm. near Corumbá city (Babinski et al. 2008), thus
This mineralization occurs throughout the Santa Cruz providing a precise Upper Ediacaran age for this unit. In the north-
Fm., as banded, hematite-rich, jaspilite with arkose sandstone ern Paraguay belt (Terconi Quarry), a Pb/Pb isochron age of
633 + 25 Ma was obtained for the dolostone of the Mirassol
d’Oeste Fm. and the limestone of the Guia Fm. (Babinski et al.
-5 0 +5 +10 unpublished). This age is interpreted as the time of deposition
for these carbonate rocks. There are otherwise no radiometric
data available to directly constrain the age of the Puga Fm.
87Sr/ 86Sr
60 Other radiometric ages include the Nd isotope signature
obtained from clasts in diamictite, quartzite and phyllite in the
0.7086 Cuiabá Group and Puga Fm. by Dantas et al. (2009). The Tdm
40 model ages display an irregular distribution. Diamictite present
Tamengo Fm

variable Tdm values (1.4 –2.15 Ga), but homogeneous 1nd (t)
around – 8. The sandstone show Tdm model ages (c. 2.0 –2.1 Ga)
older than the ones determined for fine-grained rocks (Tdm
30 values of 1.7 and 1.8 Ga). This difference of Nd isotopes may be
0.7085 related to variations in the source region or may be the result of
mixing of material from different sources. Nevertheless, all of
20
these data indicate sources within the Amazonian Craton, in agree-
ment with the palaeogeographic interpretation, which points to the
northwestern basement as the main source of detritus (Alvarenga
0 & Trompette 1992; Dantas et al. 2009).
The limestone and shale of the Tamengo and Guaicurus for-
20 mations near the city of Corumbá contain a record of Ediacaran
fossils (Hahn et al. 1982; Walde et al. 1982; Zaine & Fairchild
1985, 1987; Gaucher et al. 2003). The microfossil assemblage is
dominated by scyphozoan Corumbella werneri (Hahn et al.
Bocaina Fm

0 1982; Walde et al. 1982), Babvinella faveolata, Vandalosphaeri-

dium sp., Cloudina lucianoi (Zaine & Fairchild 1985, 1987), Sol-
dadophycus bossii, Titanotheca and the vendotaenid Eoholynia
10 corumbensis sp. (Gaucher et al. 2003). The presence of these
fossils suggests a deposition during the 570–545 Ma period, con-
0 sistent with the U –Pb age obtained in the Tamengo Fm.
Puga Fm. (m)
-10 -5 0 +5 +10
Discussion
13
d C (PDB)
Northern Paraguay Belt depositional settings
Fig. 45.5. Composite of d13Cpdb and 87Sr/86Sr record for the Corumbá Group
from Corumbá area, Puga Hill and Serra da Bodoquena (data from Boggiani The glacially influenced succession of the Puga Fm. and Cuiabá
1998; Boggiani et al. 2003; Misi et al. 2007 and unpublished data). Group in the northern Paraguay Belt displays three main
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PUGA FORMATION, PARAGUAY BELT 495

depositional settings: platform, slope and outer slope (Fig. 45.2). formations record proximal and distal alluvial deposition. The pink
The platformal deposits are reworked by sedimentary gravity limestone of the Bocaina Fm. has been described as a ‘cap’ carbon-
flows. The deposits on the inner shelf show dominant massive dia- ate (Boggiani et al. 2003; see discussion below). The Tamengo
mictite, alternating with sandstone and fine-grained sedimentary and Guaicurus formations comprise a trangressive– highstand
rocks that contain striated and faceted clasts (Alvarenga & Tromp- sequence, which drowned the carbonate shelf of the Tamengo
ette 1992). On the outer shelf, there is an association of massive Fm. (Boggiani & Coimbra 1996). Diamictite and pelite with clasts
diamictite, stratified diamictite and fine-grained sedimentary that occur as lenses in the pelites of the Guaicurus Fm. at Laginha
rocks with some clasts disrupting the underlying beds. The outer Mine, Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, have been interpreted as sedi-
shelf succession has been interpreted as a succession of resedimen- ment gravity flow deposits in a slope setting (Boggiani et al. 2004).
ted glacial deposits with alternations of debris-flows and shallow
water turbidite events (Alvarenga & Trompette 1992).
Glaciomarine deposits reworked by sediment gravity flows and Correlations and geotectonic evolution of the Paraguay Belt
related to submarine fans characterize the slope depositional
system. Progressive sorting in the deeper portions of the fans are Despite the widespread areal distribution of diamictite underlying
demonstrated by the transition from diamictite to massive con- both carbonate successions (Araras and Corumbá groups), there is
glomerate and sandstone with local inverse and/or normal no consensus about the lithostratigraphic correlation between the
grading and normally graded, fine-grained turbidites. Sandstone northern and southern parts of the Paraguay Belt. In addition, the
and siltstone intercalations are consistent with inter-channel evolution of these two segments could have been diachronic.
deposits. Deposition on the outer slope system was dominated by Some differences and similarities observed between the rocks
fine-grained deposits related to low-density turbidity currents, in from the north and south will be mentioned here in order to
which a direct glacial influence is only indicated by isolated provide a picture of the current knowledge and controversies
clasts (dropstones). surrounding the geotectonic evolution of the Paraguay Belt.
This type of basin-filling suggests that the sedimentary source Glacial episodes have been proposed for both sectors of the
was located on the Amazonian Craton (Alvarenga & Trompette Paraguay Belt, but some differences are observed. In the northern
1992) and this was confirmed by Nd isotopic analysis (Dantas Paraguay Belt, two glacial events can be found: an older one rep-
et al. 2009). Shelf reworking during the glacial event helped resented by the Puga Fm. and the Cuiabá Group rocks (Alvarenga
develop submarine channels and turbidite deposits on the slope & Trompette 1992), and a younger one represented by the Serra
and outer slope (Alvarenga & Trompette 1992). Diamictite at the Azul Fm. and thought to be related to the Ediacaran glaciation
top of this succession is interpreted as the final stage of glaciation, (Alvarenga et al. 2007, 2009; Figueiredo et al. 2008, 2011). In con-
during which all deposits were transported into the basin by sedi- trast, the glacial origin of the Puga Fm. in the southern Paraguay
ment gravity flows and iceberg melting. Belt is debatable and no younger diamictite-bearing unit has
The Araras Group records carbonate deposition and is divided been found there.
into three lithostratigraphic units. The basal Mirassol d’Oeste Whereas carbonate lithofacies and sedimentary structures
Fm. was deposited directly on top of glacial diamictites of the typical of other Neoproterozoic cap-carbonate rocks have been
Puga Fm., and is interpreted as a transgression over previously gla- described in the North (Nogueira et al. 2003), none have been
ciated landscapes. The laminated limestone and shale of the middle found in the southern belt.
Guia Fm. are related to a deep-water system. The upper carbonate Although there is some evidence of diagenetic alteration of Sr
unit, Nobres Fm., consists of more than 1100 m of shallow-shelf values in the lower Mirassol d’Oeste Fm., the carbonate units
dolostone (breccia, grainstone and packstone) indicating high- found overlying diamictite of the Puga Fm. in both regions
energy environments (Alvarenga et al. 2004). exhibit d13C and 87Sr/86Sr values interpreted as representing
original seawater geochemistry; these data are consistent with a
north – south correlation for the Paraguay Belt and are typical of
Southern Paraguay Belt depositional settings other Neoproterozoic cap-carbonate rocks.
In contrast, the upper part of the Corumbá and Araras Groups
In the southern Paraguay Belt (Fig. 45.1), the rocks interpreted as differ in their lithostratigraphy. The limestone and shale from the
deposited during the late Cryogenian glacial event are the Jacadigo Tamengo and Guaicurus formations, both with microfossils
Group and the Puga Fm. The Jacadigo Group around Corumbá (Gaucher et al. 2003), represent a transgressive phase at the top
is interpreted as deposited in a Neoproterozoic tectonic graben of Corumbá Group. This is contrasted with the 1300 m of
system, coeval with the sedimentation of the Puga Formation carbonate-dominated deposition and no microfossils in the top of
(Trompette et al. 1998). The Santa Cruz Formation shows alterna- the Araras Group, in the northern part of the belt. A depositional
tions of autochthonous chemical sediments and siliciclastic sedi- age of 543 + 2 Ma (zircon U –Pb SHRIMP dating) was obtained
ments (fine-grained and arkose sandstone), which have been for the Tamengo Fm. (Babinski et al. 2008). If we consider that
interpreted as glacially influenced based on the presence of large the Bocaina Fm. was deposited after the late Cryogenian glacia-
granite boulders thought to be dropstones (Barbosa 1949; Walde tion, which is assumed to be 630 Ma, an unconformity would
et al. 1981; Urban et al. 1992; Klein & Ladeira 2004). Trompette have to exist between the Bocaina and Tamengo formations,
et al. (1998), however, remarked that these granite pebbles and because the deposition of the Bocaina Fm. (200 m thick, at
boulders generally do not cross-cut the underlying bedding, and most) could not have taken such a long time (c. 100 Ma). In con-
the deformation around the boulders is associated with compaction trast, the 1300-m-thick carbonate succession between the two
from overlying strata, being more pronounced above the boulders glacial units in the northern Paraguay Belt is thought to have
rather than beneath them. These data were used to deny a glacial lasted 50 Ma, assuming the two glacial units represent a late Cryo-
origin of these deposits, suggesting reworked gravitational fluxes genian (c. 630 Ma) and an Ediacaran age glaciation (580 Ma),
(Trompette et al. 1998). The diamictite of the Puga Fm. in the respectively (Alvarenga et al. 2007; Figueiredo et al. 2008).
southern Paraguay Belt does not show evidence of striated clasts Further evidence that undermines a north –south correlation for
or dropstones, but their widespread areal distribution underlying at least the upper part of the succession comes from the age of the
a carbonate succession (Araras and Corumbá groups) is strong evi- Alto Paraguay Group, which overlies the Araras Group. Although
dence for their stratigraphic correlations to other glacial deposits it is poorly constrained, a Rb –Sr whole-rock isochron age of c.
of the Puga Fm. in the Paraguay Belt. 569 Ma, was determined from the shale of the Sepotuba Formation
The Corumbá Group records mixed clastic and carbonate sedi- (Table 45.1; Cordani et al. 1985), suggesting that the units of the
mentation in a passive margin setting. The Cadieus and Cerradinho uppermost formations of the northern part of the belt are older
 Downloaded from [Link] at UQ Library on October 15, 2014

496 C. J. S. ALVARENGA ET AL.

than the ones from the southern part (e.g. the Tamengo Fm., Alvarenga, C. J. S. & Trompette, R. 1992. Glacially influenced
Table 45.2). sedimentation in the Later Proterozoic of Paraguay belt (Mato Grosso,
In addition, the geotectonic evolution of the two regions appears Brazil). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 92,
to differ during deposition of the upper part of the succession. 85–105.
40
Ar – 39Ar ages ranging from 541 and 531 Ma were determined Alvarenga, C. J. S. & Trompette, R. 1993. Brasiliano tectonic of the
from the biotite of metavolcanics (Araés gold deposit in the Paraguay Belt: the structural development of the Cuiabá Region.
eastern end of the belt) and interpreted as the cooling ages follow- Revista Brasilieira de Geociências, 23, 18 –30.
ing regional metamorphism in the northern Paraguay Belt Alvarenga, C. J. S. de, Cathelineau, M. & Dubessy, J. 1990. Chron-
ology and reorientation of N2 – CH4, CO2 – H2O, and H2O-rich
(Geraldes et al. 2008). In contrast, in the southern part of the
fluid-inclusions trails in intra-metamorphic quartz veins from the
belt, the deposition of carbonate rocks and shale from the Cuiabá gold district, Brazil. Mineralogical Magazine, 54, 245 –255.
Tamengo (c. 543 Ma) and Guaicurus formations was taking Alvarenga, C. J. S. de, Moura, C. A. V., Gorayeb, P. S. S. & Abreu,
place in a passive margin environment. These drastic differences F. A. M. 2000. Paraguay and Araguaia Belts. In: Cordani, U. G.,
in the two segments of the belt are still not understood, and a Milani, E. J., Thomaz Filho, A. & Campos, D. A. (eds) Tectonic
more detailed and profound study is needed in order to better Evolution of South America, Rio de Janeiro, 31st International
constrain the evolution of the Paraguay belt. Geological Congress, 183– 193.
Radiometric constraints on the Puga Fm. are limited to Edia- Alvarenga, C. J. S., Santos, R. V. & Dantas, E. L. 2004. C-O-Sr iso-
caran ages (543 Ma) obtained from the Tamengo Fm. in the topic stratigraphy of cap carbonates overlying Marinoan-age glacial
southern Paraguay Belt, although the significance of this data diamictites in the Paraguay Belt, Brazil. Precambrian Research,
depends on stronger evidence for north –south stratigraphic corre- 131, 1– 21.
lations. In the end, the Puga Fm. and the correlated Cuiabá Group Alvarenga, C. J. S. de, Figueiredo, M. F., Babinski, M. & Pinho,
in the northern Paraguay Belt are interpreted as related to the late F. E. C. 2007. Glacial diamictites of Serra Azul Formation (Edia-
Cryogenian glaciation because of the overlying dolomite lithofa- caran, Paraguay Belt): evidence of the Gaskiers glacial event in
cies, palaeomagnetic data and negative d13C values of the Mirassol Brazil. Journal of South American Earth Science, 23, 236 –241.
d’Oeste Fm. (Nogueira et al. 2003; Alvarenga et al. 2004, 2008; Alvarenga, C. J. S. de, Dardenne, M. A. et al. 2008. Isotope stratigra-
Allen & Hoffman 2005). Limestone and mud-limestone deposited phy of Neoproterozoic cap carbonate in the Araras Group, Brazil.
above the Mirassol d’Oeste Fm. have 87Sr/86Sr ratios between Gondwana Research, 13, 469 –479.
0.70763 and 0.70780, consistent with a seawater composition Alvarenga, C. J. S. de, Boggiani, P. C., Babinski, M., Dardenne,
from c. 630 Ma (Alvarenga et al. 2004, 2008). The age and M. A., Figueiredo, M. F., Santos, R. V. & Dantas, E. L. 2009.
The Amazonian Paleocontinent. In: Gaucher, C., Sial, A. N., Hal-
glacial origin of the Puga Fm. in the southern Paraguay Belt
verson, G. P. & Frimmel, H. E. (eds) Neoproterozoic–Cambrian
awaits further study to resolve existing controversies. Tectonics, Global Change and Evolution: A Focus on Southwestern
Gondwana. Developments in Precambrian Geology, 16, Elsevier,
This chapter is a contribution to the International Geological Programme (IGCP)
15 – 28.
Project 512 ‘Neoproterozoic Ice Ages’ and Project 478 ‘Neoproterozoic– Early
Babinski, M., Boggiani, P. C., Fanning, M., Simon, C. M. & Sial, A. N.
Palaeozoic Events in SW-Gondwana’. This research was supported by the Con-
2008. U– Pb SHRIMP geochronology and isotope chemostratigraphy
selho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientı́fico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Funda-
(C, O, Sr) of the Tamengo Formation, southern Paraguay belt, Brazil.
ção de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP). We thank
In: South American Symposium on Isotope Geology, 6, San Carlos de
Mineração Corumbaense Reunidas S.A. and Urucum Mineração S.A. for their
Bariloche, Argentina. Proceedings, CD-ROM.
support during fieldwork. A. C. Rocha-Campos, N. M. Chumakov, E. Tohver,
Barbosa, O. 1949. Contribuição à geologia da região Brasil-Bolı́via.
C. Riccomini, G. Shields and E. Arnaud are thanked for their careful and
Mineração e Metalurgia, 13, 271 – 278.
helpful reviews. This represents a contribution of the IUGS- and UNESCO-
Boggiani, P. C. 1998. Análise estratigráfica da bacia Corumbá
funded IGCP (International Geoscience Programme) project #512.
(Neoproterozóico)-Mato Grosso do Sul. PhD thesis. Universidade
de São Paulo, Instituto de Geociências, Brazil.
Boggiani, P. C. & Coimbra, A. M. 1996. The Corumbá Group
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