Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58

Transamazonian Orogeny in the Southern São Francisco Craton

Region, Minas Gerais, Brazil: evidence for Paleoproterozoic
collision and collapse in the Quadrilátero Ferrı́fero
Fernando F. Alkmim a, Stephen Marshak b,*
a Departamento de Geologia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, M.G. 35.400, Brazil
b Department of Geology, University of Illinois, 1301 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
Received 29 April 1997; accepted 8 January 1998

Abstract

The Paleoproterozoic Transamazonian orogeny yielded a series of discrete orogens in Brazil. The present field study
in the Quadrilátero Ferrı́fero (QF ) indicates that the southern São Francisco craton region of the Brazilian highlands
preserves a portion of one of these orogens. Two sets of Transamazonian structures occur in this region. The first
consists of northwest-verging folds and thrusts affecting supracrustal sequences. It is suggested that this set formed in
a fold-thrust belt setting shortly after 2.125 Ga, during the closure of a passive-margin basin that had initiated along
the margins of a preexisting continental mass at ca 2.5 Ga. The second set consists of structures defining the prominent
dome-and-keel architecture of the QF. This set, a consequence of the emplacement of basement domes against
supracrustal rocks at 2.095 Ga, may reflect the consequences of orogenic collapse. Narrow, conglomerate-filled
intermontane basins may have formed coevally with dome emplacement. Formation of an ocean basin east of the
present-day São Francisco craton eventually occurred in Late Mesoproterozoic. In effect, the Transamazonian orogen
of the QF represents the collision and collapse stages of a Paleoproterozoic Wilson cycle. The contractional phase of
the Transamazonian orogeny probably represents accretion of an offshore arc to the eastern and southeastern margin
of the present-day São Francisco craton region. The arc, and an associated suture, may be traced in the Brasiliano
(Pan African) orogen east of the São Francisco craton, northwards into the northeastern lobe of the São Francisco
craton. Clearly, initial assembly of crustal blocks to form a larger continent involving South America occurred during
the Paleoproterozoic (2.1 Ga). Post-Transamazonian rifting of this continent created the basins which were later
inverted during the Brasiliano assembly of Gondwana. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

Keywords: Brazil; Collision tectonics; Orogenic collapse; Orogeny; Proterozoic

* Corresponding author. Fax: 001 217 244 4996; e-mail: [email protected]

0301-9268/98/$19.00 © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

PII S0 3 0 1 -9 2 6 8 ( 9 8 ) 0 0 03 2 - 1
30 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58

1. Introduction may also have formed during the Uruaçuano orog-

eny, but this interpretation now appears unlikely.
Compilations of existing geochronologic data The fifth event, the Brasiliano orogeny (=Pan
indicate that five major tectonothermal events African orogeny of other Gondwanide continents),
affected South America during the Precambrian occurred between 0.7 and 0.45 Ga (Neo-
[Fig. 1; Almeida et al. (1981); Almeida and Hasui proterozoic/Early Paleozoic).
(1984); Brito Neves (1990); Brito Neves and In southeastern Brazil, the overall nature of the
Cordani (1991); Brito Neves et al. (1996); Espinhaço and Brasiliano events is fairly clear.
Schobbenhaus and Campos (1984); Teixeira Rifting during the Espinhaço event broke up a
(1993)]. The first, the Jequié orogeny, took place large continent into smaller blocks. These blocks,
between 2.8 and 2.6 Ga (Late Archean time). The plus others, reassembled to form Gondwana
second, the Transamazonian orogeny, occurred during the Brasiliano event. Thus, the Brasiliano
between 2.1 and 1.8 Ga (Paleoproterozoic time); orogeny created a network of collisional orogens
the name ‘Transamazonian’ was coined because reflecting closure of oceanic and ensialic basins.
these dates were first obtained in rocks from a Pre-Espinhaço tectonic events, however, remain
broad belt transecting the Amazon region and poorly understood because structures associated
Guiana shield ( Hurley et al., 1967). The third, with these events are not well exposed or dated,
here referred to as the Espinhaço rifting event have been severely overprinted by Brasiliano defor-
[‘Estaterian taphrogenesis’ of Brito Neves et al. mation, or have been buried by Neoproterozoic
(1996)], occurred toward the end of the and Phanerozoic cover. As a result, questions
Paleoproterozoic (between 1.78 and 1.70 Ga) and about the older events remain incompletely
was associated with widespread acid and basic
answered. In what tectonic setting did the older
magmatism. The fourth, the Uruaçuano orogeny,
events occur? Did geologic processes during these
appears to be limited to northern Brazil, where
events resemble those that occurred during youn-
belts of metamorphic rocks yield ages between 1.5
ger events? Are these events manifestations of a
and 1.1 Ga. Almeida (1967) postulated that some
pre-Brasiliano continental assembly? This paper
tectonic features of the central Brazil highlands
addresses these questions as they pertain to the
Transamazonian orogeny.
Our structural analysis, along with results of
recent geochronological studies (Romano, 1989;
Machado et al., 1989a,b; Teixeira and Figueiredo,
1991; Machado and Carneiro, 1992; Machado
et al., 1992; Teixeira, 1993; Babinski et al., 1991,
1993; Carneiro et al., 1995; Noce, 1995; Machado
et al., 1996; Schrank and Machado, 1996a,b) indi-
cates that the Quadrilátero Ferrı́fero (QF ), a
portion of the southern São Francisco craton in
the Brazilian highlands, contains relicts of
a Transamazonian orogen. We describe
Transamazonian structures of the southern São
Francisco craton, provide a tectonic model
to explain the formation of these structures,
and correlate these structures with other
Transamazonian features of the Brazilian high-
Fig. 1. Chronology chart illustrating the approximate age range
of thermo-tectonic events affecting South America during the
lands. We also discuss the role that this orogen,
Precambrian (cf Almeida and Hasui, 1984; Schobbenhaus and and the Transamazonian orogeny in general,
Campos, 1984). played in the assembly of South America.
 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58 31

2. Geology of the Southern São Francisco Craton basin, a continental-interior platform covered
Region by Paleo/Mesoproterozoic to Mesozoic strata.
Platform strata have been eroded from the south-
The São Francisco craton (Almeida, 1977, ern tip of the craton, exposing a region of exposed
1981), which was continuous with the Congo Archean and Paleoproterozoic rocks (Fig. 3)
craton of Africa prior to the opening of the including the QF, the focus of this paper, a major
South Atlantic, is one of four cratons ( Fig. 2), mining district [Figs. 3 and 4; Dorr (1969)].
defined in South America as Archean and
Paleoproterozoic crustal blocks that were not sig- 2.1. Lithostratigraphic Units of the Quadrilátero
nificantly affected by Brasiliano or younger oro- Ferrı́fero
genic remobilization. It encompasses a substantial
part of the southern Brazil highlands. This craton The QF contains five principal lithostratigraphic
consists of two lobes: a southern lobe and a units: Archean crystalline basement; the Rio das
northeastern lobe (Fig. 3). Brasiliano fold-thrust Velhas Supergroup; the Minas Supergroup; post-
belts fringe all sides of the craton. These belts (the Minas Intrusives; and the Itacolomi Group
Brası́lia, the Alto Rio Grande, the Araçuaı́, the ( Fig. 5).
Sergipano and the Riacho do Pontal ) all verge
toward the interior of the craton. The interior 2.1.1. Archean crystalline basement
of the southern lobe includes the São Francisco Basement crystalline rocks include a 2.9–3.2 Ga
gneiss/migmatite complex ( Teixeira, 1985, 1993;
Machado and Carneiro, 1992; Carneiro et al.,
1995) and two generations of voluminous Late
Archean plutons: 2.78–2.77 Ga calk-alkaline plu-
tons, and 2.73 to 2.61 anorogenic granites
(Carneiro, 1992; Carneiro et al., 1994; Machado
et al., 1992; Noce, 1995; Romano, 1989).

2.1.2. The Rio das Velhas Supergroup

This unit consists of greenstone (basalt and
komatiite), rhyolitic lava and intercalated sedi-
mentary rock. Sedimentary units of the
Supergroup include Algoma-type banded-iron for-
mation (BIF ), carbonates and siliciclastics. U–Pb
dates on zircons from felsic lavas yield an age of
2.776 Ga (Machado et al., 1992), while U–Pb
dates on detrital zircons and monazites from sedi-
mentary units at the top of the Supergroup yield
a maximum age of 2.857 Ga (Schrank and
Machado, 1996b). Thus, the Rio das Velhas
Supergroup, together with the 2.6–2.7 plutonic
rocks, represent a classical Archean granite–green-
stone terrane.

2.1.3. Paleoproterozoic Minas Supergroup

The Minas Supergroup is a metasedimentary
Fig. 2. Tectonic map of South America showing the four cratons
(Amazonian, São Luis, São Francisco, Rio de la Plata). The unit that unconformably overlies the Rio das
Rio de la Plata craton is dashed because it is poorly exposed. Velhas Supergroup (Fig. 5). Minas strata resist
Modified from Almeida et al. (1981). erosion and thus form ridges that tower above the
32 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58

Fig. 3. Regional map of the São Francisco craton, showing the location of the northeastern and southern lobes, the bordering
Brasiliano orogenic belts, the Espinhaço fold-thrust belt ( EFB), and the QF. The box indicates area of Fig. 4. Modified from Alkmim
et al. (1993).

regions underlain by less resistant basement or these rocks were derived by erosion of an Archean
greenstone, thereby creating some of the highest source [maximum age of 2.65 Ga; Noce (1995);
relief in the southern Brazil Highlands. Minas Carneiro et al. (1995); Renger et al. (1995);
ridges of the QF roughly outline the shape of a Machado et al., 1993, 1996). Caraça metasedi-
quadrilateral hence the name, ‘Quadrilátero ments are overlain by Lake Superior-type BIF
Ferrı́fero’ ( Fig. 4). (Cauê Formation), which in turn grades upwards
Basal units of the Minas Supergroup consist of into a carbonate sequence (Gandarela Formation;
alluvial conglomerate and sandstone, which grade Fig. 5). Babinski et al. (1991, 1993) dated
upwards into shallow-water marine pelites Gandarela carbonates using the Pb–Pb technique
( Tamanduá and Caraça Groups; Fig. 5). Pb–Pb and concluded that the unit was deposited ca
and U–Pb dates on detrital zircons indicate that 2.42 Ga. These authors estimate deposition of the
 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58 33

Fig. 4. Geologic map of the QF region, showing the distribution of basement crystalline rocks, Rio das Velhas Supergroup, Minas
Supergroup and Itacolomi Group. Principal structures are labeled. Based on Dorr (1969) and Romano (1989). Boxes show locations
of Figs. 6, 8a, 11a and 12.

underlying Cauê Formation BIF occurred ca In 4 km-wide aureole along the contact, they have
2.52 Ga. A thick pile of shallow-water and deltaic been metamorphosed to amphibolite grade (Herz,
strata (Piracicaba Group) overlies the Gandarela 1978; Jordt-Evangelista et al., 1992; Marshak et al.,
Formation, locally unconformably. The Piracicaba 1992). Mylonitized Sabará from the contact aure-
Group contains detrital zircons in the same age ole yields a Sm–Nd garnet–muscovite–whole rock
range as those of the Tamanduá and Caraça groups age of 2.095 Ga (Marshak et al., 1997a,b).
(Machado et al., 1996).
The Sabará Group, is a 3.0–3.5 km-thick
sequence of turbidites, tuffs, volcaniclastics, con- 2.1.4. Post-Minas intrusives
glomerates and diamictites derived from a source Thin, undated, pegmatite veins cut Minas rocks
to the east-southeast (Barbosa, 1968, 1979; Dorr, (Herz, 1970). Similar pegmatites, which cut base-
1969; Renger et al., 1995). It unconformably over- ment in the QF, yielded a monazite U–Pb age of
lies the Piracicaba Group. U–Pb dating of zircons 2.06 Ga (Noce, 1995). Some of the granitoids
from Sabará Group tuffs yields an age of 2.125 Ga, cutting metamorphic complexes of domes in the
which Machado et al. (1989a, 1992) interpret to QF could be post-Minas in age, but none have yet
be roughly the depositional age of this unit. Thus, yielded a post-Minas date. However, the Alto
the Sabará is significantly younger than underlying Maranhão granitoid pluton, which crops out just
units of the Minas Supergroup. Sabará Group to the southeast of the QF, has yielded a U–Pb
metasediments in the northern QF lie in shear zircon date of 2.08 Ga (Noce, 1995). North- to
contact with Archean rocks of a basement dome. northwest-striking mafic dikes also cut the Minas
34 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58

Fig. 5. Stratigraphic column of the QF. Column on the right provides radiometric dating constraints. The right-hand portion of the
column represents relationships in the eastern part of the QF, while the left-hand side of the chart represents relationships in the
western part of the QF.

Supergroup throughout the QF. One of these dikes BIF clasts [probably Cauê; Lacourt (1935);
yielded 1.714 Ga date (Silva et al., 1995). Barbosa (1968); Dorr (1969)], crops out in narrow
fault-bounded wedges at the southeastern corner
2.1.5. The Itacolomi Group of the QF (Fig. 4). Detrital zircons from the unit
The Itacolomi Group, a unit consisting of coarse yielded U–Pb dates of 2.1 Ga (Machado et al.,
sandstone and polymict conglomerate containing 1993, 1996). Thus, the Itacolomi Group is of the
 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58 35

same age or a little younger than the Sabará QF. East of the Brasiliano front, west-verging
Group, and is significantly younger that other structures include a widespread east-southeast-dip-
units of the Minas Supergroup. ping schistosity, north-trending folds and a north–
south-trending crenulation lineation. Stretching
2.2. Geologic architecture of the QF lineations parallel the dominant set of mesoscopic
fold axes in Minas strata; both plunge preferen-
In the QF, Archean basement (gneiss, migmatite tially toward S80°E at 30°. West of the Brasiliano
and granitoid ) occurs in domes (e.g. Bação, front, Brasiliano tectonism appears to be mani-
Bonfim, Caeté, Santa Rita, Belo Horizonte, fested dominantly by northeast-trending dextral
Florestal and Ita£na) surrounded by keels strike-slip shear zones.
(troughs) containing the Rio das Velhas
Supergroup and the Minas Supergroup (Fig. 4).
Keels include large first-order synclines (e.g. 3. Previous models of post-Minas tectonism in the
Moeda, Dom Bosco, Pitangui-Peti, Mateus Leme QF
and Souzas synclines) and a large homocline (the
Serra do Curral homocline). Shear zones occur at Numerous publications over the years, begin-
the contact between supracrustal rocks and base- ning with the contributions of Guimarães (1931,
ment around all the domes. Rocks of the 1966) and Barbosa (1961, 1968), have provided
supracrustal sequence adjacent to the domes con- models to explain the complex map pattern of the
tain a distinct high-T/low-P metamorphic aureole QF. Subsequent to the first 7.5◊ quadrangle map-
(Herz, 1978; Jordt-Evangelista et al., 1992; ping in the QF, Dorr (1969) attributed all post-
Marshak et al., 1992) and intersections between Itacolomi structures of the QF to the ‘Minas
keels closely resemble syncline triple points— Orogeny’, which he postulated consisted of two
described in other dome-and-keel provinces (see phases an early northwest-verging phase and a
Jelsma et al., 1993; Romano, 1989). Thus, the later west-verging phase. Dorr did not recognize
geologic map pattern of the QF defines a dome- the existence of basement in the region, and viewed
and-keel structure (cf Anhausser et al., 1969). all the domes as plutons which intruded prede-
Dome-and-keel structure, though it dominates formed supracrustal rocks. Subsequent structural
the map pattern, is not the only structural feature analyses (e.g. Fleischer, 1971; Hackspacher, 1979;
suggested by the map of the QF. There are two Pires, 1979; Glöckner, 1982; Rosière, 1981; Guba,
other sets of pronounced post-Minas structures. 1982; Evangelista, 1984; Alkmim, 1985; Gomes,
One set includes northeast-trending regional-scale 1985; Chemale, 1987) have led to different inter-
folds (the Gandarela syncline, the Conceição anti- pretations, of which there have been several. For
cline, the northeastern half of Ouro Fino syncline example, Drake and Morgan (1980) implied that
and the Itabira and Monlevade synclinoria; the domes of the region represented interference
Fig. 4). The other set, generally attributed to the structures and suggested that they were compara-
Neoproterozoic Brasiliano orogeny, includes a ble to Appalachian mantled gneiss domes, while
series of west-vergent thrust faults and associated Ladeira and Viveiros (1984) considered QF struc-
structures. Penetrative tectonic fabrics (phyllitic tural patterns to be indicative of a very complex
schistosity, mylonitic foliation, crenulation cleav- history of polyphase folding.
age, stretching lineations) related to the Brasiliano Alkmim et al. (1988) argued for the existence
event pervasively overprint preexisting structures of two major compressional events affecting Minas
in the region east of a roughly north-trending line metasediments, an early northwest-verging event
that follows the west edge of the Moeda syncline and a later west-verging event, between which an
and cuts northwards across the Serra do Curral enigmatic ‘uplift’ event emplaced the domes verti-
[Fig. 4; e.g. Chemale et al. (1994)]. This line, here cally into the supracrustal assemblage. They sug-
referred to as the Brasiliano front, is the western gested that the Moeda and Dom Bosco synclines
limit of pervasive Brasiliano reactivation in the formed during the vertical uplift event, and that
36 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58

the northwest-vergent contraction was a manifesta- the supracrustal assemblage. As the domes rose,
tion of the Transamazonian event, while the west- supracrustal units became incorporated in interdia-
verging contraction was a manifestation of the pir synforms, thereby creating the pronounced
Brasiliano event. dome-and-keel geometry. Based on cross-cutting
Marshak and Alkmim (1989) proposed a more relations, they proposed that this event postdated
complex multistage history of contractional and northwest-verging thrusting and predated west-
extensional tectonic events to explain structures of verging Brasiliano thrusting, essentially the
the QF. They distinguished between three sets of sequence of events proposed by Alkmim et al.
contractional structures, one trending north- (1988). Subsequent dating of metamorphic aure-
east–southwest, one trending east–west and one oles in Minas strata of dome-border shear zones
trending north–south. Based on cross-cutting has yielded a date of 2.095 Ga (Marshak et al.,
relationships, they concluded that the northeast- 1993, 1997a). Based on this age, Marshak et al.
trending set represented D1, the east–west set (1993, 1997a) proposed that dome emplacement
represented D2, and that the north–south set repre- occurred during orogenic collapse of the
sented D3. Further, they correlated D1 with the Transamazonian orogen. Marshak et al. (1997b),
Transamazonian orogeny, D2 with the Uruaçuano emphasize that dome and keel formation may
orogeny, and D3 with the Brasiliano orogeny. better be viewed as a crustal-scale analog of boudi-
Based on the occurrence of younger-on-older nage. They suggest that, in this context, the keels
faults, hanging-wall down shear-sense indicators, effectively represent grabens formed during exten-
and on the occurrence of mafic dikes in the QF, sional collapse.
Marshak and Alkmim also suggested that a major Chauvet et al. (1994) postulated a three-stage
extensional event (DE ) occurred between D2 and model for the tectonic evolution of the QF.
D3. According to these authors, a tectonomagmatic
Hippertt et al. (1992) found normal-displace- event during the Paleoproterozoic was responsible
ment shear indicators in the mylonites at the for the uplift of the basement domes and genera-
contact between the basement of the Bonfim dome tion of the regional folds. During the Brasiliano
and the Minas metasediments of the western limb event, a contractional deformation, which led to
of the Moeda syncline, providing further evidence development of west-northwest-verging folds and
for extension. Chemale et al. (1991, 1994), made faults, was followed by the extensional tectonism,
an extensive compilation of structural and geo- due to the gravitational collapse of the thrust stack.
chronological data from the QF. They proposed
that post-Minas evolution of the QF was marked
by two main deformational events. The first
episode was a Paleoproterozoic (2.06–2.00 Ga) 4. Evidence for Transamazonian contraction in the
extensional event which the authors attributed to QF
the Transamazonian event. The second was a
Neoproterozoic (0.6–0.5 Ga) contractional event From the above description, it is clear that the
which the authors attributed to the Brasiliano interpretation of the tectonic history of the QF
event. Chemale et al. (1991, 1994) considered remains controversial. Did the region experience a
formation of synformal keels in the region to be a Transamazonian contractional orogeny or not? As
consequence of Paleoproterozoic extension. They originally defined, the Transamazonian orogeny
portray the domes to be rollover anticlines above occurred between 2.2 and 1.8 Ga. Thus, candidates
listric normal faults, and view the synformal keels for Transamazonian contractional structures in the
as basins filling the gap between the fault and the QF are defined to be folds or faults that have the
dome surface. following characteristics:
Marshak et al. (1992) suggested that the doming (1) their development resulted in contractional
event could best be explained as a consequence of (shortening) strain;
diapiric-like movement of basement upwards into (2) they involve Minas Supergroup strata (i.e. are
 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58 37

certainly post-2.4 and probably post- juxtaposes gneisses and migmatites of the Bonfim
2.125 Ga); dome with the Moeda Quartzite along the south
(3) they are overprinted by dome-border shear margin of the homocline ( Fig. 6). Dome-border
zones and associated metamorphic aureoles shear zones, in turn, are overprinted by northeast-
(i.e. must be pre-2.095); and striking dextral strike-slip shear zones, and the
(4) in the central to eastern QF they are over- northwest-verging folds and faults are affected by
printed by west-vergent Brasiliano structures. north-trending open folds and a north-striking
In this section, we describe contractional structures crenulation cleavage.
that meet all four criteria. Along a transect following highway BR 381
across the south flank of the homocline in the
4.1. Western Serra do Curral western Serra do Curral ( Figs. 6 and 7), a shear
zone that dips between 35°SE and 80°SE that
In the western QF, the Minas Supergroup crops places Nova Lima Group schist over overturned
out in the northeast–southwest trending Serra do beds of the Moeda Quartzite was observed.
Curral. Morphologically, the 80 km-long Serra do Kinematic indicators in the shear zone require
Curral defines the northwest edge of the QF hanging-wall-up shear (top-to-the-northwest), so
(Fig. 4). Overall, the Serra do Curral is a homo- the shear zone is a northwest-verging thrust. Strata
cline in which bedding dips steeply to the south- of the footwall are overturned and contain cas-
east, though detailed mapping studies (Pires, 1979; cades of asymmetric parasitic folds whose geome-
Hackspacher, 1979; Romano, 1989; Chemale et al., try suggests that they are on the overturned limb
1991, 1994; Alkmim et al., 1996) reveal local of a regional northwest-verging anticline (Figs. 6
structural complexities. and 7). Between BR 381 and Ponta da Serra
The stratigraphic succession, as well as locally ( Fig. 6), Romano (1989) and Romano et al.
preserved sedimentary structures, indicate that (1991) mapped an array of northwest-verging
beds comprising the Serra do Curral homocline thrusts.
are overturned. This observation led Pomerene East of Sarzedo, dextral strike-slip shear zones
(1964), Dorr (1969) and Pires (1979) to propose attributed to Brasiliano deformation increasingly
that the homocline represents a remnant of the overprint structures of the Serra do Curral homo-
overturned limb of a northwest-vergent anticline. cline. In addition, a series of north-striking normal
Our observations confirm this proposal. faults, in some cases associated with 1.75 Ga mafic
In the Serra do Curral, west of Sarzedo ( Figs. 6 dikes, crosscut the homocline.
and 7), tight northwest-verging asymmetric folds
and southeast-dipping mesoscopic faults were 4.2. Central and Eastern Serra do Curral
found [see also Romano (1989) and Romano et al.
(1991)]. Movement on the faults accommodated 4.2.1. Junction of the Serra do Curral homocline
hanging-wall-up (thrust) movement that resulted with the Moeda syncline
in stratigraphic duplication. The geometry of the About 10 km southwest of the city of Belo
folds suggests that they are parasitic folds on Horizonte, the Serra do Curral homocline
the overturned limb of a northwest-verging intersects the north-northwest-trending Moeda
regional fold, and the geometry of the thrusts syncline [Figs. 4 and 8; Pomerene (1964); Dorr
suggest that they are synthetic imbricate splays on (1969); Pires (1979) and Pires et al. (1993)]. The
the forelimb of a thrust-related fold. These struc- Moeda syncline is a first-order syncline that forms
tures are cut by the normal-sense shear zones that the keel between the Bonfim and the Bação domes
border basement domes. Specifically, a dome- ( Fig. 4). Alkmim et al. (1996), utilizing the results
border shear zone juxtaposes gneisses and migmat- of their own new mapping as well as results of
ites of the Belo Horizonte dome with overturned extensive iron-mining company exploratory dril-
Piracicaba Group strata on the north margin of ling, confirmed that at this intersection the crest
the homocline, and a dome-border shear zone of Serra do Curral is the overturned limb of a
38 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58

Fig. 6. Simplified geologic map of the western Serra do Curral, based on Dorr (1969) and Romano (1989). The dashed line indicates
the trace of Federal Highway 381. Cross-sections are provided by Fig. 7.

northwest-verging asymmetric anticline (Figs. 8 ( Fig. 11). An overturned stratigraphic succession

and 9), as proposed by Pomerene (1964) and Pires crops out along the ridge crest. This exposure
(1979). But in contrast to the western Serra do contains pervasive asymmetric northeast-trending
Curral, the region south of Belo Horizonte also folds ( F ), whose attitude and vergence indicates
1
provides exposures of the right-side-up limb of that they are parasitic folds on the overturned
this anticline. At the north end of the Moeda limb of a northwest-verging anticline. These folds,
syncline, the Serra do Curral anticline has been which have been refolded around a second genera-
refolded by the Moeda syncline, creating an inter- tion of east-trending folds ( F ), must pre-date
2
ference saddle (Fig. 10). If the Moeda syncline west-verging Brasiliano deformation, for they are
initiated at the time of doming, then the Serra do cut by a north-striking (i.e. Brasiliano) foliation
Curral anticline must predate doming, that is, it is (S ) with an east-plunging lineation (L ; Fig. 11).
t S2
Transamazonian ( Fig. 10). West-verging Brasil- To the north of the ridge, units that comprise the
iano thrusts (the Gorduras, Mutuca, Catarina and homocline wrap around a northeast-trending,
Barreiro faults; Figs. 8–10) cut the Moeda syncline northwest-verging syncline, the Piedade syncline
and the Serra do Curral anticline. In addition, the (Dorr, 1969). A series of north-northeast-striking
region contains numerous dextral strike-slip dextral shear zones (S ) crosscut the Piedade syn-
sz
shear zones. cline [Fig. 11; Pires and Godoy (1995)]. The
boundary between the northwest-limb of the
4.3. Serra da Piedade Syncline Piedade syncline and the basement dome to the
north is a shear zone that has been reactivated by
A high ridge, locally known as the Serra da the Brasiliano event and thus now displays reverse
Piedade, forms the eastern end of Serra do Curral dextral movement. However, the syncline at this
 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58 39

(a)

(b)

(c)

Fig. 7. Cross sections across the map area of Fig. 6. Bedding and foliation geometry are shown schematically. (a) Cross-section at
ZZ∞; zones of the metamorphic aureole adjacent to the dome-border shear zone are indicated; (b) cross-section at YY∞; the position
of the metamorphic aureole is indicated; (c) cross-section at XX∞. There is no metamorphic aureole along this cross-section.

locality has been overprinted by a typical dome- posed on a succession of beds striking at a small
border metamorphic aureole, so the development angle to the west-northwest Brasiliano transport
of the syncline is either pre- or syn-dome emplace- direction. The pre-Brasiliano bedding attitude
ment. To the south of the ridge a reverse-dextral reflects the large northwest-verging folds of the
shear zone juxtaposes Rio das Velhas schist with region.
Minas metasediments in the overturned limb of
the homocline (Fig. 11). 4.4. Hanging wall of the Fundão-Cambotas fault
If the youngest generation of folds in the Serra system
de Piedade is Brasiliano, then their axes parallel
the stretching lineation on east-dipping Brasiliano According to Endo and Fonseca (1992),
foliation. This puzzling geometry has been docu- the Fundão-Cambotas fault system consists of
mented throughout the eastern QF by many two major Brasiliano west-verging thrust faults
authors. As shown in the block diagram of ( Fig. 12). The fault system has an arcuate trace,
Fig. 11(b), We suggest that this geometry devel- presumably because the westward propagation of
oped because Brasiliano deformation was superim- thrust sheets above the faults was confined by the
40 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58

(a)

Fig. 8. Structural relations at the intersection between the Serra do Curral homocline and the Moeda Syncline. (a) Simplified geologic
map based on Alkmim et al. (1996). 1, Gorduras fault; 2, Mutuca fault; 3, Catarina fault; 4, Barreiro fault; (b) equal-area, lower
hemisphere stereoplots of bedding and foliation planes for the region of the junction of the Serra do Curral homocline with the
Moeda Syncline.

preexisting Caeté dome to the north and Mariana folds are overprinted by north-striking phyllitic
basement arch to the south. The faults probably cleavage and associated mesoscopic-scale folds and
link in the subsurface to the east to the north- shear zones. In the Serra do Caraça, Tamanduá
striking Água Quente fault (Dorr, 1969), which quartzite wraps around a series of northwest-
places a slice of basement gneiss westwards over verging folds, which have been refolded around a
Minas Supergroup strata ( Endo and Fonseca, large, roughly north-trending syncline in the west
1992). and have been cut by a family of north-striking
The central and northern portions of the thrust faults in the east. The northwest-verging
Fundão-Cambotas thrust sheet are relatively less folds in the Serra do Caraça, which are open and
deformed by Brasiliano shortening, and have not have a wavelength of ca 300 m, have been cut by
been affected by dome emplacement. In this por- a large number of north-striking mafic dikes
tion of the thrust sheet, Minas Supergroup strata ( Fig. 13).
have been folded around a series of northwest-
verging and northeast-trending regional-scale 4.5. Isolated keels east of the QF
folds. Examples of these structures include the
Gandarela syncline, the Conceição anticline, the Dorr (1969) mapped isolated keels of Nova
northeastern half of the Ouro Fino syncline, and Lima and Minas supracrustal rocks, surrounded
a fold train in the Serra do Caraça ( Fig. 12). With by a ‘sea’ of basement, in the region northeast of
the exception of the Serra do Caraça, all these the QF near the towns of Itabira and João
 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58 41

(b)

Fig. 8. (continued)

Monlevade ( Figs. 4 and 12). These keels contain 5. Evidence for transamazonian orogenic collapse
thick sections of BIF, and thus have become in the QF
important mining districts. Within the keels, strata
wrap around numerous northeast-trending folds. 5.1. The dome-emplacement event
In the Itabira keel, these folds intersect the keel
border at an angle of ca 15–20° ( Fig. 12), and Cross-cutting relations indicate that emplace-
thus appear to pre-date keel formation (i.e. are ment of the domes and the consequent formation
pre-doming structures). Brasiliano folds, fabrics, of present dome-and-keel structure is the second
and faults overprint the northeast-trending folds. post-Minas Supergroup deformational event to
Specifically, north-trending folds tightened and affect the QF. The borders of the domes, west of
refolded pre-dome folds of the Itabira keel, and the Brasiliano front, are shear zones in which
north-striking thrust-sense shear zones truncate kinematic indicators clearly indicate supracrustal-
the folds. Northeast-trending dextral/reverse shear side-down displacement. These shear zones pre-
zones also have developed in the keels (Chemale, date west-verging (Brasiliano) thrusting and asso-
1987; Guba, 1982). ciated dextral/reverse shear.
42 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58

Fig. 9. Cross-sections of the map shown on Fig. 8. (a) Cross-section at XX∞. (b) Cross-section at YY∞. (c) Cross-section at ZZ∞.
Bedding is portrayed schematically.

5.1.1. Northern border of the Bonfim dome by weak dextral/reverse shear zones attributed to
Around the northern border of the Bonfim the Brasiliano event. West of the Paraopeba River
dome, the Moeda Quartzite is juxtaposed against Valley, the dome-border shear zone between base-
the basement gneisses by a shear zone, which dips ment gneisses and supracrustal rocks bends to the
70–85° to the north (Figs. 6 and 7). Along this southwest and south, and is located in the Rio das
shear zone, close to the contact with the gneiss, Velhas schist. Here, it is associated with a
Moeda Quartzite is mylonitized and has undergone 100–150 m-wide garnet–staurolite metamorphic
feldspathization (Pomerene, 1964). Kinematic aureole.
indicators (S–C-structure, porphyroclast shadows
and asymmetric foliation trajectories) indicate 5.1.2. Southern border of the Belo Horizonte dome
normal to dextral/normal shear in the zone. The Along the southern border the Belo Horizonte
dome-border shear zone overprints northwest- dome (Fig. 6), a normal-sense shear zone juxta-
verging folds and faults, and is itself overprinted poses gneiss and granitoid to the north against
 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58 43

Fig. 10. Evolutionary model for the development of the junction between the Serra do Curral homocline and the Moeda syncline.
The surface portrayed represents the base of the Cauê Formation (white represents the top of the surface and black represents its
bottom). (a) Formation of the Serra do Curral anticline due to Transamazonian NW-contraction. (b) Bending of the Serra do Curral
anticline due to the development of dome-and-keel architecture. Vertical arrows represent the displacement of basement relative to
the base of the Cauê. (c) Formation of complex geometry due to Brasiliano east–west shortening (compare with the geologic map
of Fig. 8). The lightly shaded surfaces are faults.

Sabará schist to the south. In map view, this of west-verging (Brasiliano) contractional struc-
contact has an arcuate trajectory as it wraps tures. Radiometric dating constrains dome-and-
around the border of the dome. Its dip varies keel formation to be late or post Transamazonian
between 50 and 90° towards the south. (Marshak et al., 1997a). Dome-and-keel architec-
Microstructural studies (Jordt-Evangelista et al., ture of the QF has been explained by numerous
1992; Marshak et al., 1992) show a clear hanging- different mechanisms (e.g. Barbosa, 1968; Dorr,
wall-down sense of displacement for the contact. 1969; Gomes, 1985; Chemale et al., 1991, 1994;
A metamorphic aureole in the Sabará follows the Hippertt, 1994; Marshak et al., 1992, 1997a). More
contact. Jordt-Evangelista et al. (1992) mapped recent interpretations focus on the possibility that
sillimanite, cordierite, andalusite and biotite zones doming developed during extensional tectonism.
in this aureole, and further showed that blastesis Structural features suggest that doming occurred
of alumino-silicate polymorphs are syn- to post- during a regional extension, for dome emplacement
shear with respect to the development of the shear involved juxtaposition of basement against
zone. The dome-border shear zone is overprinted supracrustal assemblages by normal-sense dis-
by north-trending folds, associated with a crenula- placement on steeply dipping shear zones. Further,
tion cleavage, and also by weak dextral/reverse the timing of dome rise clearly indicates that it
shear zones attributed to the Brasiliano event. occurred at the final stage of Transamazonian
Sm–Nd dates on syn-shear garnets from the tectonism, a time during which collisional orogens
zone yield an age of 2.095 Ga, that is, late typically undergo extensional collapse. Marshak
Transamazonian (Marshak et al., 1997a). et al. (1997a,b) point out that in this context,
dome emplacement could reflect the ductile sinking
5.1.3. Extensional interpretation of dome of weak, dense supracrustal rocks into grabens
emplacement forming around basement blocks during pro-
As indicated by the above description, west of gressive extension of the crust. In effect, the overall
the Brasiliano front, development of the present configuration of late Transamazonian dome-and-
dome-and-keel architecture clearly postdates for- keel architecture is suggestive of crustal-scale bou-
mation of northwest-verging ( Transamazonian dinage, involving two units (basement and cover)
contractional ) structures, and predates formation of markedly contrasting viscosity. Considering the
44 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58

Fig. 11. Structural relations in the Serra da Piedade. (a) Simplified map of the eastern Serra do Curral, showing the Piedade ridge
and the Serra da Piedade syncline [based on Alves (1969) and Pires and Godoy (1995)]. (b) Block diagram illustrating the interference
of two generations of macroscopic structures in the Cauê itabirite of the Serra da Piedade S is bedding. F folds are parasitic folds
0 1
in the vertical limb of the Transamazonian-age Piedade syncline. L is the stretching lineation on the S foliation. F folds, S shear
2 t 2 sz
zones, S foliation and L stretching lineation are younger structures, associated with west-northwest-directed Brasiliano contraction.
t 2

relatively high temperature of the basement at this ment, the rise of basement relative to supracrustal
time, as well as the density inversion established rocks may have been amplified by its relative
when Transamazonian thrusting and folding buoyancy. Juxtaposition of hot, low-density base-
substantially thickened the iron-rich supracrustal ment beneath relatively cool high-density
assemblage above the intermediate/silicic base- supracrustal assemblage could reflect transcrustal
 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58 45

Fig. 12. Geologic map of the northeastern QF, showing the Fundão-Cambotas fault system and the isolated Itabira keel [based on
Dorr (1969) and Endo and Fonseca (1992)]. This map illustrates the northeast–southwest trend of regional structures (e.g. Gandarela
syncline, Conceição anticline and northeastern end of the Agua Quente fault) in the hanging wall of the Fundão-Cambotas fault system.

normal shear bringing basement up from depth, Typically, extensional tectonism is accompanied
or heating by post-orogenic plutonism [see also by plutonism. Evidence for such plutonism in the
Kusky (1993)]. The concept that dome emplace- QF is not abundant (no large Transamazonian
ment accompanied extensional tectonism is attrac- plutons have yet been documented in the QF ).
tive because extensional tectonism explains how But U–Pb dates on monazites and titanites from
space for the basement domes developed, why pegmatites, amphibolites and migmatites in the
normal-fault-bounded keels developed, and why Bação and Belo Horizonte domes indicates that
the region heated up. between 2.04 and 2.06 Ga, amphibolite-facies
46 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58

Fig. 13. Simplified structural map of the northern portion of the Serra do Caraça. Note the interference of two sets of structures
east-northeast-trending folds are refolded and truncated by north–south-trending structures. Location of the map is shown in Fig. 12.

metamorphism occurred in basement along with 5.2. The Itacolomi Group—a possible record of
some partial melting and generation of pegmatite Transamazonian orogenic collapse
(Machado et al., 1992; Noce, 1995). Also, Schrank
and Machado (1996a) have recently shown that If the dome-emplacement event represents exten-
gold mineralization of the Morro Velho and sional collapse of the Transamazonian orogen, one
Passagem mines, hosted respectively in Rio das might expect to find a record of syn-extensional
Velhas and Minas Supergroups, formed between deposition. The Itacolomi Group may be the
2.10 and 2.06 Ga. record of such deposition. As noted earlier, the
 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58 47

Itacolomi is post-2.1 Ga, based on dating of its onal structures that cross-cut, and therefore post-
detrital zircons. Further, the type Itacolomi in the date, structures that have already been described.
southeastern QF contains clasts of Cauê-like BIF, Parallelism between this transport direction and
indicating that its source terrane included rocks the transport direction in the Araçuaı́ belt, a well
of the Minas Supergroup. These conglomerates do dated Brasiliano thrust belt that borders the east-
not correlate with the Espinhaço Supergroup of ern edge of the QF, has led most authors (e.g.
the Cordilheira do Espinhaço (an inverted Belo de Oliveira et al., 1987; Chemale et al., 1991,
Paleo/Mesoproterozoic rift basin fringing the east 1994) to relate the last generation of penetrative
edge of the São Francisco craton north of the QF ) contractional structures in the QF to the Brasiliano
for two reasons. First, the source terrane for the orogeny. Specifically, the Neoproterozoic
Espinhaço is the interior of the São Francisco Brasiliano deformation in the QF is manifested in
craton, west of the Espinhaço basin (Martins Neto, several ways:
1996). Current indicators in the Itacolomi, how- (1) Throughout the QF east of the Brasiliano
ever, indicate its source area lies to the east- tectonic front, supracrustal strata contain a
northeast (Glöckner, 1982; Alkmim, 1987). family of structures, including mesoscopic
Second, the Espinhaço contains diamonds, sug- folds, foliation (schistosity and phyllitic cleav-
gesting an Archean cratonic source. The Itacolomi age) and thrust-sense shear zones indicative of
does not contain diamonds, and thus has a regional transport in the direction west-north-
different, younger, source. west. All these elements crosscut the northeast-
It is proposed instead, following the interpreta- trending folds of the QF.
tion of Barbosa (1968) and Dorr (1969), that the (2) Throughout the QF, preexisting shear zones
Itacolomi represents deposition in narrow inter- and major lithologic contacts have been reacti-
montane troughs, perhaps grabens or half-grabens, vated as transpressional shear zones whose
after deposition of the Sabará Formation. displacement is compatible with regional
Brasiliano contraction inverted these troughs and east–west shortening. For example, in the
thrust their contents over the older rocks of their northeastern Serra do Curral, shear zones
margins, thereby explaining the present younger- along the border of the supracrustal assem-
on-older thrust relationships observed in the south- blage have been reactivated as dextral/reverse
ern QF, as documented by Marshak and Alkmim shear zones.
(1989). If this interpretation is correct, then the (3) Within supracrustal strata of east-trending
Itacolomi is the stratigraphic record of post- keels (e.g. the Dom Bosco syncline), west-
Transamazonian orogenic collapse in the upper- verging thrust faults developed. The traces of
most crust. these faults curve in map view to define tight
It is probable that some of the extensional faults salients, convex toward the foreland. The
of the QF may date from the Espinhaço extension geometry of these salients suggests that the
event, at ca 1.75 Ga (Brito Neves et al., 1979; domes existed at the time of faulting and acted
Machado et al., 1989a; Dussin and Dussin, 1995; as obstacles inhibiting foreland movement
Uhlein et al., 1995), for dikes of this age occur in along the lateral boundaries of the faults
the QF. Further, it is possible that some exten- so that they developed arcuate traces (see
sional faults of the QF formed during post- Marshak, 1988; Chemale et al., 1994).
Brasiliano extension. But the Itacolomi Group
certainly predates Brasiliano contractional defor-
mation, and may predate Espinhaço-age dikes. 7. Discussion

7.1. Summary of evidence for existence of a

6. The Brasiliano Overprint Transamazonian Orogen in the QF

To complete the structural picture of the QF, This paper has presented field observations
we briefly discuss a suite of west-verging contracti- demonstrating that, prior to the development of
48 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58

pervasive west-verging Brasiliano structures, the ment of local salients and to transpressionally
region of the QF contained the remnant of a reactivated shear zones) further requires that
Transamazonian collisional orogen. The evidence doming predates the Brasiliano event. Thus,
for this event can be summarized as follows: the Transamazonian event consisted of two
(1) In the western QF (west of the Brasiliano phases. The first phase generated northwest-
front), there are numerous northwest-verging verging regional folds, and the second phase
thrusts preserved in the Minas Supergroup of generated the dome-and-keel architecture.
the Serra do Curral.
(2) The Serra do Curral consists of the overturned
limb of a regional-scale northwest verging 7.2. Tectonic synthesis
anticline in which there are abundant mesos-
copic parasitic folds. Both limbs of this anti- Based on the sequence of deformational events
cline are preserved at the north end of the that are recognized in the QF, the following model
Moeda syncline, where the northwest-verging is suggested for the tectonic history of the region
anticline was clearly refolded by the Moeda ( Fig. 14). This model represents an update and
syncline, and thus must predate the doming modification of the model proposed by Marshak
event that created the syncline. and Alkmim (1989). It differs from the recent
(3) In the eastern Serra do Curral (i.e. east of the tectonic model proposed by Chemale et al. (1994).
Brasiliano front), northwest-verging regional
folds have been refolded by mesoscopic folds
attributed to the Brasiliano event, and thus 7.2.1. Creation of an Archean Granite-Greenstone
must predate the Brasiliano event. Folds terrane
at both mesoscopic and regional scales in The earliest basement crystalline rocks of the
the hanging wall of the Brasiliano Fundão- QF region may be as old as 3.2 Ga, but little is
Cambotas faults are northwest verging. known about these rocks. Whatever continental
Brasiliano fabrics and shear zones also clearly crustal fragments that were present served as the
cut across these folds. basement on which a roughly 2.7–2.8 Ga green-
(4) In the western QF, cross-cutting relations stone and sediment succession, the Rio das Velhas
between dome-border shear zones (associated Supergroup, was either deposited or emplaced by
with emplacement of the domes) and the thrusting, perhaps in a convergent-margin setting
northwest-verging faults are preserved. Dome- ( Teixeira et al., 1996). Roughly coeval intermedi-
border shear zones and associated metamor- ate plutonism (2.6–2.7 Ga) into the Rio das Velhas
phism cut across northwest-verging folds, and supracrustal rocks created a classic Archean gran-
thus development of the present dome-and- ite–greenstone belt, with domes of granite sur-
keel architecture of the QF must postdate rounded by keels of greenstone [ Type-M dome-
development of the northwest-verging folds. and-keel structure of Marshak et al. (1997b)], by
Because dome emplacement can be dated as ca 2.6 Ga.
2.095 Ga, while units as young as 2.125 Ga
are involved in northwest-verging folding, the 7.2.2. Formation of the Minas Basin
northwest-verging folding must have devel- After 2.6 Ga and prior to 2.4 Ga, the region to
oped ca 2.1 Ga, that is, during the the east and southeast of the QF evolved into an
Transamazonian event. ensialic or passive-margin basin [Fig. 14(a)]. The
(5) The date of the dome-emplacement event QF region itself became the continental-platform
requires that it occurred during the final phase portion of this basin. Initiation of this basin repre-
of Transamazonian tectonism in the region. sents an extensional event, as indicated by facies
The fact that the dome-and-keel architecture distribution and depositional environments of the
influenced the geometry of Brasiliano struc- Tamanduá and Caraça Groups (Renger et al.,
tures in the region (e.g. leading to the develop- 1993).
 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58 49

Fig. 14. Cross-sections illustrating a model for the tectonic evolution of the QF prior to and during the Transamazonian orogeny.
(a) Pre-Transamazonian configuration. The Minas Supergroup represents the continental platform portion of a passive margin. (b)
Initial collision with the Transamazonian arc and an accreted continental block. The Sabará, foreland basin deposit, spreads into the
interior of the craton. (c) During the final stage of collision, the Sabará is also deformed. (d) Extensional collapse begins, with
development of a Cordilleran metamorphic core complex-style detachment. (e) With continued extension and heating of the crust,
the extending belt evolves into a dome-and-keel province. The dome-and-keel geometry effectively represents crustal-scale boudinage.

7.2.3. Transamazonian northwest-verging thrusting west over an evolving foreland basin and onto the
and folding (D1) craton. Eventually, the fold-thrust belt propagated
At ca 2.1 Ga, the QF region evolved into northwestward into its own foreland basin, as is
a northwest-verging foreland fold-thrust belt typical of many fold-thrust belts. It is inferred that
[Fig. 14(b and c)], resulting in the development of the hinterland of a collisional or convergent orogen
thrust-sense shear zones and regional-scale folds, lay to the southeast of the QF, in a region that
as well as second-order parasitic folds. This event, has subsequently been completely overprinted by
however, did not generate a strong foliation. Brasiliano tectonism.
Development of the Transamazonian fold-thrust From information available in the QF, it is not
belt occurred soon after deposition of the 2.125 Ga possible to directly ascertain whether the contracti-
Sabará Formation, a flysch sequence, that may onal event represents collision of an offshore arc,
represent turbidites derived from volcanic high- or the formation of an Andean-type convergent
lands to the southeast. Sabará strata spread north- margin. However, the apparent lack of large vol-
50 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58

umes of Transamazonian-age granitoids to the with recent geochronological studies. Thus, the
southeast of the QF, suggests that the event repre- only post-Transamazonian shortening event to
sented collision of an island arc. This interpretation create regional folds and associated fabrics in the
is consistent with the model of the Transamazonian QF is the Brasiliano event (0.7–0.45 Ga). This
orogeny proposed by Figueiredo (1989) and event created a west-verging thrust belt that reacti-
Teixeira and Figueiredo (1991) for the northeast vated and overprinted older structures in the QF,
lobe of the São Francisco craton. and represents one of the several collisional oro-
genies that led to the final assembly of Gondwana.
7.2.4. Transamazonian Orogenic collapse (DC) It also resulted in reactivation of westerly-trending
At ca 2.095 Ga, regional extension [Fig. 14(d dome-border shear zones as strike-slip faults.
and e)] yielded a new dome-and-keel terrane (both
reactivating and cross-cutting the Archean dome- 7.2.7. Tectonic significance of the Transamazonian
and-keel terrane). Supracrustal rocks sank into event
new keels between basement domes. This event is According to Cordani et al. (1988), ca 35% of
attributed to the extensional collapse phase of the the volume of the Brazilian shield formed during
Transamazonian orogen [see Marshak et al. the Paleoproterozoic. Many geochronological
(1997a,b) for details of the model ]. Regional studies ( Teixeira et al., 1989; Teixeira and
extensional strain in the QF region associated with Figueiredo, 1991; Teixeira and Silva, 1993;
this event may be recorded by deposition of the Barbosa, 1993; Ledru et al., 1994b) indicate that
Itacolomi Group in narrow basins. this tectonic activity was concentrated between 2.1
and 1.9 Ga, the Transamazonian event. Here, rec-
7.2.5. Espinhaço and younger rifting (DE) ognized manifestations of the Transamazonian
Formation of the Espinhaço rift basin to the event around the São Francisco craton are ana-
northeast of the QF, along with intrusion diabase lyzed with and their relationship to the
dikes in the QF, occurred at ca 1.75. This event Transamazonian orogenic relict of the QF being
created a broad ensialic basin on the eastern discussed.
margin of the São Francisco craton. Renewed The Transamazonian orogeny in the northeast-
extension at ca 0.9–1.0 Ga succeeded in forming ern lobe of the São Francisco craton resulted in
an oceanic basin east of the Espinhaço belt the collision of two relatively large crustal blocks,
(Pedrosa Soares et al., 1992). Whether Espinhaço the Gavião block on the west and the Gabon
extension represents a continuation of block (now exposed only in Africa) on the east,
Transamazonian orogenic collapse, or is a com- along with intervening crustal fragments (accreted
pletely separate event, remains unclear. Similarly, terranes) known as the Jequié and Serrinha blocks,
it is not known whether some extensional struc- and a Paleoproterozoic magmatic arc [Fig. 15;
tures and even dome reactivation in the QF Figueiredo (1989); Sabaté et al. (1990); Barbosa
occurred at the same time as Espinhaço rifting. (1993); Martin et al. (1992); Marinho et al.
(1993)]. Paleoproterozoic greenstone belts (the
7.2.6. Brasiliano west-verging thrusting (D2) Contendas-Mirante, Itapecuru and Rio Capim
In the model presented here, the concept of a belts), now displaying dome-and-keel architecture,
north–south shortening event [the ‘Uruaçuano’ of developed in back-arc to arc environments adja-
Marshak and Alkmim (1989)] has been aban- cent to this volcanic arc (Schrank and Silva, 1993),
doned, for it is now clear that the east-trending and the Jacobina Group ( Figueiredo, 1989;
synclines (e.g. the Dom Bosco syncline) of the QF, Teixeira and Figueiredo, 1991; Mascarenhas et al.,
which Marshak and Alkmim (1989) attributed to 1992), a clastic wedge comparable in age and
the Uruaçuano are actually just keels resulting lithology to the Itacolomi Group, was deposited
from dome emplacement, not compressional struc- between 2.08 and 1.91 Ga in a molasse basin along
tures related to north–south shortening. The lack the eastern edge of the Gavião block (Ledru et al.,
of a Uruaçuano event in the QF is compatible 1994a, 1996; Marinho et al., 1993). The orogeny
 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58 51

Fig. 15. Tectonic map of Transamazonian features in the São Francisco craton region, showing possible Transamazonian sutures and
correlation of the Transamazonian belt in the QF with its equivalents in the northern lobe of the craton. See text for explanation.
Geology of the northern lobe of the São Francisco craton is adapted from Inda and Barbosa (1978), Figueiredo (1989), Figueiredo
and Barbosa (1993), Teixeira and Figueiredo (1991), Barbosa (1993), Ledru et al. (1993, 1994a,b, 1996).

also resulted in metamorphism up to granulite et al., 1991). Transamazonian structural trends

grade, as well as in voluminous plutonism and and sutures in this northeastern lobe strike north–
volcanism (Figueiredo, 1989; Teixeira and south and generally verge to the west, but also
Figueiredo, 1991; Barbosa, 1993; Machado et al., display a strong sinistral strike-slip component of
1993; Ledru et al., 1993, 1994a,b, 1996; Conceião motion (Alves da Silva et al., 1993). These obser-
52 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58

vations suggest that the principal shortening direc- Haralyi and Hasui (1982). Cunningham et al.
tion trended northwest during Transamazonian (1996) have also found evidence for preserved
convergence. Transamazonian granulites in the Coastal Mobile
Clearly, the Transamazonian orogeny of the belt, but this proposal needs further testing. Third,
northeastern lobe represented a complex episode recent radiometric dating suggests the occurrence
of accretionary tectonics. Did this style of tecton- of Transamazonian-age granitoids in the region
ism also affect the region to the south, a region southeast of the São Francisco craton [the Alto
which now comprises the Brasiliano-age Araçuaı́ Maranhão pluton, dated at 2.08 Ga by Noce
and Coastal Mobile belts? Cordani et al. (1988) (1995)]. Further, the Coastal Mobile belt contains
and Teixeira and Figueiredo (1991) imply that the many orthogneisses which may have initiated as
answer is no, and thus that continental growth arc-related plutons.
during the Transamazonian event south of the Did even more terranes accrete to the southeast
northeastern lobe of the São Francisco was rela- of the São Francisco craton during the Trans-
tively minor, for Paleoproterozoic units are sparse amazonian event? So far, none have been docu-
in this region, and tectonism appears to have mented, perhaps because of the severe overprint
occurred dominantly in an ensialic setting. As of Brasiliano tectonism in the region obscures
demonstrated, however, there is a record of candidates. Detailed geochronological studies
Transamazonian fold-thrust belt tectonism in the using new technology may begin to see through
southeastern São Francisco craton (i.e. to the west the overprint and outline Transamazonian crustal
of the Coastal Mobile belt). We argue that this blocks.
tectonism represents a relict of a Paleoproterozoic Fig. 16 provides a speculative reconstruction of
Wilson cycle, beginning with the formation of a crustal provinces along the eastern margin of the
continental margin, and concluding with the devel- São Francisco orogeny subsequent to the
opment of a northwest-verging frontal collisional Transamazonian orogeny. In this model, as also
orogen. One might expect, therefore, that the suggested by Cordani et al. (1988) and Teixeira
hinterland of this orogen and associated accreted and Figueiredo (1991), the QF lies in the foreland
terranes, lie in the region that is now the Brasiliano of the Transamazonian orogen. Magmatic arcs
Coastal Mobile belt (Fig. 15), and thus that and accreted terranes lie to the east and southeast,
Brasiliano structures of the Coastal Mobile belt together comprising the larger continent that then
overprint crust initially attached to a continental rifted during the Espinhaço event. South of the
mass by the Transamazonian assembly. northeastern lobe, this region was largely reworked
Is there evidence suggesting that Trans- during the Brasiliano orogeny. Bertrand and
amazonian crustal boundaries found in the north- Jardim de Sá (1990) and Ledru et al. (1994a,b)
eastern lobe of the São Francisco craton track into have proposed similar reconstructions.
the Coastal Mobile belt? We say ‘yes’, for the
following reasons. First, geochronological studies
carried out in this area by Söllner et al. (1991) 8. Conclusions
and Figueiredo and Teixeira (1996) indicate
that this region contains a record of the The Transamazonian event of the QF, in the
Transamazonian event. Second, Cunningham et al. southeastern portion of the São Francisco craton,
(1996), who completed a structural transect across took place in two stages. First, northwest-verging
the region between the São Francisco craton and contraction created a thin-skinned foreland
the Atlantic coast (i.e. across the Araçuaı́ and the fold-thrust belt. This belt thickened a sequence
Coastal Mobile belts), identified a possible candi- consisting of the Rio das Velhas Supergroup
date for a suture along the strike of the suture (an Archean greenstone belt) and the
that defines the west edge of the Jequié block. This Minas Supergroup (a Paleoproterozoic platform
possible suture corresponds to strong linear sequence). The thrusting event, which occurred
Bouguer anomaly described in the region by shortly after 2.125 Ga, created large northeast-
 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58 53

Fig. 16. Tentative reconstruction of principal belts in the Transamazonian orogen of the São Francisco craton region.

trending anticlines and synclines, along with para- collision/collapse phase in a Paleoproterozoic
sitic folds and southeast-dipping shear zones. At Wilson-cycle tectonics, comparable to Phanerozoic
ca 2.095 Ga, the thrust belt underwent orogenic collision/collapse events in terms of strain signifi-
collapse, resulting in development of a dome-and- cance and tectonic setting, but different in terms
keel province. As discussed by Marshak et al. of structural style. The style of Transamazonian
(1997a), the dome-and-keel structure occurs in the structural features in the QF closely resemble the
same tectonic setting as the metamorphic core style of structures in other Paleoproterozoic oro-
complexes of the U.S.A. Basin-and-Range, but are gens, such as the Penokean orogen along the
kinematically different, in that they are not simply southern edge of the Canadian Shield, in Michigan
warped detachment horizons. Transamazonian (Marshak et al., 1997a).
collapse may also have created narrow intermon- The collisional event leading to the
tane basins which filled with the Itacolomi Group Transamazonian fold-thrust belt of the QF may
sediments. Crustal extension, ultimately leading to have involved accretion of an island arc and/or
formation of a new oceanic basin east of the São exotic terranes to the east and southeast margins
Francisco craton, did not begin until the end of of the São Francisco craton. Thus, accreted prov-
the Paleoproterozoic (1.78 Ga) and may not inces and sutures exposed in the northeastern lobe
have been totally successful until the end of of the São Francisco craton may trace into the
the Mesoproterozoic (1.0–0.9 Ga). Effectively, Brasiliano Araçuaı́ and Coastal Mobile belts.
the Transamazonian represents the record of the Overall, therefore, the Transamazonian event rep-
54 F.F. Alkmim, S. Marshak / Precambrian Research 90 (1998) 29–58

resents the initial assembly of crustal fragments Almeida, F.F.M., 1981. O Cráton do Paramirim e sua relação
now comprising South America into a larger conti- com o do São Francisco. In: Anais do Simposio do Cráton
do São Francisco e suas faixas marginais, Salvador. Soc.
nental mass. This mass fragmented in the Bras. Geol., Núcleo Bahia/Sergipe, pp. 1–10.
Mesoproterozoic and then ultimately reassembled Almeida, F.F.M., Hasui, Y. (Eds.), 1984. O Pré-Cambriano do
during the Neoproterozoic to form Gondwana. Brasil. Edgard Blücher, São Paulo.
Almeida, F.F.M., Hasui, Y., Brito Neves, B.B., Fuck, R.A.,
1981. Brazilian structural provinces: an introduction. Earth
Sci. Rev. 17, 1–29.
Acknowledgment Alves, B.P., 1969. Geologic map of the Serra da Piedade
Quadrangle, Minas Gerais Brazil. U.S. Geological Survey
Prof. Paper, 641-A, Plate 3. U.S. Geological Survey, U.S.A.
The authors are grateful for discussions during Alves da Silva, F.C., Chauvet, A., Faure, M., 1993. Thrusting,
the course of this work with Dickinson wrench-type tectonics and granite emplacement during an
Cunningham, Hanna Jordt-Evangelista and Early Proterozoic basin closure: the example of the Rio
Hannes Brueckner, and for reviews of the manu- Itapicuru greenstone belt NE-Brazil. In: Anais II Simp. Geol.
script by T. Kusky, R.A.J. Trouw and an anony- do Cráton do São Francisco, Salvador. Soc. Bras. Geol,
Núcleo Bahia/Sergipe, pp. 63–66.
mous reviewer. This work was supported by CNPq Anhausser, C.R., Mason, R., Viljoen, M.J., Viljoen, R.P., 1969.
Grant No. 91.01153/90.6 to F.F. Alkmim, and Reappraisal of some aspects of Precambrian shield geology.
NSF Grants Nos EAR 90-04219 and INT Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. 80, 2175–2200.
93-01292 to S. Marshak. Babinski, M., Chemale, F. Jr, Van Schmus, W.R., 1991.
Geocronologia Pb/Pb em rochas carbonáticas do Supergrupo
Minas, Quadrilátero Ferrı́fero, Minas Gerais, Brasil. In:
Anais III Congresso Brasilera de Geoquı́mica, São Paulo.
Soc. Bras. de Geoquı́mica Resumos, Vol. 2, pp. 682–631.
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