Neoproterozoic orogenesis on São Roque / Serra do Itaberaba, Embu and Costeiro domains and the crustal and tectonic evolution of the southeastern São Paulo State

Abstract

The tectonic evolution of the Neoproterozoic fold-and-thrust belts (Ribeira and Araçuaí belts) in the southeastern Brazil and its significance to the history and reconstruction of the Gondwana supercontinent are still open to debate. The main questions that remain unsolved are related to the type and chronology of the plate interactions responsible to the final configuration of the Western Gondwana. The São Roque/Serra do Itaberaba, Embu and Costeiro geological domains are included in the Ribeira Belt and play an important role in this scientific discussion.This project comprehends the southeastern area of São Paulo State, between the surroundings of São Paulo City and the coastal region of São Sebastião, which configures a key segment to the understanding of the Neoproterozoic tectonic processes in the Western Gondwana and even the earlier crustal evolution (Archean to Mesoproterozoic). The adequate update of the field database, including lithostructural and specified sampling, constitutes the scantiest part of the scientific collection from the Planalto Atlântico paulista and, mainly, from the Serra do Mar in the north coast of São Paulo State.The fundamental importance of the study area to the modelling of the Neoproterozoic tectonic history and the evolution of the Gondwana supercontinent in the southeastern Brazil justifies the development of the proposed research. This study aims to improve the knowledge of the geological evolution and the mutual relationships of the rocks from the São Roque/Serra do Itaberaba, Embu and Costeiro geological domains, based on a systematic sampling to promote structural analyses, petrographic, lithogeochemistry and mineral chemistry studies, geothermobarometry, geochronology and the definition of P-T-t-d metamorphic paths (pressure-temperature-time-deformation). (AU)