Paleosols of semi-arid environment: an ancient analogue (Marília Formation, Bauru Basin, GO, MS and SP states)

Abstract

Despite the paleosols constitute a great part of the geological record in sedimentary continental successions, their study and application in stratigraphy and paleoenvironmental reconstructions is still restrict. The study of the interactions between sedimentary and pedogenic processes in the same sedimentary succession is a scarce subject in the Brazilian geoscience literature, as also in the international papers.The inter-relations between sediments and paleosols in semi-arid depositional system (Marília Formation) will be our objective in this project. The main objective is to define the genetic features of the paleosols and its space-time relations with other paleosols profiles and sediments, intending to characterize the moments of sedimentation and the breaks in the sedimentary processes with relative pedogenesis. The northern portion of the Bauru Basin, between Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul states and the outcrops of Monte Alto in São Paulo state, were chosen for caracterized areas poor studied in sedimentological terms. The majority of the studies on the Bauru Basin interests to the west portion of the São Paulo state, referring mainly to the stratigraphy and paleontological studies in small-scales. The Marília Formation in the cited areas is well studied in paleontological and sedimentological terms, however there is still one lack in large-scale studies, especially in questions such as the relation between sedimentary and pedogenic ancient processes. This project intends to contribute for the better understand of the processes and environmental factors involved in the formation of paleosols in semi-arid depositional systems, as well as defining the space-time interactions with sediments in these environments. This project could help also to the knowledge of the stratigraphic and sedimentological features of the northern portion of the Bauru Basin.