Desenvolvimento de dobras e falhas em ambiente distensional: Aplicação da modelagem física

The geological modeling allows, at laboratory scaling, the simulation of the geometric and kinematic evolution of geological structures. The importance of the knowledge of these structures grows when we consider their role in the creation of traps or conduits to oil and water. In the present work we simulated the formation of folds and faults in extensional environment, through physical and numerical modeling, using a sandbox apparatus and MOVE2010 software. The physical modeling of structures developed in the hangingwall of a listric fault, showed the formation of active and inactive axial zones. In consonance with the literature, we verified the formation of a rollover between these two axial zones. The crestal collapse of the anticline formed grabens, limited by secondary faults, perpendicular to the extension, with a curvilinear aspect. Adjacent to these faults we registered the formation of transversal folds, parallel to the extension, characterized by a syncline in the fault hangingwall. We also observed drag folds near the faults surfaces, these faults are parallel to the fault surface and presented an anticline in the footwall and a syncline hangingwall. To observe the influence of geometrical variations (dip and width) in the flat of a flat-ramp fault, we made two experimental series, being the first with the flat varying in dip and width and the second maintaining the flat variation in width but horizontal. These experiments developed secondary faults, perpendicular to the extension, that were grouped in three sets: i) antithetic faults with a curvilinear geometry and synthetic faults, with a more rectilinear geometry, both nucleated in the base of sedimentary pile. The normal antithetic faults can rotate, during the extension, presenting a pseudo-inverse kinematics. ii) Faults nucleated at the top of the sedimentary pile. The propagation of these faults is made through coalescence of segments, originating, sometimes, the formation of relay ramps. iii) Reverse faults, are nucleated in the flat-ramp interface. Comparing the two models we verified that the dip of the flat favors a differentiated nucleation of the faults at the two extremities of the mater fault. V These two flat-ramp models also generated an anticline-syncline pair, drag and transversal folds. The anticline was formed above the flat being sub-parallel to the master fault plane, while the syncline was formed in more distal areas of the fault. Due the geometrical variation of these two folds we can define three structural domains. Using the physical experiments as a template, we also made numerical modeling experiments, with flat-ramp faults presenting variation in the flat. Secondary antithetic, synthetic and reverse faults were generated in both models. The numerical modeling formed two folds, and anticline above the flat and a syncline further away of the master fault. The geometric variation of these two folds allowed the definition of three structural domains parallel to the extension. These data reinforce the physical models. The comparisons between natural data of a flat-ramp fault in the Potiguar basin with the data of physical and numerical simulations, showed that, in both cases, the variation of the geometry of the flat produces, variation in the hangingwall geometry

Evolução estrutural e termocronológica meso-cenozóica da Zona de Cisalhamento Portalegre, Nordeste do Brasil

The Portalegre shear zone (ZCPa), which is located in the Rio Grande do Norte and Paraíba states (Northeastern Brazil), is na important right-lateral, northeast-trending lineament formed during the Brazilian Orogenic Cicle). The ZCPa experienced na important brittle reactivation from the Mesozoic until the present. This reactivation led to the formation of the Gangorra, Pau dos Ferros, Coronel João Pessoa, Icozinho and Rio do Peixe basins. The reactivation northern parto f the ZCPa that marks the boundary of the Potiguar Basin is denominated Carnaubais Fault. Several fracture patterns were mapped along the ZCPa. Samples were collected in Neoproterozoic granite outcrops, along the ZCPa. These samples yielded AFT ages from 86±13 to 376±57 Ma, and the mean track length from 10.9±0.8 to 12.9±1.5 mm. Samples from the East block yielded mean ages of 103 Ma, mean track lengtn 12,1mm, and mean altitude 250m, whereas samples from West block yielded mean ages of 150 Ma, which reach 345 Ma and 220 Ma in the Pau dos Ferros and Coronel João Pessoa basins, respectively. Thermal history models were sorted out for each crustal block. Samples from West block recorded a thermal history from Carboniferous Period until the Permiano, when the block experienced gradual uplift until the Cretaceous, when it underwent downfaulting and heating until the Tertiary, and it eventually experienced a rapid uplift movement until recent times. Samples from the East block presented the same cooling and heating events, but at they occurred different times. The East block thermal record started ~140 Ma, when this block experienced cooling until ~75 Ma. Both blocks show a denundacion/erosional history more similar in the Tertiary. The AFT data indicate an important tectonic event ~140 Ma, when the West block experienced downfaulting and the East block experienced uplift. This tectonic process led to the generation of several sedimentary basins in the region, including the Potiguar basin. This tectonic event is also interpreted as a rift process caused by an E-W-trending extension. It the Tertiary, some heating events can be tentatively attributed to the macau volcanic event

Estruturas de acumulação de água subterrânea em rochas cristalinas: estudo geofísico e geológico de casos no Estado do Rio Grande do Norte

Geological and geophysical studies (resistivity, self potential and VLF) were undertaken in the Tararaca and Santa Rita farms, respectively close to the Santo Antônio and Santa Cruz villages, eastern Rio Grande do Norte State, NE Brazil. Their aim was to characterize water acummulation structures in crystalline rocks. Based on geological and geophysical data, two models were characterized, the fracture-stream and the eluvio-alluvial through, in part already described in the literature. In the Tararaca Farm, a water well was located in a NW-trending streamlet; surrounding outcrops display fractures with the same orientation. Apparent resistivity sections, accross the stream channel, confirm fracturing at depth. The VLF profiles systematically display an alignment of equivalent current density anomalies, coinciding with the stream. Based on such data, the classical fracture-stream model seems to be well characterized at this place. In the Santa Rita Farm, a NE-trending stream display a metric-thick eluvioregolith-alluvial cover. The outcropping bedrock do not present fractures paralell to the stream direction, although the latter coincides with the trend of the gneiss foliation, which dips to the south. Geophysical data confirm the absence of a fracture zone at this place, but delineate the borders of a through-shaped structure filled with sediments (alluvium and regolith). The southern border of this structure dips steeper compared to the northern one. This water acummulation structure corresponds to an alternative model as regards to the classical fracture-stream, being named as the eluvio-alluvial trough. Its local controls are the drainage and relief, coupled with the bedrock weathering preferentially following foliation planes, generating the asymmetry of the through

Vulnerabilidade ambiental da zona costeira de Pititinga, Rio do Fogo, Rio Grande do Norte

This work presents a study on the environmental vulnerability of the coastal region of Pititinga, Rio do Fogo/RN. The coastal erosion of Pititinga beach was analyzed and considerated as one more process that produces environmental vulnerability in the area of study, taking into account its human and natural environment and establishing the relation between them, to understand the arrangement that produced its spatial configuration. The natural environment was expressed by thematics maps with geology, geomorphology, vegetation and soil themes, while the human environment was expressed by the use and occupation of the soil map. The coastal erosion was put in an erosion vulnerability map. The methodological procedure to generate the thematics maps, vulnerability maps and of the erosion coastal involved the bibliographic research, field visits with check-list form fill, collect and analysis of sediment sample, photo-interpretation techniques, integration of the information in a database, data store and spatial analysis in a Geographic Information System (GIS) ambient. The natural vulnerability map shows a predominancy of environments with low (29,6%) or medium (42,4%) vulnerability, pointed the frontal and mobile dune as the areas with the highest vulnerability. The environmental vulnerability map, presents a predominancy of environments with low vulnerability (53,8%), with the high vulnerability concentrated on Pititinga community. The coastal erosion vulnerability presented distinct behaviors on three sections among the coastal line according each one characteristics. Where there are frontal and transgressive dunes, vulnerability are, generally, medium or low, respectively, and in the absence of them, as what occurs in Pititinga community, the vulnerability is predominately very high

Interpretação de dados de GPR com base na hierarquização de superfícies limitantes e na adaptação de critérios sismoestratigráficos

Due to its high resolution, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) has been used to image subsurface sedimentary deposits. Because GPR and Seismic methods share some principles of image construction, the classic seismostratigraphic interpretation method has been also applied as an attempt to interpret GPR data. Nonetheless some advances in few particular contexts, the adaptations from seismic to GPR of seismostratigraphic tools and concepts unsuitable because the meaning given to the termination criteria in seismic stratigraphy do not represent the adequate geologic record in the GPR scale. Essentially, the open question relies in proposing a interpretation method for GPR data which allow not only relating product and sedimentary process in the GPR scale but also identifying or proposing depositional environments and correlating these results with the well known Sequence Stratigraphy cornerstones. The goal of this dissertation is to propose an interpretation methodology of GPR data able to perform this task at least for siliciclastic deposits. In order to do so, the proposed GPR interpretation method is based both on seismostratigraphic concepts and on the bounding surface hierarchy tool from Miall (1988). As consequence of this joint use, the results of GPR interpretation can be associated to the sedimentary facies in a genetic context, so that it is possible to: (i) individualize radar facies and correlate them to the sedimentary facies by using depositional models; (ii) characterize a given depositional system, and (iii) determine its stratigraphic framework highligthing how it evolved through geologic time. To illustrate its use the proposed methodology was applied in a GPR data set from Galos area which is part of the Galinhos spit, located in Rio Grande do Norte state, Northeastern Brazil. This spit presents high lateral sedimentary facies variation, containing in its sedimentary record from 4th to 6th cicles caused by high frequency sea level oscillation. The interpretation process was done throughout the following phases: (i) identification of a vertical facies succession, (ii) characterization of radar facies and its associated sedimentary products, (iii) recognition of the associated sedimentary process in a genetic context, and finally (iv) proposal of an evolutionay model for the Galinhos spit. This model proposes that the Galinhos spit is a barrier island constituted, from base to top, of the following sedimentary facies: tidal channel facies, tidal flat facies, shore facies, and aeolic facies (dunes). The tidal channel facies, in the base, is constituted of lateral accretion bars and filling deposits of the channels. The base facies is laterally truncated by the tidal flat facies. In the foreshore zone, the tidal flat facies is covered by the shore facies which is the register of a sea transgression. Finally, on the top of the stratigraphic column, aeolic dunes are deposited due to areal exposition caused by a sea regression

Correlação entre contexto morfoestrutural e sismicidade nas regiões de João Câmara e São Rafael (RN)

This MSc thesis describes brittle deformation in two seismic zones located in north-eastern Brazil: João Câmara and São Rafael, Rio Grande do Norte State. Both areas show seismogenic faults, Samambaia and São Rafael, indicated by narrow zones of epicentres with a strike of 040o, a lenght of 30 km and 4 km, and a depth of 1-12 and 0,5-4 km, respectively. The first seismological and geological studies suggested blind faults or faults that were still in the beginning of the nucleation process. The region is under E-W-oriented compression and is underlain by Precambrian terrains, deformed by one or more orogenic cycles, which generated shear zones generally marked by strong pervasive foliation and sigmoidal shapes. The crystalline basement is capped by the Cretaceous Potiguar basin, which is also locally capped by Pliocene continental siliciclastic deposits (Barreiras Formation), and Quaternary alluvium. The main aim of this study was to map epicentral areas and find whether there are any surface geological or morphotectonic expression related to the seismogenic faults. A detailed geological map was carried out in both seismic areas in order to identify brittle structures and fault-related drainage/topographic features. Geological and morphotectonic evidence indicate that both seismogenic faults take place along dormant structures. They either cut Cenozoic rocks or show topographic expression, i.e., are related to topographic heights or depressions and straight river channels. Faults rocks in the Samambaia and São Rafael faults are cataclasite, fault breccia, fault gouge, pseudotachylyte, and quartz veins, which point to reactivation processes in different crustal levels. The age of the first Samambaia and the São Rafael faulting movement possibly ranges from late Precambrian to late Cretaceous. Both fault cut across Precambrian fabric. They also show evidence of brittle processes which took place between 4 and 12 km deep, which probably have not occurred in Cenozoic times. The findings are of great importance for regional seismic hazard. They indicate that fault zones are longer than previously suggested by seismogenic studies. According to the results, the methodology used during this thesis may also be useful in other neotectonic investigation in intraplate areas

Beachrocks do Rio Grande Do norte: correlação entre os depósitos costeiros e os de zona costa-afora com base na faciologia, petrografia e diagênese

Beachrocks são rochas sedimentares formadas pela cimentação de sedimentos praiais por carbonato de cálcio em especial, calcita e/ou aragonita em zona de estirâncio. A ocorrência dessas rochas é bastante comum em diversas partes do globo, sobretudo em regiões com latitudes inferiores a 40º. O Rio Grande do Norte possui grande quantidade de beachrocks, os quais afloram tanto em regiões costeiras quanto em zona costa-afora. Os depósitos de beachrocks de zona costeira do referido estado têm sido estudados por diversos autores, os quais abordaram os mais variados temas desde o início do século XX. Por outro lado, os depósitos de zona costa-afora apesar de terem sido estudados por poucos autores têm ganhado atenção apenas nos últimos anos. Porém, nenhum trabalho até o presente fez algum tipo de estudo comparativo de cunho geológico entre os corpos de beachrocks presentes em ambas as zonas: costeira e costa-afora. Sendo assim, a presente dissertação teve o intuito de correlacionar os corpos de beachrocks que afloram em zona costeira aos que estão atualmente dispostos em zona costa-afora, próximo a isóbata de 25 m, levando em consideração seus aspectos petrográficos, diagenéticos e sedimentológicos. Para isso, foram percorridos cerca de 260 km de litoral, correspondendo ao trecho entre os municípios de Extremoz e Tibau, em busca de afloramentos de beachrocks. Seções colunares foram confeccionadas e amostras coletadas em estações de amostragem representativas da zona costeira, ao passo que da zona costa-afora apenas seções delgadas foram analisadas. Trabalhos disponíveis na literatura sobre o tema e área em pauta também foram utilizados. A partir dos dados levantados, observou-se que os beachrocks são formados por diferentes camadas ao longo de um perfil vertical. Estas camadas são claramente identificadas em afloramento pela diferença existente na composição, textura e estruturas sedimentares peculiares a cada uma delas. Seções delgadas foram confeccionadas e analisadas a partir de amostras coletadas nas diferentes camadas de diversos afloramentos. Um afloramento foi escolhido como afloramento modelo sendo este o de São Bento do Norte por apresentar a maior espessura de rocha aflorante (1,9 m). Este tem sido muito bem estudado tanto no corrente trabalho quanto em trabalhos de outros autores. A este foram comparados todos os outros afloramentos analisados. A partir da análise micropetrográfica, foram identificadas 03 microfácies para os beachrocks do Rio Grande do Norte, sendo elas: Quartzarenítica (< 2,9% de bioclastos), Quartzarenítica Bioclástica (entre 3 e 9,9% de bioclastos) e Bio-quartzarenítica (> 10% de bioclastos). Associando essas microfácies às análises sedimentológicas realizadas foi possível propor que as microfácies Quartzarenítica e Bio-quartzarenítica foram depositadas em zona de estirâncio enquanto que a microfácies Quartzarenítica Bioclástica foi depositada em zona de face litorânea superior. A história diagenética dos beachrocks estudados é marcada por quatro principais processos: compactação mecânica, cimentação, dissolução e geração de porosidade secundária, e oxidação. Dentre esses, o processo de cimentação é o mais importante, sendo caracterizado por precipitação de cimento de calcita rica em Mg sob cinco morfologias, a saber: cutículas criptocristalinas, franjas prismáticas isópacas, calcita espática microcristalina, calcita espática equante e agregados pseudo-peloidais. Todas estas morfologias foram formadas durante o estágio de eodiagênese, nas zonas freática marinha ativa ou freática meteórica ativa, corroborando assim com a idéia de que beachrocks têm sua litificação completa a pequenas profundidades. Associando as análises microfaciológicas às diagenéticas foi possível sugerir que a sucessão vertical de camadas vista em alguns beachrocks costeiros representam registros de variações de mais alta frequência do nível do mar durante o Holoceno. A partir daí, baseando-se em informações obtidas através de curvas de variação do nível do mar relativo no Holoceno para o Rio Grande do Norte, disponíveis na literatura, e na correlação aqui realizada entre os beachrocks costeiro e aqueles de zona costa-afora, foi possível inferir que estes últimos representam uma antiga linha de costa formada a idades relativas superiores a 7.000 anos A.P

Aplicação de softwares livres no Processamento de dados sísmicos de alta resolução

The increasing use of shallow seismic methods of high resolution, for investigations of geological problems, environmental or industrial, has impelled the development of techniques, flows and computational algorithms. The practice of applying techniques for processing this data, until recently it wasn t used and the interpretation of the data was made as they were acquired. In order to facilitate and contribute to the improvement of the practices adopted, was developed a free graphical application and open source, called OpenSeismic which is based on free software Seismic Un*x, widely used in the treatment of conventional seismic data used in the exploration of hydrocarbon reservoirs. The data used to validate the initiative were marine seismic data of high resolution, acquired by the laboratory of Geology and Marine Geophysics and Environmental Monitoring - GGEMMA, of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte UFRN, for the SISPLAT Project, located at the region of paleo-valley of the Rio Acu. These data were submitted to the processing flow developed by Gomes (2009), using the free software developed in this work, the OpenSeismic, as well other free software, the Seismic Un*x and the commercial software ProMAX, where despite its peculiarities has presented similar results

Caracterização morfológica e sedimentar do talude continental (foz do Amazonas)

Created on 3 december 1997, the REMPLAC (Program for Assessment of Mineral Potencial of the Continental Shelf), this porgram aimed to make the basic survey, systematic geological and geophysical continental shelf, detail, at an appropriate scale, sites geo-economic, and perform the analysis and evaluation of mineral deposits. The REMPLAC should continue the efforts of Global Recognition Program of the Brazilian Continental Margin REMAC closed in 1978, the operations Geophysical Sea (GEOMAR) developed by the Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation and the various initiatives of the Program of Marine Geology and Geophysics (PGGM). Despite the high interest on the Amazon platform, there is little information o their morphology and sediment characterization, and in order to fill this gap, the present work samples sedimentological point followed by seismic acquisition. And the studies were to characterize the possible area of interest as being directly influence by tides, which sediments are reworked throughout the platform featuring grain angle with sharp corners, and the carbonate content increases as it approaches the breakdown the platform, and the bodies found outside the foraminifera and mollusks. However, diverging with organic matter that reduces its concentration as it moves away from the coast. The seismic profiles do not get satisfactory results because of low visibility, however, to correlate with the spot samples, of sediment were possible morphological characterization of the area.

Caracterização multi-escalar de bandas de deformação nas tectonossequências paleozóica, pré- e sin-rifte da Bacia do Araripe, Nordeste do Brasil

Deformation bands are structures, developed in porous sandstones, that has small offsets and they are not shown on seismic section. The deformation bands of the pre and synrift sandstones of Araripe Basin were studied in outcrop, macroscopic and microscopic scales. The hierarchical, cinematic and spatial-geometric characteristics, and also the deformational mechanisms acting during its structural evolution were established too. In general, the mesoscopic scale observation allowed to discriminate deformation bands as singles or clusters in three main sets: NNE-SSW dextral; NE-SW normal (sometimes with strike-slip offset); and E-W sinistral; further a bed-parallel deformation bands as a local set. The microscopic characterization allowed to recognize the shearing and cataclastic character of such structures. Through the multi-scale study done in this work we verified that deformation bands analyzed were preferentially developed when sandstones under advanced stage of lithification. We also infer that the geometrical-spatial complexity of these bands, together with the presence of cataclastic matrix, can difficult the migration of fluids in reservoir rocks, resulting on their compartmentalization. Therefore, the study of deformation bands can aid researches about the structural evolution of sedimentary basin, as well as collaborate to understand the hydrodynamic behavior of reservoirs compartmented by these deformational structures

Modelagem estrutural física de semigrábens ortogonais e oblíquos à distenção regional: influência da trama do embasamento e comparação com analógicos no nordeste brasileiro

The physical structural modeling tool is being increasingly used in geology to provide information about the evolutionary stages (nucleation, growth) and geometry of geological structures at various scales. During the simulations of extensional tectonics, modeling provides a better understanding of fault geometry and evolution of the tectonic-stratigraphic architecture of rift basins. In this study a sandbox type apparatus was used to study the nucleation and development of basins influenced by previous structures within the basement, variably oriented as regards to the main extensional axis. Two types of experiments were conducted in order to: (i) simulate the individual (independent) development of half-grabens oriented orthogonal or oblique to the extension direction; (ii) simulate the simultaneous development of such half-grabens, orthogonal or oblique to the extension direction. In both cases the same materials (sand mixed with gypsum) were used and the same boundary conditions were maintained. The results were compared with a natural analogue represented by the Rio do Peixe Basin (one of the eocretaceous interior basins of Northeast Brazil). The obtained models allowed to observe the development of segmented border faults with listric geometry, often forming relay ramps, and the development of inner basins faults that affect only the basal strata, like the ones observed in the seismic sections of the natural analogue. The results confirm the importance of basement tectonic heritage in the geometry of rift depocenters

Caracterização geológica tridimensional e monitoramento de dunas no litoral oriental do Rio Grande do Norte

This work presents geophysical and geological results obtained in a dunefield located in the east coast of Rio Grande do Norte State, with the aim to recognize the aeolian body depositional geometries to a future geologic modeling of the aeolian petroliferous reservoirs. The research, which was done in blowouts region situated at Nisia Floresta Municipally, included the characterization of external geometries with GPS and internal geometry analysis by GPR. Data was integrated in GoCAD software, where it was possible the three-dimensional characterization and interpretation of the studied deposits. The interpretation of GPR profiling allowed identifying: First-order bounding surfaces that separated the aeolian deposits of the Barreiras Formation rocks; Second-order bounding surfaces, which limit dune generations and Third-order bounding surfaces, a reactivation surface. This classification was based and adapted by the Brookfield (1977) and Kocurek (1996) propose. Four radarfacies was recognized: Radarfacies 1, progradational reflectors correlated to foresets of the dunes, Radarfacies 2, plain parallels reflectors related to sand sheets, Radarfacies 3, plain parallels reflectors associated to reworking of the blowout dune crest and Radarfacies 4, mounded reflectors associated to vegetated mound of sand or objects buried in subsurface. The GPR and GPS methods was also employed to the monitoring of dunefields susceptible to human activities in Buzios Beach, where the constructions along the blowout region and the tourism are changing the natural evolution of the deposits. This fact possibly to cause negative impacts to the coastal zone. Data obtained in Dunas Park, a unit environmental conservation, was compared with information of the Buzios Beach. There is a major tendency of erosion in Buzios, specifically in blowout corridor and blowout dune

Análise da vulnerabilidade ambiental no estuário do Rio Curimataú/Cunhaú, Baía Formosa e Canguaretama - RN

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

analise da dispersao de ondas de superficie na provincia borborema, Nordeste do Brasil

The Borborema Province, Northeastern Brazil, had its internal structure investigated by different geophysical methods like gravity, magnetics and seismics. Additionally, many geological studies were also carried out to define the structural domains of this province. Despite the plethora of studies, there are still many important open aspects about its evolution. Here, we study the velocity structure of S-wave in the crust using dispersion of surface waves. The dispersion of surface waves allows an estimate of the average thickness of the crust across the region between the stations. The inversion of the velocity structure was carried out using the inter-station dispersion of surface waves of Rayleigh and Love types. The teleseismic events are mainly from the edges of the South and North American plates. The period of data collection occurred between 2007 and 2010 and we selected 7 events with magnitude above 5.0 MW and up to 40 km depth. The difference between the events back-azimuths and the interstation path was not greater than 10. We also know the depth of the Moho, results from Receiver Functions (Novo Barbosa, 2008), and use those as constrains in inversion. Even using different parameterizations of models for the inversion, our results were very similar the mean profiles velocity structure of S-wave. In pairs of stations located in the Cear´a Central Domain Borborema the province, there are ranges of depths for which the velocities of S are very close. Most of the results in the profile near the Moho complicate their interpretation at that depth, coinciding with the geology of the region, where there are many shear zones. In particular, the profile that have the route Potiguar Bacia in inter-station, had low velocities in the crust. We combine these results to the results of gravimetry and magnetometry (Oliveira, 2008) and receptor function (Novo Barbosa, 2008). We finally, the first results on the behavior of the velocity structure of S-wave with depth in the Province Borborema