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

Petrologia do plúton Serra da Macambira, neoproterozóico da faixa seridó, província Borborema (NE do Brasil)

The final stage of Brasiliano/Pan-African orogeny in the Borborema Province is marked by widespread plutonic magmatism. The Serra da Macambira Pluton is an example of such plutonism in Seridó Belt, northeastern Borborema Province, and it is here subject of geological, petrographic, textural, geochemical and petrogenetic studies. The pluton is located in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, intrusive into Paleoproterozoic orthogneisses of the Caicó Complex and Neoproterozoic metassupracrustal rocks of the Seridó Group. Based upon intrusion/inclusion field relationships, mineralogy and texture, the rocks are classified as follows: intermediate enclaves (quartz-bearing monzonite and biotite-bearing tonalite), porphyritic monzogranite, equigranular syenogranite to monzogranite, and late granite and pegmatite dykes. Porphyritic granites and quartz-bearing monzonites represent mingling formed by the injection of an intermediate magma into a granitic one, which had already started crystallization. Both rocks are slightly older than the equigranular granites. Quartz-bearing monzonite has K-feldspar, plagioclase, biotite, hornblende and few quartz, meanwhile biotite-bearing tonalite are rich in quartz, poor in K-feldspar and hornblende is absent. Porphyritic and equigranular granites display mainly biotite and rare hornblende, myrmekite and pertitic textures, and zoned plagioclase pointing out to the relevance of fractional crystallization during magma evolution. Such granites have Rare Earth Elements (REE) pattern with negative Eu anomaly and light REE enrichment when compared to heavy REE. They are slight metaluminous to slight peraluminous, following a high-K calc-alkaline path. Petrogenesis started with 27,5% partial melting of Paleoproterozoic continental crust, generating an acid hydrous liquid, leaving a granulitic residue with orthopyroxene, plagioclase (An40-50), K-feldspar, quartz, epidote, magnetite, ilmenite, apatite and zircon. The liquid evolved mainly by fractional crystallization (10-25%) of plagioclase (An20), biotite and hornblende during the first stages of magmatic evolution. Granitic dykes are hololeucocratic with granophyric texture, indicating hypabissal crystallization and REE patterns similar to A-Type granites. Preserved igneous textures, absence or weak imprint of ductile tectonics, association with mafic to intermediate enclaves and alignment of samples according to monzonitic (high-K calcalkaline) series all indicate post-collisional to post-orogenic complexes as described in the literature. Such interpretation is supported by trace element discrimination diagrams that place the Serra da Macambira pluton as late-orogenic, probably reflecting the vanishing stages of the exhumation and collapse of the Brasiliano/Pan-African orogen.

Estimativa da profundidade do embasamento na bacia potiguar usando inversão gravimétrica

The gravity inversion method is a mathematic process that can be used to estimate the basement relief of a sedimentary basin. However, the inverse problem in potential-field methods has neither a unique nor a stable solution, so additional information (other than gravity measurements) must be supplied by the interpreter to transform this problem into a well-posed one. This dissertation presents the application of a gravity inversion method to estimate the basement relief of the onshore Potiguar Basin. The density contrast between sediments and basament is assumed to be known and constant. The proposed methodology consists of discretizing the sedimentary layer into a grid of rectangular juxtaposed prisms whose thicknesses correspond to the depth to basement which is the parameter to be estimated. To stabilize the inversion I introduce constraints in accordance with the known geologic information. The method minimizes an objective function of the model that requires not only the model to be smooth and close to the seismic-derived model, which is used as a reference model, but also to honor well-log constraints. The latter are introduced through the use of logarithmic barrier terms in the objective function. The inversion process was applied in order to simulate different phases during the exploration development of a basin. The methodology consisted in applying the gravity inversion in distinct scenarios: the first one used only gravity data and a plain reference model; the second scenario was divided in two cases, we incorporated either borehole logs information or seismic model into the process. Finally I incorporated the basement depth generated by seismic interpretation into the inversion as a reference model and imposed depth constraint from boreholes using the primal logarithmic barrier method. As a result, the estimation of the basement relief in every scenario has satisfactorily reproduced the basin framework, and the incorporation of the constraints led to improve depth basement definition. The joint use of surface gravity data, seismic imaging and borehole logging information makes the process more robust and allows an improvement in the estimate, providing a result closer to the actual basement relief. In addition, I would like to remark that the result obtained in the first scenario already has provided a very coherent basement relief when compared to the known basin framework. This is significant information, when comparing the differences in the costs and environment impact related to gravimetric and seismic surveys and also the well drillings

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

Sistemas orbitais e aéreos aplicados à análise multi-escala da tectônica rúptil atuante na borda sudeste da Bacia do Parnaíba

The tectonics activity on the southern border of Parnaíba Basin resulted in a wide range of brittle structures that affect siliciclastic sedimentary rocks. This tectonic activity and related faults, joints, and folds are poorly known. The main aims of this study were (1) to identify lineaments using several remotesensing systems, (2) to check how the interpretation based on these systems at several scales influence the identification of lineaments, and (3) to contribute to the knowledge of brittle tectonics in the southern border of the Parnaíba Basin. The integration of orbital and aerial systems allowed a multi-scale identification, classification, and quantification of lineaments. Maps of lineaments were elaborated in the following scales: 1:200,000 (SRTM Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission), 1:50,000 (Landsat 7 ETM+ satellite), 1:10,000 (aerial photographs) and 1:5,000 (Quickbird satellite). The classification of the features with structural significance allowed the determination of four structural sets: NW, NS, NE, and EW. They were usually identified in all remote-sensing systems. The NE-trending set was not easily identified in aerial photographs but was better visualized on images of medium-resolution systems (SRTM and Landsat 7 ETM+). The same behavior characterizes the NW-trending. The NS-and EW-trending sets were better identified on images from high-resolution systems (aerial photographs and Quickbird). The structural meaning of the lineaments was established after field work. The NEtrending set is associated with normal and strike-slip faults, including deformation bands. These are the oldest structures identified in the region and are related to the reactivation of Precambrian basement structures from the Transbrazilian Lineament. The NW-trending set represents strike-slip and subordinated normal faults. The high dispersion of this set suggests a more recent origin than the previous structures. The NW-trending set may be related to the Picos-Santa Inês Lineament. The NS-and EW-trending sets correspond to large joints (100 m 5 km long). The truncation relationships between these joint sets indicate that the EW-is older than the NS-trending set. The methodology developed by the present work is an excellent tool for the understanding of the regional and local tectonic structures in the Parnaíba basin. It helps the choice of the best remote-sensing system to identify brittle features in a poorly known sedimentary basin

Pirometamorfismo nos arenitos da Formação Açu, Bacia Potiguar, NE do Brasil

Pyrometamorphism results from conditions of high temperatures and very low pressures provoked by the intrusion of hypabyssal basic bodies into sedimentary or metassedimentary hosting rocks. The onshore portion of the Potiguar Basin in NE Brazil offers examples of this type of metamorphism nearby the contacts of Paleogene to Neogene plugs, sills and dikes of diabases and basalts crosscutting sandstones, siltstones and shales of the Açu Formation (Albian-Cenomanian). The thermal effects over these rocks are reflected on textures and minerals assemblages that characterize the sanidinite facies of metamorphism, often with partial melting of the feldspathic and mica-rich matrix. The liquid formed is potassic and peraluminous, with variably colored rhyolitic glass (colorless, yellow, brown) comprising microcrystals of tridymite, sanidine and clinoenstatite, besides residual detrital clasts of quartz and rarely zircon, staurolite and garnet. Lenses of shale intercalated within the sandstones display crystallites of Fe-cordierite (sekaninaite), mullite, sanidine, armalcolite (Fe-Ti oxide) and brown spinel. The rocks formed due to the thermal effect of the intrusions are called buchites for which two types are herein described: a light one derived from feldspathic sandstone and siltstone protoliths; and a dark one derived from black shale protoliths. Textures indicating partial melting and minerals such as sanidine, mullite, tridymite and armalcolite strongly demonstrate that during the intrusion of the basic bodies the temperature reached 1,000-1,150°C, and was followed by quenching. Cooling of the interstitial melts has as consequences the closure of pores and decrease of the permeability of the protolith, which varies from about 17-11% in the unaffected rocks to zero in the thermally modified types. Although observed only at contacts and over small distances, the number of basic intrusions hosted within the Potiguar Basin in both onshore and offshore portions leaves opened the possibility of important implications of the thermal effects over the hydrocarbon exploration in this area as well in other Cretaceous and Paleozoic basins in Brazil

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

Caracterização geomorfológica e paleogeográfica da plataforma continental adjacente a foz do Rio Apodi-Mossoró, RN/Brasil

The brazilian marginal basins have a huge potential to generate and accumulate petroleum. Incised valleys which are eroded in response to a fall of relative sea level are related to potential reservoir as well, modern drowned-valley estuaries serve as harbors to petroleum and salt industries, fisheries, waste-disposal sites and recreational areas for a significant fraction of the world s population. The combined influence of these factors has produced a dramatic increase in research on modern and ancient incised-valley systems. This research is one expression of this interest. The integrated use of satellites images and high resolution seismic (bathymetry, sides scan sonar) was used on the Apodi River mouth-RN to characterizes the continental shelf This area is located at the Potiguar Basin in the NE Brazilian Equatorial Atlantic margin. Through bathymetric and side scan sonar data processing, a digital Terrain Model was developed, and a detailed geomorphologic analysis was performed. In this way was possible to recognize the geomorphologic framework and differents sismofacies, which may influence this area. A channel extending from the ApodiMossoró river mouth to the shelf edge dominates the investigated area. This structure can be correlated with the former river valley developed during the late Pleistocene sea level fall. This channel has two main directions (NW-SE and NE-SW) probably controlled by the Potiguar Basin structures. The western margin of the channel is relatively steep and pronounced whereas the eastern margin consists only of a gentle slope. Longitudinal bedforms and massive ridges also occur. The first are formed doe to the shelf sediment rework and the reef-like structures probably are relics of submerged beachrock-lines indicating past shoreline positions during the deglacial sea-level rise. The sub-bottom seismic data allow the identification of different sismic patterns and a marcant discontinuity, interpreted as the Upper

Florística e fitossociologia do componente arbóreo da transição Floresta Ombrófila Densa das Terras Baixas - Floresta Ombrófila Densa Submontana do Núcleo Picinguaba/PESM, Ubatuba, sudeste do Brasil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Daily activity and microhabitat use of sympatric lizards from Serra do Cipó, southeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Integração de métodos geofísicos na modelagem crustal da Bacia de Santos

A Bacia de Santos é uma bacia de margem passiva gerada durante o Neocomiano, associado com o evento de ruptura do Supercontinente de Gondwana. A espessura da seção sedimentar pode alcançar 15 km, incluindo a seqüência rifte, e foi depositada sobre uma crosta afinada cuja espessura original era de cerca de 35 km. Foi realizada uma modelagem crustal em 8 linhas, aproximadamente perpendiculares ao mergulho deposicional da bacia, objetivando o reconhecimento da geometria da fase rifte e a estimativa do estiramento crustal. Foram utilizados durante a modelagem quatro horizontes sísmicos em profundidade, mapas magnético e gravimétrico além de dados da profundidade do embasamento magnético. Foi reconhecido um pronunciado estiramento crustal em toda a bacia (fatores de estiramento crustal variando entre 1.2 e 3.1), evidenciando ampla acomodação da deformação. Os resultados da modelagem necessitaram, ainda, de espessas e contínuas camadas de rochas vulcânicas para ajuste do modelo. Estas cunhas de rochas vulcânicas, limitadas lateralmente por falhas normais, são feições comuns em bacias rifte. Os resultados da modelagem foram confrontados com dados da profundidade do embasamento magnético, obtidos anteriormente, e evidenciaram forte correlação, sobretudo nas áreas rasas da bacia.

Disponibilidade biológica do fósforo de diferentes fontes para eqüinos em crescimento

Objetivou-se neste estudo, determinar a disponibilidade biológica do P de diferentes fontes, para eqüinos em fase de crescimento. Utilizaram-se dezesseis eqüinos machos em fase de crescimento, submetidos à aplicação de quatro fontes fosfatadas -- fosfato de rocha de Tapira (TAP), fosfato de rocha de Patos de Minas (PAT), fosfato bicálcico (BIC) e farinha de osso (FOS) --, adicionadas à dieta basal em quantidades suficientes para fornecer 22 g de P/animal/dia. No 16º dia, foram-lhes injetados 30 MBq de 32P/animal, e coletaram-se amostras de sangue, fezes e urina, durante sete dias. Foram determinadas as atividades específicas no plasma, fezes e urina e calculou-se a perda endógena fecal e a absorção real de P. Os valores obtidos quanto ao P consumido, P excretado, P no plasma e P retido não apresentaram diferenças estatísticas (P>0,05). Os valores de absorção real do P do TAP, PAT, BIC e da FOS foram, respectivamente, 25,23%, 33,97%, 31,71% e 29,36%. Não houve diferenças estatísticas (P>0,05) entre as fontes estudadas. em relação ao BIC, as rochas fosfáticas apresentaram altos valores de disponibilidade biológica.

Structural control over well productivity in the Jundiaí River Catchment, Southeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Aplicação do método de Polarização Induzida em área de disposição de resíduos sólidos no município de Caçapava do Sul - RS

A geofísica é um método eficaz para investigação de áreas impactadas pelos mais diversos tipos de contaminantes, principalmente em locais de disposição de resíduos sólidos domiciliares e também utilizada na caracterização de contrastes de propriedades físicas em presença de substâncias poluentes. Este trabalho utilizou o método de Polarização Induzida numa área de disposição de resíduos sólidos desativada, localizada no município de Caçapava do Sul - RS. O aterro está assentado sobre rochas metamórficas fraturadas, pertencentes ao Complexo Metamórfico Vacacaí (Neoproterozóico). Foram realizadas 8 linhas de caminhamento elétrico, com espaçamento de 5 m entre eletrodos e 10 níveis de investigação, além de 83 medidas de direção e sentido de fraturas. O resultado geofísico permite caracterizar a camada de resíduos por baixos valores de cargabilidade. Anomalias verticais abaixo da camada de resíduos são interpretadas como zonas de fratura com possível acúmulo de chorume, caracterizadas por baixos valores de cargabilidade.