The three main marine depositional cycles of the Neogene of Portugal

The present work follows a stratigraphic model for the marine Neogene of Portugal based on the definition of three main marine sedimentary cycles. Conceptually the I, II and III Neogene Cycles can be defined as 2nd order sedimentary sequences with duration ranging from 5 to 8 Ma. The I Neogene Cycle is fully represented only in the Lower Tagus Basin. Ranging from the Early Aquitanian to the Late Burdigalian the I Neogene Cycle testify a transgressive episode in the region of Lisbon and Setúbal Peninsula. Rapid lateral facies variations suggest a shallowmarine basin. This cycle ends with an important Late Burdigalian tectonic compressive event expressed by uplift of the surrounding areas and deformation affecting the Early Miocene deposits of the Arrábida Chain. The II Neogene Cycle includes thick sedimentary sequences covering Paleozoic and Mesozoic formations in the Algarve and Alvalade-Melides regions and it extends as far north as Santarém in the Lower Tagus Basin. Mainly controlled by global eustasy, it was generated by the important positive eustatic trend that characterized the Middle Miocene worldwide to which the Portuguese continental margin acted more or less passively. This cycle ended with a second and the most important compression event starting after the end of the Serravallian affecting the entire Portuguese onshore and shelf areas. This led to an important depositional hiatus of marine sediments for more than 2.5 Ma. During the Early and the Middle Tortonian occurred the clockwise rotation of the Guadalquivir Basin. The thickmarine units deposited afterwards in this basin produced a litostatic load, which seems to have induced subsidence farther west resuming the Neogene marine sedimentation in the Cacela region (Eastern Algarve), during the Late Tortonian. This marks the beginning of the III Neogene Cycle. To the north, in the Sado Basin (Alvalade-Melides region), a similar depositional sequence starts its sedimentation during the Messinian. Further north, in the Pombal-Caldas da Rainha region, marine sedimentation started during the Late Pliocene (Piacenzian). The migration in time, from south to north for the beginning of the marine sedimentation of this cycle is interpreted as reflecting a visco-elastic propagation of the deformation from the Betic chain northwards.

On the hydrogeology of the Lower Tagus Basin and its Cenozoic geologic evolution

The chemical features of the ground water in the Lower Tagus Cenozoic deposits are strongly influenced by lithology, by the velocity and direction of the water movement as well as by the localization of the recharge and discharge zones. The mineralization varies between 80 and 900 mg/l. It is minimal in the recharge zones and in the Pliocene sand and maximum in the Miocene carbonated and along the alluvial valley. Mineralization always reflects the time of permanence, the temperature and the pressure. The natural process of water mineralization is disturbed in agricultural areas because the saline concentration of the infiltration water exceeds that of the infiltrated rainwater. In the discharge zones, the rise of the more mineralized, some times thermal deep waters related to tectonic accidents give rise to anomalies in the distribution of the aquiferous system mineralization model. The diversity of the hydrochemical facies of the ground water may be related to several factors whose identification is some times difficult.

Une succession de référence pour le Toarcien Moyen et Supérieur: les "Margas calcárias de São Gião" dans les environs de Cantanhede (sous-bassin nord lusitanien, Portugal)*

The geological sections studied at the São Gião sector (Cantanhede region) have allowed the establishment of a clear succession of ammonite associations during the Middle and Upper Toarcian (“Margas calcárias de São Gião” and “Calcários margosos de Póvoa da Lomba” Formations). The fossil collections were gathered over the last 40 years and, in spite of the apparent facies monotony, come from a thick and fossiliferous marly-limestone unit. The ammonite succession allows the establishment and/or verification of a certain number of biostratigraphical elements, of which are worthy of mention: – the tethyan character of the fauna from the Gradata to the Meneghinii Zones; this differentiation starts with the occurrence of Collina, Crassiceras and Furloceras of the Gradata Zone; – the succession of Osperleioceras, with the connection between the “caussenardes”(O. reynesi, O. authelini) forms and those from Algeria (O. nadorense, O. matteii), which is placed at the beginning of the Aalensis Zone; – the succession of Hammatoceratinae: H. roubanense (Gradata Z.), H. bonarellii (Bonarellii Z.), H. speciosum (Speciosum Sub-zone), followed by Crestaites meneghinii (Reynesi Sub-zone and Meneghinii Z.); Pseudaptetoceras appear next (Aalensis Zone). The dynamic evolution of the sector is characterized by the persistence of marly sedimentation during the Meneghinii Zone, in probable relation to the paleostructural play of the Arunca-Montemor meridian axis.

L’instabilité dynamique pendant le Toarcien dans le Moyen Atlas (Maroc): mise en évidence de glissements synsédimentaires dans le synclinal de Bou Angar

During the Toarcian, shelves undergo block-faulting with mechanisms of tilting. It results the break up of the Middle Atlas basin in subsident sectors separated by resistant ridges. This device is highlighted by strong variations of facies, more or less extended lacunar zones, reefs aligned on the ridges and of synsedimentary tectonics structures. Within the framework of mapping survey carried out in the south-west of Middle Atlas, a meticulous prospection of Bou Angar synclinal allowed the description of a new outcrop of Toarcian. This one offers good examples of extensional structures and bio-accumulations. These data, supplemented by other witnesses of the dynamic instability in the rest of the Middle Atlas, permit to propose a paleogeographic map of the Middle Atlas basin during the Toarcian.

Litostratigrafia do Cenozóico de Portuga

In Portugal mainland the Cenozoic record occurs largely in several basins. Even in the same basin, the sedimentary record shows meaningful lateral facies and thickness changes. However, the main sedimentary ruptures and overall lithologic characteristics of the infillings stades are quite similar in the same basins, as a result of the geodinamic evolution of Iberia and the Cainozoic times eustatic and climate changes. A stratigraphic framework is proposed in order to allow a less complex use of the lithostratigraphic units as referred in the geological maps and literature. Some topics for future research are suggested.

Stochastic modelling of the reservoir lithological and petrophysical attributes. A case study of the Middle East carbonate reservoir

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Geológica (Georrecursos)

Urinary Tract Effects of HPSE2 Mutations

Urofacial syndrome (UFS) is an autosomal recessive congenital disease featuring grimacing and incomplete bladder emptying. Mutations of HPSE2, encoding heparanase 2, a heparanase 1 inhibitor, occur in UFS, but knowledge about the HPSE2 mutation spectrum is limited. Here, seven UFS kindreds with HPSE2 mutations are presented, including one with deleted asparagine 254, suggesting a role for this amino acid, which is conserved in vertebrate orthologs. HPSE2 mutations were absent in 23 non-neurogenic neurogenic bladder probands and, of 439 families with nonsyndromic vesicoureteric reflux, only one carried a putative pathogenic HPSE2 variant. Homozygous Hpse2 mutant mouse bladders contained urine more often than did wild-type organs, phenocopying human UFS. Pelvic ganglia neural cell bodies contained heparanase 1, heparanase 2, and leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains-2 (LRIG2), which is mutated in certain UFS families. In conclusion, heparanase 2 is an autonomic neural protein implicated in bladder emptying, but HPSE2 variants are uncommon in urinary diseases resembling UFS.

Linfonodo pulmonar na paracoccidioidomicose aguda infantil (relato de um caso)

Observou-se a evolução de um linfonodo pulmonar na paracoccidioidomicose (PCM) aguda infantil. Doente, masculino, 6 anos, branco, natural de Curitiba (PR), procedente de Guaratinguetá (SP), que há 3 meses desenvolveu quadro gripal, febre diária, bimodal, prolongada, precedida de calafrio, acompanhada de sudorese inodora, cefaléia frontal e anorexia. Diagnosticado e tratado como pneumonia por cinco dias, sem melhora do quadro. Há 2 meses, apresentou dor óssea nos braços e articulações do pé, com edema inflamatório e emagrecimento de 6 kg em 3 meses. Exame físico revelou: peso 20 kg; estatura 120 cm; P. A. 90/60 mmHg; facies atípica, hipoativo, palidez cutâneo-mucosa (+ +), hipotrofia muscular, adenopatiageneralizada, sopro sistólico suave em foco aórtico acessório e hepatesplenomegalia. Imunodifusão com exoantígeno glicoprotéico 43 kdpositiva (1/32). A biópsia de gânglio revelou Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. A radiologia demonstrou na primeira consulta, discreto infiltrado intersticial bilateral com linfoadenomegaliapara-hilar que desaparecu em 30 dias. Observou- se, ainda, massa tumoral mediastínica superior, hiperplasia do sistema fagocítico mononuclear e lesões osteolíticas nos 60 dias iniciais da evolução.

Clinical and radiological aspects in Melnick-Needles syndrome

Melnick-Needles syndrome is an X-linked dominant bone dysplasia, lethal in males, characterized by a typical facies and characteristic radiological findings: including sclerosis of skull base and mastoids, S-shaped appearance of tibia; cortical irregularities with a ribbon appearance of the ribs. About 48 well-documented cases have been reported, most of them were sporadic. Parental transmission has been published in only 11 kindreds. We are presenting the first Brazilian family with mother-daughter transmission.The proposita presented the typical clinical and radiological features with characteristic facies, severe thoracic cage restriction and pulmonary hypertension. Her mother was more mildly affected.

Hydronephrosis in Schinzel-Giedion syndrome: an important clue for the diagnosis

Schinzel-Giedion syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by coarse facies, midface retraction, hypertrichosis, multiple skeletal anomalies, and cardiac and renal malformations. Craniofacial abnormalities of this syndrome sometimes resemble a storage or metabolic disease. The pathogenesis of the disease remains unknown. The objective of this report was to emphasize the importance of congenital bilateral hydronephrosis for the diagnosis of Schinzel-Giedion syndrome. We describe the first Brazilian case of a newborn with typical facies, generalized hypertrichosis, cardiac and skeletal anomalies, and bilateral hydronephrosis detected during pregnancy and confirmed later by abdominal ultrasonography. Chromosomal constitution was normal. Of the 35 cases already reported in the literature, 31 presented hydronephrosis, which is considered an important clue in diagnosis. If Schinzel-Giedion syndrome were indexed as a cause of congenital hydronephrosis, its identification would be greatly facilitated, since the majority of the other findings in Schinzel-Giedion syndrome are nonspecific and common to many genetic syndromes.

Vivências do Quotidiano do Hospital Real de Todos-os-Santos (Lisboa) : os contextos do poço SE do claustro NE

As intervenções arqueológicas concretizadas entre 1999-2001 permitiram o reconhecimento de contextos referentes ao Hospital Real de Todos-os-Santos, nomeadamente o claustro NE, bem como uma estrutura hidráulica no seu perímetro interno. A identificação do espólio cerâmico e vítreo aqui descartado permite, numa primeira fase, a aferição cronológica e tipológica destes e, consequentemente, do perfil funcional (utilitário, de cozinha e medicinal), numa tentativa de padronização do conjunto arte factual no edifício hospitalar e na cidade de Lisboa. Num segundo estágio, pretendese obter uma leitura concreta no que concerne ao período de utilização desta estrutura, indo de encontro às distintas áreas a vigorar no espaço claustral.

Análise faciológica e estratigráfica da planície costeira de Soure (margem leste da ilha de Marajó-PA), no trecho compreendido entre o canal do Cajuúna e o estuário Paracauari

A planície costeira de Soure, na margem leste da ilha de Marajó (Pará), é constituída por áreas de acumulação lamosa e arenosa, de baixo gradiente, sujeitas a processos gerados por marés e ondas. Suas feições morfológicas são caracterizadas por planícies de maré, estuários, canais de maré e praias-barreiras. A análise faciológica e estratigráfica de seis testemunhos a vibração, com profundidade média de 4 m, e de afloramentos de campo permitiu a caracterização dos ambientes deposicionais, sua sucessão temporal e sua correlação lateral, a elaboração de seções estratigráficas e a definição de uma coluna estratigráfica. Foram identificadas cinco associações de facies: (1) facies de planície de maré, (2) facies de manguezal, (3) facies de barra de canal de maré, (4) facies de praia e (5) facies de duna. A história sedimentar da planície costeira de Soure é representada por duas sucessões estratigráficas: (1) a sucessão progradacional, constituída pelas associações de facies de planície de maré, manguezal e barra de canal de maré; e (2) a sucessão retrogradacional, formada pelas associações de facies de praia e de duna. Essas sucessões retratam uma fase de expansão das planícies de maré e manguezais, com progradação da linha de costa (Holoceno médio a superior), e uma posterior fase de retrogradação, com migração dos ambientes de praias e dunas sobre depósitos lamosos de manguezal e planície de maré, no Holoceno atual. A história deposicional da planície costeira de Soure é condizente com o modelo de evolução holocênica das planícies costeiras do nordeste paraense.

Características sedimentares fluviais associadas ao grau de reservação da mata Ciliar - Rio Urumajó, Nordeste Paraense

Os rios são os agentes mais importantes no transporte dos sedimentos para as áreas mais baixas dos continentes e para o mar. Além dos efeitos diretos do clima local, a cobertura vegetal atua no controle da descarga e no suprimento de sedimentos. Sendo assim, o presente trabalho enfoca o padrão de distribuição granulométrica do rio Urumajó (nordeste paraense) em relação ao estado de preservação da mata ciliar. Cinco estações (A-E) foram estabelecidas de forma a registrar um transecto da nascente à foz do rio. Nessas estações, procedeu-se com a caracterização da mata ciliar, bem como do seu grau de preservação. Além disto, elaborou-se um perfil transversal ao canal para cada estação, com coleta de cinco amostras de sedimentos em cada perfil. Estes foram submetidos à análise granulométrica, que resultou na obtenção de valores da média, mediana, seleção, assimetria e curtose. Com os resultados foi possível reconhecer as características sedimentares normais do rio, onde areia média é a principal classe granulométrica transportada. Foram observadas nas estações A e C a clara tendência das amostras serem moderadamente bem selecionadas e aproximadamente simétricas, com dominância absoluta de areia média, o que está diretamente relacionado ao seu bom estado de preservação. Significativas variações granulométricas nas estações B, D e E foram associadas com o processo erosivo das margens do rio, conseqüência da degradação da mata ciliar. Além disso, foi constatada a influência das correntes de maré na sedimentologia da estação E, subsidiando também a delimitação do ambiente estuarino que se encontra associado ao canal fluvial.

Mineralogical and geochemical influences on sediment color of Amazon wetlands analyzed by visible spectrophotometry

Based on sedimentological and geochemical data, this work relates spectrophotometric measurements with sediment composition and its application in palaeoecological studies of Amazon wetlands. The CIELAB values are directly related to mineralogical and chemical composition, mostly involving quartz, iron oxyhydroxides and sulfides (e.g. pyrite), and total organic carbon. Total organic carbon contents between 0.4-1%, 1-2%, 3-5% and 15-40% were related to L* (lightness) data of 27, 26-15, 7-10 and 7 or less, respectively. The CIELAB values of a deposit in Marabá, Pará, were proportional to variations in quartz and total organic carbon contents, but changes in zones of similar color, mainly in the +a* (red) and +b* (yellow) values of deposits in Calçoene, Amapá and Soure, Pará, indicate a close relationship between total organic carbon content and iron oxyhydroxides and sulfides. Furthermore, the Q7/4 diagram (ratio between the % re?ectance value at 700 nm to that at 400 nm, coupled with L*) indicated iron-rich sediments in the bioturbated mud facies of the Amapá deposit, bioturbated mud and bioturbated sand facies of Soure deposit, and cross-laminated sand and massive sand facies of the Marabá core. Also, organic-rich sediments were found in the bioturbated mud facies of the Amapá deposit, lenticular heterolithic and bioturbated mud facies of the Soure deposit, and laminated mud and peat facies of the Marabá deposit. At the Marabá site, the data suggest an autochthonous influence with peat formation. The coastal wetland sites at Marajó and Amapá represent the development of a typical tidal flat setting with sulfide and iron oxyhydroxides formation during alternated flooding and drying.