Assembling West Gondwana in the Neoproterozoic: Clues from the São Francisco craton region, Brazil

Research Article| April 01, 2001 Assembling West Gondwana in the Neoproterozoic: Clues from the São Francisco craton region, Brazil Fernando F. Alkmim; Fernando F. Alkmim 1Departamento de Geologia, Escola de Minas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG 35.400, Brazil Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stephen Marshak; Stephen Marshak 2Department of Geology, University of Illinois, 1301 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Marco A. Fonseca Marco A. Fonseca 3Departamento de Geologia, Escola de Minas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG 35.400, Brazil Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Fernando F. Alkmim 1Departamento de Geologia, Escola de Minas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG 35.400, Brazil Stephen Marshak 2Department of Geology, University of Illinois, 1301 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA Marco A. Fonseca 3Departamento de Geologia, Escola de Minas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG 35.400, Brazil Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 15 Jun 2000 Revision Received: 05 Dec 2000 Accepted: 15 Dec 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2001) 29 (4): 319–322. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)0292.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 15 Jun 2000 Revision Received: 05 Dec 2000 Accepted: 15 Dec 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Fernando F. Alkmim, Stephen Marshak, Marco A. Fonseca; Assembling West Gondwana in the Neoproterozoic: Clues from the São Francisco craton region, Brazil. Geology 2001;; 29 (4): 319–322. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)0292.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The São Francisco craton, which consists of Archean and Paleoproterozoic basement, now forms eastern Brazil; it once was at the center of West Gondwana. Distinct Neoproterozoic Brasiliano (Pan-African) orogenic belts border the craton's margins. Crosscutting relationships among these belts, along with stratigraphic features of the cover in the craton's interior, provide constraints on the sequence of collisions leading to the assembly of West Gondwana. The earliest collision involved the São Francisco–Congo and Rio de la Plata cratons and resulted in the formation of the Southern Brasília belt. Next came the closure of the Brazilide ocean by collision between the São Francisco–Congo and Amazonia cratons. This event produced the Northern Brasília belt, which now defines the northwest side of the São Francisco craton. An intracontinental rift, which merged southward with a narrow sea, once was between the São Francisco and Congo cratons; closure of this rift and sea led to the formation of the Araçuaí and West Congo orogen, and to the southwestward extrusion of the Ribeira belt. Continued convergence of Amazonia against the São Francisco–Congo craton caused the eastward extrusion of the Borborema province. The final stage of West Gondwana assembly closed a basin between the Rio de la Plata and Amazonia cratons and created the Paraguai belt. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.