Depositional setting and U-Pb detrital record of rift-related deposits in the Moeda Formation (Minas Supergroup) at the Gandarela and Ouro Fino synclines, Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Brazil

Abstract

The Moeda Formation (Caraça Group, base of Minas Supergroup) registers the initial rift stages of the Minas Basin in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Southern São Francisco craton, SE-Brazil. We present stratigraphic and U-Pb detrital zircon dating analyses of the Moeda Formation that contribute to the comprehension of its sedimentary evolution in the southernmost Gandarela and Ouro Fino synclines (Central-Eastern Quadrilátero Ferrifero). The Moeda Formation sequence consists of a basal proximal alluvial fan with clast-supported conglomerates, grading upward into an alluvial floodplain with quartz arenites, and upper massive sandstones from distal fluvial fans. Because the Moeda Formation is normally limited by similar lithologies at both its base (Nova Lima Group, Rio das Velhas Supergroup) and top (Batatal Formation, uppermost Caraça Group) and stratigraphic inversion has occurred in the study area, U-Pb detrital zircon dating was also extended to these units to differentiate them stratigraphically. The youngest clusters of detrital zircon ages in the Nova Lima Group and Moeda and Batatal formations were 2716, 2777 and 2786 Ma, respectively. Based on our data and relevant literature, the depositional age of the Moeda Formation was interpreted as between 2716 and 2520 Ma with the Mesoarchean continental crust, the Rio das Velhas Supergroup and the Archean TTG complexes as its main source areas.