Geophysical evidence of crustal-heterogeneity control of fault growth in the Neocomian Iguatu basin, NE Brazil

Influence of Neoproterozoic tectonic fabric on the origin of the Potiguar Basin, northeastern Brazil and its links with West Africa based on gravity and magnetic data

“…2). De Castro et al (2007Castro et al ( , 2008 outlined the influence of crustal heterogeneity on the development of the half-graben features in the Rio do Peixe and Iguatu basins. This control was also present during the geodynamic evolution of the Potiguar basin.…”

“…Firstly, several studies have tried to unravel the influence of crustal heterogeneities in the structural control of rift basins (e.g., Cartwright et al, 1995;Cordani et al, 1984Cordani et al, , 2010De Castro et al, 2008;Peacock and Sanderson, 1991;Walsh et al, 2002). Mechanical anisotropies in the crust, such as lithological variations and preexisting tectonic fabric, have been found to have played a fundamental role in the accommodation of brittle reactivation (Vauchez et al, 1998).…”

Neotectonics in the northern equatorial Brazilian margin

“…Hence, the Andes were formed by subduction of the oceanic crusts of Nasca and Antarctic plates below the South America continental plate. Pre-Andean orogenies in this region occurred since the Proterozoic, but the uplift of the modern Andes started in the Triassic with the Pangea break-up (e.g., Castro et al, 2008). Estimated uplifts were only of 1.3 km between 15 and 20 Ma (Gregory-Wodzicki, 2000) and <2 km at 10 Ma (Gregory-Wodzicki et al, 1998).…”

Geological Setting: The Borborema Province

“…Along the Jaguaribe valley, the Iguatu-Malhada Vermelha-Icó-Lima Campos group consists of NE-trending shallow half grabens, 5-20-km wide, with listric normal faults on their SE sides. Controlled, as the Potiguar basin, by reactivated basement shear zones (De Castro et al 2008), they are filled with Neocomian continental conglomerates, sandstones, siltstones, shales, and rythmites (Matos 1992). To the east, the Pereiro horst zone, including a narrow NE-trending graben (Icózinho), separates them from the Rio do Peixe basin.…”