Thais Vargas

Brecha tectônica da área de Cabo Frio - RJ, intrudida por dique máfico do Eocretáceo: evidência do tectonismo rúptil do Pan-Africano?

This paper presents the field descriptions and microscopic observations of a tectonic breccia in the basement gneiss of the Cabo Frio and Arraial do Cabo areas, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and its intrusive contact with the Early Cretaceous mafic dyke. At the sea cliff close to the Ilha do Japones, there is an excellent contact outcrop between them. The tectonic breccia zone is 10 to 20m wide and has N30oE direction. The breccia clasts are angular and characterized by auto-brecciation texture, and composed of breccia with similar aspect of the host tectonic breccia. The matrix is firmly consolidated by hydrothermalism and following silicification. The mafic dyke is 7 to 10m wide and of N45oE direction. Along the contact, the dyke chilled margin featured by fine-grained basalt and prismatic joints can be observed. At the Conchas Beach and Arraial do Cabo city, there are four outcrops demonstrating the mafic dyke intrusion into the consolidated tectonic breccias. These outcrops prove that the tectonic breccias are older than the Early Cretaceous tholeiitic dykes. The fault breccias could have been formed during the brittle-phase tectonism of the last stage of the Pan-African Orogeny by hydrothermalism without magmatic activities, namely tectonic hydrothermalism. The existence of the clasts constituent of the breccia that are composed of breccia suggests that the fault movement and following hydrothermalism occurred repeatedly.

The pyroclastic dyke and welded crystal tuff of the Morro dos Gatos alkaline intrusive complex, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The present article reports the geologic, lithologic, and petrographic characteristics of the pyroclastic dyke and phenocryst-rich welded crystal tuff of the Morro dos Gatos alkaline intrusive body, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The intrusive complex has an extension of 1.2 x 0.8 km occupying an area of 0.5 km2. It is constituted mainly by monzonite and trachyte. At the south flank of the massif, there exits a pyroclastic dyke and at the northwest flank, an intrusive welded crystal tuff. The pyroclastic dyke is 40 to 80 cm wide and intrudes into the basement porphyritic granite. This rock is constituted by welded tuff breccia with large amount of lapilli-size angular lithic fragments of trachyte. Along the contact plane of this dyke, there is an intercalation of the trachyte. The crystal tuff is characterised by abundant alkaline feldspar phenocrysts and mineral fragments of alkaline feldspar, quartz, biotite, and amphibole, showing a crystal matrix-supported texture. Large phenocrysts are aggregations of idiomorphic alkaline feldspar crystals with a general size of 2 mm and a maximum one of 6 mm. The matrix is composed mainly of mineral fragments of less than 1 mm in general size. The size-frequency diagram for the mineral fragments suggests that they have been originated from an explosive eruption. The matrix is strongly welded and completely devitrified showing a cryptocrystalline texture. The crystals were concentrated by sorting with the help of the volcanic gas ascending in the volcanic conduit during a continuous and effusive phase of the eruption. The limited special distribution of the pyroclastic rocks and small outcrop size indicate that they are not constituent of pyroclastic flow deposits, but of subvolcanic conduit and fissure.

Quantitative colour analyses using digital specification technique for Mármore Bege Bahia, a representative Brazilian ornamental limestone of breccia-like texture

Os autores realizaram ensaios com base em especificacoes digitais de cores em rocha total e em pontos com o auxilio de scanner, computador e Wilbur, um software original para analises quantitativas de cores, para Marmore Bege Bahia, um calcario ornamental com textura brechoide explotado na regiao centro-norte da Bahia. Essa rocha e caracterizada pela cor amarela clara (B=83.4), vivida (S=10.8), relativamente homogenea (s(H)=3.9; s(B)=6.5), tendendo ligeiramente a cor de laranja (H=35.8). A variacao das cores e limitada em 10% em clareza e as cores projetadas no diagrama SB (saturacao-clareza) apresentam uma configuracao linear, com taxa de declinacao -1.6. Esse fenomeno e comum em minerais com clivagem altamente desenvolvidas e atribuido a reflexao aleatoria na superficie da rocha ou reflexao subsuperficial dentro do mineral de calcita. Os blocos desse calcario extraidos a partir das pedreiras comumente contem numerosas cavidades e a tecnica de preenchimento por resina e frequentemente aplicada. Dessa forma, recomenda-se que as cores da resina sejam adequadamente ajustadas conforme a configuracao linear acima citada para que a rocha remendada tenha aspecto visual proximo ao natural.

Terremoto fóssil evidenciado pela brecha tectônica silicificada da área de Cabo Frio, RJ, e sua relação com a gênese do movimento intermitente da falha e o hidrotermalismo amagmático associado

This paper shows present the present state of the geologic and petrographic studies of the silicified tectonic breccia in the Cabo Frio area, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Based on the results, the authors propose a model for the stick-slip fault displacement. The tectonic breccia zones are 50 cm to 20 m wide and of NE-SW general strike. They are cut by early Cretaceous mafic dykes. The clasts are angular and characterized by auto-brecciation texture. The matrix is firmly consolidated by the silicification with the dissemination of hematite, carbonates, and sericite. The breccia zones are distributed randomly in a wade area of the State of Rio de Janeiro. This observation affirms that the silicification cannot be related to the local magmatism of Cretaceous to early Cenozoic alkaline intrusions. An alternative idea is the hydrothermalism originated form geothermal gradient. According to the normal continental geothermal gradient, of 25 to 30oC/km, the temperature attributed to the depth from 6 to 8 km is 180 to 220oC. In this condition, the H2O present there behaves as hydrothermal liquid. This type of hydrothermalism, without participation of magmas, is called amagmatic hydrothermalism. When a earthquake occurs, a cataclastic zone is formed. The surface water migrated down through it and arrived at the depth of 6 to 8 km transforms into amagmatic hydrothermal liquid. According to the stress adjustment and consequent accommodation of the crustal rock blocks, the hydrothermal liquid is compressed and forced to rise up along the cataclastic zone. During the ascension and cooling of the hydrothermal liquid, the cataclastic zone is silicified and consolidated. The silicified tectonic breccia observed in the studied area can represent this phenomenon which took place in the geologic time. By means of the silicification and consolidation, the fault plane transforms form a weak zone into a mechanically firm zone. This transformation enables the accumulation of tectonic energy in form of elastic deformation. That is, during and just after the earthquake, the fault plane is a weak zone. However, in the period between earthquakes it is a firm zone. The clasts of the fault breccia are composed of silicified cataclastic rock. This observation indicates that the fault plane rupture and its hydrothermal consolidation took place repeatedly, which implies repeated earthquakes along the same fault. The authors propose this process as an additional mechanism for stick-slip movement of the faults. The amagmatic hydrothermalism can be a geologic representation of asperity. It is a seismologic conception that corresponds to the specific locality on the fault plane in which the fault movement is stagnated and tectonic energy is accumulated in form of elastic deformation. A new earthquake occurs by means of asperity rupture.

Geochemical behaviour of trace elements during fractional crystallization and crustal assimilation of the felsic alkaline magmas of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This paper presents geochemical behaviour of trace elements of the felsic alkaline rocks of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with special attention of fractional crystallization and continental crust assimilation. Fractionation of leucite and K-feldspar increases Rb/K and decreases K2O/(K2O+Na2O). Primitive nepheline syenite magmas have low Zr/TiO2, Sr, and Ba. On the Nb/Y vs. Zr/TiO2 diagram, these rocks are projected on the field of alkaline basalt, basanite, and nephelinite, instead of phonolite. Well-fractionated peralkaline nepheline syenite has high Zr/TiO2 but there are no zircon. The diagrams of silica saturation index (SSI) distinguish the trends originated form fractional crystallization and crustal assimilation. In the field of SSI<-200, Zr/TiO2 and Ba/Sr have negative correlations to SSI in consequence of fractional crystallization. In the field of SSI>-200, they show positive correlations due to continental crust assimilation. Total REEs (Rare Earth Elements) is nearly 10 times that of granitic rocks, but LaN/SmN and LaN/YbN are similar. REE trend is linear and Eu anomaly is irrelevant. The pegmatitic liquid generated by country rock partial melting is SiO2-oversaturated and peraluminous with high Ba, Sr, Ba/Sr, Zr/TiO2, and SSI, with high content of fluids. This model justifies the peraluminous and SiO2-oversaturated composition of the rocks with relevant effects of continental crust assimilation.

Cristalização fracionada e assimilação da crosta continental pelos magmas de rochas alcalinas félsicas do estado do Rio de Janeiro

This paper presents a general model for the magmatic evolution for the felsic alkaline rocks of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The rocks are meta-alkaline nepheline syenite, alkaline syenite, phonolite, and trachyte of potassic and ultrapotassic series. The compositional variation diagrams indicate the fractionation crystallisation of clinopyroxene, amphibole, titanite, ilmenite, and apatite. The magmatic fractionation for the mafic and intermediate alkaline rocks is characterised by the crystallisation of leucita and alkaline feldspar, and for the felsic alkaline rocks, of leucita and alkaline feldspar. By means of fractionation crystallisation, the felsic alkaline magma changes its composition from meta-alkaline to peralkaline and from potassic to sodic. The SSI diagram (silica saturation index) for the felsic alkaline rocks presents a linear trend crossing over the thermal divide, pointing out a strong effect of continental crust assimilation. The magmatic evolution occurs in three stages: 1) Leucite crystallisation; 2) Alkaline feldspar and nepheline crystallisation; 3) Continental crust assimilation and consequent transformation of the silica-undersaturated composition into oversaturated one. The assimilation rate is high, reaching up to 54%. The assimilation events took place during the Stage 2, which suggests magma super-reheating and consequent wall rock partial melting, proposing the origin of alkaline syenite and trachyte magmas of thermodynamically unstable composition.

Geology of Martin Vaz Island, South Atlantic, Brazil

Martin Vaz Island is one of the oceanic islands of the homonym archipelago linked to the Vitoria-Trindade volcanic seamount ridge, an important South Atlantic physiographic feature. It is located at 20°28′28″S latitude and 28°51′05″W longitude, approximately 1200 km away from the Brazilian coast. Its geology is an important preserved indicator of Pleistocene alkaline volcanic activities. This work presents lithologic mapping and microscopic observations of Martin Vaz Island rocks. The geological map was developed and prepared at the 1:5000 scale using Esri ArcGIS. Some geological features and structures can be highlighted: two necks, several phonolite dykes and sub-horizontal layers formed by phonolitic pyroclastic rocks and basanites.

Exumação das Rochas Mantélicas no Arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo, Oceano Atlântico Equatorial, e sua Implicação na Possível Geração de Hidrocarbonetos Abiogenéticos por Serpentinização

This paper presents the mantle rock exhumation at Saint Peter and Saint Paul Islets, Equatorial Atlantic Ocean, and its implication to possible generation of abiogenic hydrocarbons by serpentinization. In Saint Paul transform fault zone, there are two contrasting tectonic processes for mantle exhumation: Extension at amagmatic spreading centre and compression along a pressure ridge. On the ocean bottom, the ultramafic rocks of exhumed mantle react chemically with sea-water generating heat and abiogenic hydrocarbons, the phenomenon called serpentinisation. The amagmatic spreading with megamullion formation occurs along inter-transform ridge segments. The ultramafic rocks are originated from uppermost mantle and have advanced serpentinisation and little expressive plastic deformation. The olivine porphyroblasts show brittle fracturing. On the other hand, the pressure-ridge occurs along the transform fault span where the fault directions and relative plate motion are oblique. Due to the direction discordance, the strike-slip movement of the transform fault generates compression stress perpendicular to the fault. This stress squeezes out the underlying deep mantle from the ductile deformation depth up to the Earths surface. The pressure ridge at Saint Peter and Saint Paulo Islet, namely Brachiosaurus Ridge, is the only confirmed example of mantle exhumation above sea level in Atlantic Ocean. The mantle rocks have little expressive serpentinisation and extremely developed plastic deformation, showing mylonitic texture. The porphyroclasts and matrix show either brittle fracturing or plastic deformation.