Structural analysis of the Rio Pardo Group: southeast of Bahia state

Abstract

The Meso- to Neoproterozoic Rio Pardo Group is located in the southeastern region of the Bahia State and consists of low-grade metasedimentary rocks deposited on Paleoproterozoic to Archean basement. From the base to the top, the metasedimentary rocks are grouped into the following sequences: Panelinha Formation consisting of coarse-grained immature clastics; the overlying Itaimbé Subgroup which is made up of the Camacã Formation (metapelites with local carbonates), the Água Preta Formation (fine-grained metapsamites and local carbonate lenses), Serra do Paraíso Formation (metacarbonates and quartzites) and the Santa Maria Eterna Formation (metaconglomerates and metacarbonates). The Salobro Formation was deposited unconformably on this sequence and consists of coarse-grained immature and local finegrained clastic rocks. The Rio Pardo Group was affected by three successive folding events, which were recorded in two litho-structural units. The litho-structural unit 1 is located in the northeastern part of the basin, and the litho-structural unit 2, in the southwestern part of the basin. These units are separated by the Rio Pardo-Água Preta inverse fault, trending NW-SE and dipping SW. The first unit is autochthonous and monophasic and displays open folds and slaty cleavage, changing gradually towards southwest into large overturned folds with axial plane schistosity. The second unit is polyphasic and shows large folds with NE vergence. A third folding is represented by folds and foliations present at the western margin of the basin. The NE vergence of the Rio Pardo Group can be explained by changes in the deformation regime and in the direction of the principal axis of deformation in the north sector of the Araçuaí belt during the Brasiliano collision orogen. The tectonic transport to the north could be the cause of deformation of the Rio Pardo Group.