Evolution of the São Paulo Plateau (southeastern Brazilian margin) and implications for the early history of the South Atlantic

Abstract

Research Article| March 01, 1979 Evolution of the São Paulo Plateau (southeastern Brazilian margin) and implications for the early history of the South Atlantic NARESH KUMAR; NARESH KUMAR 1Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar L.A.P. GAMBÔA L.A.P. GAMBÔA 2Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964 and Department of Geological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information NARESH KUMAR 1Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964 L.A.P. GAMBÔA 2Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964 and Department of Geological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1979) 90 (3): 281–293. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1979)90<281:EOTSPP>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation NARESH KUMAR, L.A.P. GAMBÔA; Evolution of the São Paulo Plateau (southeastern Brazilian margin) and implications for the early history of the South Atlantic. GSA Bulletin 1979;; 90 (3): 281–293. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1979)90<281:EOTSPP>2.0.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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The São Paulo Plateau is a prominent marginal plateau in the southeastern Brazilian margin. Its surface displays a rough morphology either because of diapiric structures that have pierced and/or domed the overlying sediments or because of outcrops of igneous basement rocks. The plateau is bounded to the north and south by fracture zones and appears to be situated on oceanic crust created between Neocomian and Aptian time. At the end of Aptian, the segment of the initial spreading center that was bounded by the fracture zones that now form the northern and southern boundaries of the plateau shifted to the east. The newly created segment of the spreading center formed the eastern boundary of the plateau.The stratigraphy of the plateau has been inferred through correlation of seismic-reflection profiles with the drilling data from Deep Sea Drilling Project site 356, located on the southeastern corner of the plateau. We have attempted a comparison of the sedimentary facies of the plateau with those of the Santos Basin, a shelf basin located adjacent to the plateau. A continuous evaporitic layer of Aptian age extends from the basin to the plateau. In Albian time, shallow-platform limestone was deposited in the basin, while open-marine limestone was deposited on the plateau. Coarse conglomerates were deposited in the basin during Turonian-Coniacian time, whereas distal turbidites were contemporaneously deposited on the plateau. A major transgression in Maestrichtian time trapped the terrigenous sediments within the Santos Basin and halted terrigenous sedimentation on the plateau. Cenozoic sediments in both areas are open marine. The sedimentary history of the Santos Basin and the São Paulo Plateau thus suggests that the two regions have been structurally continuous at least since Late Cretaceous time. The region occupied by the plateau has acted as a depocenter and has evolved as a marginal plateau since the termination of evaporitic deposition in the South Atlantic. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.