IGCP Project No. 381 
Dear Colleague,
This issue of SAMC News presents an update of project research
activities worldwide, with the reports of research activities (October
1997-September 1998) from national representatives, regional coordinators
and working group chairmen (see p. 12).
Also included is information about forthcoming meetings related to
SAMC, such as:
• Fourth Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC IV), Serra
Negra, SP, Brazil, 29/08-2/09/1999;
• XVI Brazilian Paleontological Congress, Crato, Ceará,
1-7/08/1999;
• VII International Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems,
Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 1999;
The next issue of SAMC News will have the reports of the SAMC meetings
in Rio de Janeiro (8-11 November 1998: 1998 AAPG International Conference
and Exhibition, IGCP 381 Poster Session), and Comodoro Rivadavia (17-20
November 1998: SAMC III Conference), with the technical contributions that
have been presented.
SAMC News is abstracted and/or indexed in Petroleum Abstracts
(Tulsa, Oklahoma; http://www.pa.utulsa.edu/),
GeoArchive and GeoSearch (Oxon, UK).
Project Leaders:
Eduardo A. M. KOUTSOUKOS - PETROBRAS-CENPES/DIVEX/SEBIPE, Cidade Universitária,
Quadra 7, 21949-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL. Tel.: +55-(0)21-5986417
or 5986440, fax: 2803318, e-mail: koutsoukos@cenpes.petrobras.com.br
Peter BENGTSON - Geologisch-Paläontologisches Institut der Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 234, D-69120 Heidelberg, GERMANY. Tel.: +49-6221-548293, fax: 548640 or 545503, e-mail: Peter.Bengtson@urz.uni-heidelberg.de
"IGCP is interdisciplinary, covering all specialities of geology, geophysics and geochemistry. IGCP maintains active interfaces with disciplines related to the geological sciences such as marine sciences, atmospheric sciences and biological sciences."
Editor of SAMC News:
E. A. M. Koutsoukos (Rio de Janeiro)
SAMC-Net
An electronic mailing list "SAMC-Net" through listserv@vm.urz.uni-heidelberg.de
is permanently available for on-line discussions among project participants.
Contacts and further information:
If you are interested in participating in SAMC please send the enclosed
registration form or contact (letter or e-mail) E. Koutsoukos, P. Bengtson
or the SAMC Secretariat (addresses below) giving name and full address,
telephone, fax, e-mail address, main research interests and, if you wish,
a short account of current research related to SAMC.
• Regional coordinators and national representatives for IGCP Project 381 (October 1998)
• IGCP Project 381 Thematic Working Groups and Chairmen
• South Atlantic Index Fossil Species: Systematics, Biostratigraphy and Palaeoecology
• SAMC - Thematic and Symposium Volumes
• Fourth Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC III), to be held in conjunction with the 5th Symposium on the Brazilian Cretaceous and First Symposium on the Cretaceous of South America, São Paulo, August 1999
• Forthcoming meetings related to IGCP Project 381 :
• Outline of next project meetings (SAMC Annual Conferences and Regional Meetings)
• Recently Published Contributions to IGCP Project 381
• Reports of Research Activities (October 1997-September
1998)
• IGCP Project 381 Research Activities in Brazil
• Department of Geology, University of Buenos Aires Research Group
• Centro Austral de Investigaciones Cientificas (CADIC), Ushuaia, Argentina
• IGCP Project 381 research activities at the British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, U.K.
• IGCP Project 381 research activities in the U.K.
• IGCP Project 381 research activities in Colombia
• IGCP Project 381 research activities in Cuba
• IGCP Project research activities in the U.S.A.
• Department of Marine Geology, Götenbourg University, Sweden
• IGCP Project 381: Report on relevant research activities at LPP Foundation, The Netherlands
• Changes of address and amendments
For English-speaking participants:
Márcio R. MELO - PETROBRAS-CENPES, Cidade Universitária,
Quadra 7, 21949-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL. Tel: +55-21-5986460, fax:
5986799, e-mail: marcio@cenpes.petrobras.com.br
Nick R. CAMERON (Correspondent Secretary) - Dept. of Geology, Royal
School of Mines, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BP,
UK. Tel.:/fax: +44-1494-776850 (NEW), e-mail: nick.cameron@ic.ac.uk
or nick@topaz.primex.co.uk
For French-speaking participants:
Mitsuru ARAI - PETROBRAS-CENPES, Cidade Universitária, Quadra
7, 21949-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL. Tel.: +55-21-5986452, fax: 5986795,
e-mail: arai@cenpes.petrobras.com.br
Responsible for liaison among participants, for disseminating information about the progress of the project and forthcoming meetings, for stimulating and coordinating research in their fields of expertise, and for reporting national research activities related to SAMC.
ANGOLA: Mário Gil Pereira BRANDÃO -
SONANGOL, P.O. Box 3506, 1000 Luanda, Angola.
Tel.: +244 2 36-1681 (home), fax: +244-233-5426.
ARGENTINA: Eduardo A. MUSACCHIO - Universidad Nacional
de La Patagonia, Ciudad Universitaria km 4, 9000 Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut,
ARGENTINA. Tel./fax: +54-97-550339, e-mail: aldo@unpbib.edu.ar
Eduardo B. OLIVERO - Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas
(CADIC), Av. Malvinas Argentinas s/n , C.C. 92, 9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del
Fuego, ARGENTINA. Tel.: +54-901-22 310/312, fax: 30644, e-mail: eolivero@satlink.com
BRAZIL: Eduardo A. M. KOUTSOUKOS - PETROBRAS-CENPES, Cidade
Universitária, 21949-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL.
Tel. +55-(0)21-5986417 or 5986440, fax: 2803318
or 5986795, e-mail: koutsoukos@cenpes.petrobras.com.br
Peter SZATMARI - PETROBRAS-CENPES/Divex, Cidade Universitária,
21949-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL.
Tel.: +55-(0)21-5986435, fax: 5986792,
e-mail: szatmari@cenpes.petrobras.com.br
COLOMBIA: Luis VERGARA - Ingeominas, Universidad
Nacional de Colombia, A.A. 5997, Bogotá, COLOMBIA.
fax: +57-1-3681326/2220797, e-mail: lvergara@ciencias.campus.unal.edu.co
CUBA: Jorge R. SANCHEZ-ARANGO - Centro de Investigaciones del Petróleo (CEINPET), Washington No. 169, Esquina a Churruca - Cerro, La Habana 12000, CUBA. Tel.: +53-7- 408900, 411132, fax: +53-7- 333072, 338027
EGYPT: Mohamed I.A. IBRAHIM - Faculty of Science, Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Alexandria University, Moharram Bay 21511, Alexandria, EGYPT. (Current address: Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Qatar, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar, e-mail: M.Ibrahim@qu.edu.qa)
FRANCE: Edwige MASURE (Correspondante Française
pour le PICG 381) - Laboratoire de Micropaleontologie, Département
de Géologie Sédimentaire, URA 1761, Université P.
& M. CURIE, 4 PLACE Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, FRANCE.
Tél. : +33- 44 27 49 87, fax. +33- 44 27 38 31,
e-mail: edmasure@ccr.jussieu.fr
Ivan de KLASZ - “La Verdiane”, 74 Av. du Mont Alban, F-06300
Nice, FRANCE. Tel.: +33-93-268843, fax:
894820
GERMANY: Peter BENGTSON - Geologisch-Paläontologisches Institut der Universität Heidelberg,, D-69120 Heidelberg, GERMANY. Tel.: +49-6221-548293, fax: 548640 or 545503, e-mail: Peter.Bengtson@urz.uni-heidelberg.de
GHANA: Lawrence APAALSE - Ghana National Petroleum
Corporation (GNPC), PMB, Tema, GHANA.
Tel.: +233 21 712930, fax: +233 21 712916,
e-mail: gnpcexplo@ncs.com.gh
IVORY COAST: Victor N'DA LOUKOU (Coordinateur national au niveau de la Côte d'Ivoire) - Société Nationale d'Opérations Pétrolières (PETROCI), B.P.V. 194, Abidjan, IVORY COAST. Tel.: 221-466820 or 466816, fax: 221-216824
SWEDEN: Joen WIDMARK - Marine Geology, Earth Science Centre, Göteborg University, 41381 Göteborg, SWEDEN. Tel.+46-31-773 44 70, fax +46-31-773 49 03, e-mail: joen@gvc.gu.se / joen@marine-geology.gu.se
UNITED KINGDOM: Kenneth Thomson (UK national correspondent)
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Durham, Durham DH1 3LE,
UK. Tel.: +44-191-374-4784, fax: 374-2510, e-mail: Kenneth.Thomson@durham.ac.uk
Alistair CRAME - British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley
Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK.
Tel.: +44-1223-251443, fax: 62616,
e-mail: jacr@pcmail.nerc-bas.ac.uk
U.S.A. : Thomas W. DIGNES - Chevron Overseas Petroleum, Inc., 6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd., P.O. Box 5046, San Ramon, CA 94583, USA. Tel.: +1-510- 8423367, fax: 8423030, e-mail: twdi@chevron.com
VENEZUELA: Francia A. GALEA-ALVAREZ - CORPOVEN S.A., filial of P.D.V.S.A., Laboratorio Geológico, Apartado Postal 4326, Puerto La Cruz 692, VENEZUELA. Tel.: +58-81-606429, fax: +58-81-606445.
The following thematic Working Groups reflect the diversity of geological
understanding and needs within the Project area:
• Aptian/Albian and Albian/Cenomanian Stage Boundaries: E. Koutsoukos
• Cenomanian/Turonian and Turonian/Coniacian Stage Boundaries: P. Bengtson
• Coniacian/Santonian, Santonian/Campanian and Campanian/ Maastrichtian
Stage Boundaries: Eduardo Olivero (CADIC, Ushuaia, Argentina)
• Atlas of Cretaceous Carbonate Microfacies: D. Dias-Brito (IGCE-UNESP,
Brazil)
• Chemostratigraphic Correlations: René Rodriques (PETROBRAS-
CENPES)
• Cretaceous Continental Ecosystems: Ismar Carvalho (UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil)
• Dating of the First Marine Transgression: E. Koutsoukos
• K/T Boundary: E. Koutsoukos
• Biochronostratigraphy and Biogeography of Non-Marine Microfossil
Assemblages: E. Musacchio (Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia, Comodoro
Rivadavia, Argentina)
• Paleogeographical and Paleoclimatical Maps: Antonio J. Vasconcellos
Garcia (UNISINOS) and Biostratigraphic Group of PETROBRAS-CENPES
• South Atlantic Evaporites: Peter Szatmari (PETROBRAS-CENPES)
• Regional Tectonics: P. Szatmari
• Biochronostratigraphic Framework for the Mesozoic Successions: biostratigraphic
groups of EXXON and PETROBRAS-CENPES.
For additional information please contact the WGs' chairmen.
This is a long-term research programme initiated by IGCP Project 381 comprising several research working-groups on the various types of index fossils on both sides of the South Atlantic. Each WG should have a co-leader on each side of the ocean, who would, in addition to contributing, coordinate the collecting and publishing of data. The final aim would be, among others, the publishing of iconographic atlases of index fossils for the various basins. This would made possible the establishment of an integrated stratigraphic scale. The following WG's have been set:
• Mesozoic ostracodes.
Coordinator for West Africa:
Jean-Paul Colin - (ESSO Rep., Bègles)
Ray Bate (Lacustrine Basin Research, London)
Coordinators for South America:
E. Musacchio (Universidad Nacional de La Patagonia,
Comodoro Rivadavia)
Marta Cláudia Viviers and Jarbas V. P. Guzzo
(PETROBRAS-CENPES)
• Mesozoic [benthic] foraminifers.
Coordinators for South America:
E. A. M. Koutsoukos and M. C. Viviers (PETROBRAS)
Coordinator for West Africa:
Ivan de Klasz (Nice)
• Mesozoic [planktic] foraminifers.
Coordinator for West Africa: Jean-Pierre Bellier (Université
Pierre et Marie Curie)
Coordinator for Latin America: José Longoria (Florida International
University, Miami)
• Ammonites.
Coordinators:
Peter Bengtson (Heidelberg University)
Eduardo Olivero (CADIC, Ushuaia)
• Inoceramids.
Coordinators: Gregorio Lópes (Universitat Autònoma de
Barcelona)
• Calcareous nannofosils.
Coordinators: Luis C. V. Oliveira and Rogério L. Antunes (PETROBRAS)
• Palynomorphs.
Coordinators for West Africa:
Chris Denison (CHEVRON)
Mohamed Ibrahim (Alexandria University)
Coordinators for South America:
Rodolfo Dino and Mitsuru Arai (PETROBRAS)
SAMC participants wishing to work in close collaboration with any of these WG's are invited to contact directly the coordinators or the SAMC Secretariat. Suggestions are welcome.
IGCP Project 362: Tethyan and Boreal Cretaceous (TBC)
Co-leaders: Jozef Michalik (Bratislava, Slovakia) and Han Leereveld
(Utrecht, The Netherlands)
Interaction between IGCP Projects 362 and 381 is of foremost importance
to unveil the geological connections, palaeoceanographic links and biogeographic
affinities between the Cretaceous northern South Atlantic and low-latitude,
western Tethyan regions, which are common goals to both projects.
Contacts and further information:
TBC-Secretariat: M. TIEMESSEN - Laboratory of Palaeobotany and Palynology,
Budapestlaan 4, 3584 CD Utrecht, THE NETHERLANDS. Tel.: +31-30-2532629,
Fax: +31-30-2535096, E-mail: M.Tiemessen@boev.biol.ruu.nl
This thematic volume will be published in 1999 as a special issue of Cretaceous Research, with the following contributions:
Arai, M., Botelho N., J., Cunha Lana, C. & Pedrao, E.: Biogeographic
differentiation and provincialism of Cretaceous dinoflagellates in Brazilian
basins.
Bengtson, P. & Bengtson, S.: Biogeographic patterns of the ammonite
family Acanthoceratidae in the northern South Atlantic.
Carvalho, I. S.: Geological environments of dinosaur footprints in
the intracratonic basins from northeast Brazil during the South Atlantic
opening (Early Cretaceous).
Dias Brito, D.: Global stratigraphy, palaeobiogeography and palaeoecology
of Cretaceous calcispheres of the Subfamily Pithonelloideae Keupp 1987:
impact on Tethys configuration.
Dutra, T.: The Upper Cretaceous flora from King George Island, an update
of information and biogeographic value.
Goldberg, K., Garcia, A.J.V. & de Azevedo, S.A.K.: Palaeobiogeography
of Bauru Group, a dinosaur-bearing Late Cretaceous unit at northeastern
Paraná Basin, Brazil.
Koutsoukos, E.A.M. & de Klasz, I.: Late Cretaceous Foraminiferida
biogeography (Families Bolivinidae, Buliminellidae, Gavelinellidae, Siphogenerinoididae,
Turrilinidae) in low-latitude Atlantic regions: northeastern Brazilian
shelf and central West African basins.
Maisey, J.: Continental break-up and the distribution of fishes in
Western Gondwana during the Early Cretaceous.
Musacchio, E.A.: Biostratigraphy and biogeography of Cretaceous charophytes
from South America.
Olivero, E.B. & Medina, F.A.: Patterns of Late Cretaceous ammonite
biogeography in southern high latitudes: the Family Kossmaticeratidae in
Antarctica
Rosa, Á.S. & Garcia, A.J.V.: Paleobiogeographic aspects
in Berriasian times (Early Cretaceous) of northeastern Brazil, before the
Gondwana break-up.
Koutsoukos, E.A.M., Viviers, M.C. & Sliter, W.: Cretaceous biogeography
of planktonic foraminifers and palaeoceanographic events in the northern
South Atlantic.
Viviers, M.C., Koutsoukos, E.A.M., Silva-Telles Jr., A.C. & Bengtson,
P.: Late Aptian-Maastrichtian ostracodes from the Potiguar and Sergipe
basins (NE Brazil): stratigraphy and biogeographic affinities.
Widmark, J.G.V.: Biogeography of terminal Cretaceous benthic foraminifera:
deep-water circulation and trophic gradients in the deep South Atlantic.
Information: Please contact E. Koutsoukos (e-mail: koutsoukos@
cenpes.petrobras com.br) or
Prof. David J. Batten, Editor-in-Chief of Cretaceous Research,
Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Wales,
Aberystwyth SY23 3DB, Wales, UK (e-mail: dgb@aber.ac.uk)
This Symposium Volume contains the papers presented at the meeting held at the Geological Society, London, 24-26 February 1997. The book is a contribution to IGCP Project 381.
The book includes a first for the Society - the release as a CD-ROM
of Ian Davison's much admired tectonic map of the South Atlantic, showing
tectonic features and now key strat columns, play elements and reserves
for many basins. A CD-ROM format has been adopted as we believe that industry,
as well as using the map for conventional display purposes, will wish to
work the compilation into computer products.
This Thematic Volume, to be published as an AAPG Memoir, will comprise contributions from the AAPG/ABGP Joint Hedberg Research Symposium on Petroleum Systems of the South Atlantic Margins, held 16-19 November 1997 in Rio de Janeiro.
Information: Please contact Márcio Mello (marcio@cenpes.petrobras.com.br)
or Barry Katz (103021.3227@compuserve.com).
During the past year steps were taken towards publication of the contributions to the joint Regional Meeting of IGCP 381 and the Second European Meeting on the Palaeontology and Stratigraphy of South America, held in Heidelberg, 2–3 September 1997. The following 16 contributions are planned for the volume, which will be published as a thematic issue of the journal Journal of South American Earth Sciences under the title "Mesozoic Palaeontology and Stratigraphy of South America and the South Atlantic" and edited by the project leaders.
Aguilera-Franco, N. & Hernandez-Romano, U.: Biostratigraphy and
environmental change across the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary, southern
Mexico
Barragan, R.: Stratigraphic and sedimentological aspects of the Aptian
transgressive event in northeast Mexico
Bengtson, P. & Koutsoukos, E.A.M.: Biostratigraphic constraints
for correlation of the upper Aptian–Albian succession of northeastern Brazil
Bengtson, S.: The lower Cenomanian ammonite fauna of the Sergipe Basin,
Brazil: biostratigraphic and biogeographic implications
Dhondt, A.V. & Jaillard, E.: Cretaceous bivalves from Ecuador and
northern Peru
Dias-Brito, D. & Ferré, B.: Albian roveacrinids from the
Santos Basin, south-eastern Brazil
Fauth, G., Koutsoukos, E.A.M. & Bengtson, P.: Uppermost Maastrichtian
Ostracoda from the Poty Quarry section, Pernambuco-Paraíba Basin,
northeastern Brazil
Ferré, B. & Granier, B.: Albian roveacrinids from the Congo
Basin, Angola
Ferré, B., Walter, S. & Bengtson, P.: The roveacrinid contribution
to mid-Cretaceous biostratigraphy of the Sergipe Basin, north-eastern Brazil
Galea-Alvarez, F.A., Arnstein, R., Canache, M., Carrillo, M., Carvajal,
H., Crespo de Cabrera, S., Furrer, M., Giffuni, M., Odehnal, M., Pittelli,
R., Truskowski, I., de Romero, L., Falcón, R. and Sliter, W.V.:
Distribution of Cretaceous planktonic foraminifers in Venezuela: preliminary
results
Garcia, A.J.V., da Rosa, A.A.S. & Goldberg, K.: Paleoenvironmental
and paleoclimatic control on early diagenetic processes and the fossil
record in continental Cretaceous sandstones of Brazil
Gayet, M.: A review of problems associated with the occurrences of
fossil vertebrates in South America
Ibrahim, M.I.A., Aboul Ela, N.M. & Kholeif, S.: Palynostratigraphic
correlation of the Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous subsurface sequence of north
Eastern Desert, Egypt and corresponding sequences of the South Atlantic
margins
Jaillard, E., Bengtson, P. & Dhondt, A.V.: Late Cretaceous stratigraphy
and evolution of the Oriente and Celica-Lancones basins of Ecuador and
northern Peru - a synthesis
Pletsch, T.: Opening of the Equatorial Atlantic - A critical review
and new data from ODP Leg 159
Walter, S. & Herrmann, A.: Microfacies analysis of the Cenomanian–Turonian
transition in the Japaratuba area, Sergipe Basin, north-eastern Brazil
Manuscripts are now being submitted and sent out for review. It is estimated that the volume will appear in mid-1999.
Information: Please contact P. Bengtson (Peter.Bengtson@urz.uni-heidelberg.de)
or E.A.M. Koutsoukos (koutsoukos@ cenpes.petrobras.com.br)
The 1999 meeting (SAMC IV) was planned to be held in Africa, in Marrakech, Morocco, April 1999. However, due to difficulties in the organization it was transferred to be held in Serra Negra, São Paulo, as a joint event with the 5th Symposium on the Brazilian Cretaceous and First Symposium on the Cretaceous of South America, 29 August-2 September 1999.
Two field-trips are being planned to Cretaceous sequences of the Paraná and Sanfranciscan Basins.
Adresses and Contact:
Dimas DIAS BRITO (dimasdb@caviar.igce.unesp.br)
José Alexandre de Jesus Perinotto (perinoto@caviar.igce.unesp.br)
UNESP-IGCE-DGS, Caixa Postal 178, 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, BRAZIL.
Tel.: +55-(0)19-526-2811/ 526-2812/ 526-2849; fax: 534-0327;
Similarly to what we had at the last meeting in São Pedro, August 1997 (see SAMC News 8, p. 7), we plan to hold a local meeting of IGCP Project 381 as a Thematic Symposium in conjunction with the 16th Brazilian Palaeontological Congress.
Deadline for abstracts (for oral or poster presentations): 15 April 1999
For further information please contact - Organizing Committee of the
16th Brazilian Palaeontological Congress: Secretaria do XVI Congresso
Brasileiro de Paleontologia
Universidade Regional do Cariri - URCA
Rua Coronel Antônio Luís 1161 - Pimenta
63100-000 Crato, CE, BRAZIL.
Tels.: +55-(0)88-5231677, Ext./Ramal 2785, (0)88-5233940, Fax: +55-(0)88-5210049
e-mail: paleo99@urca.br
September 1999
The meeting will take place at the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales
"B. Rivadavia", Av. Angel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Scientific
program follows that of the previous meeting on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems
Symposia, emphasizing the studies on continental vertebrates, as well as
invertebrates, floras and sedimentology for a better understanding of the
Mesozoic terrestrial Ecosystems. The following Symposium topics and theme
sessions have been suggested:
• Evolution of Mesozoic Faunas and Floras.
• Evolution of Gondwanian Dinosaurs and Birds.
• Evolution of non-Archosaurian Reptiles.
• Faunal relationships between Laurasia and Gondwana.
• Evolution of Mesozoic Gondwanian Floras.
• Floral relationships between Laurasia and Gondwana.
• Origin of Angiosperms.
• Evolution of Mesozoic Mammals.
• Stratigraphy of Terrestrial Mesozoic Basins.
• Sedimentology, Paleoenvironments and Paleogeography.
• Mesozoic Climates.
• Heterochrony and Evolution.
• Paleoecology and Taphonomy.
• Ichnology.
In addition, we plan to hold an IGCP Project 381 Symposium on Cretaceous Continental Ecosystems, in conjunction with the VII International Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems.
Field-Trips
The following field-trips are planned (provisionally):
A) Triassic Basin of Ischigualasto-Talampaya.
B) Jurassic Basin of Cerro Cóndor, Chubut.
C) Cretaceous of the Neuquén Basin.
D) Late Jurassic (Petrified Forest) - Early cretaceous (Baqueró
Flora), Santa Cruz Province, to examine fossil vertebrates and plant localities
and their stratigraphy.
Secretary of the VII International Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial
Ecosystems
Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "B. Rivadavia", Av. Angel Gallardo
470, 1405 Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA.
Aurount lieu à l’Université Agostino Neto (UAN), de l’Angola, à Luanda, du 21 au 24 Mai 2000, et seront précédés et suivis d’excurssions géologiques sur le terrain.
Ces réunions seront organisées par l’UAN, en collaboration avec le Service Géologique, la compagnie pétrolière nationale (SONANGOL), le Ministère de la Géologie et Mines, la compagnie diamantifere nationale (ENDIAMA), ainsi que d’autres compagnies et institutions travaillant en Angola.
Les personnes intéréssées sont prieès de
contacter:
Prof. Maria-Luísa Morais
Departamento de Geologia
Faculdade de Ciências, UAN, C.P. 56, Luanda, Angola
e-mail: mlmorais@netangola.com
Tel.: + 244 2 330467 - fax.: (c/o Elf EA) + 244 2 391983
La première circulaire sera expediée au plus tard en Janvier
1999.
The location for the next project meetings are as follows:
• Regional Meeting of IGCP Project 381, to be held in conjunction with the Annual meeting of the Brazilian Palaeontological Society, at the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (Rua Anfilófilo de Carvalho, no. 29, 3rd floor, Rio de Janeiro), December 1999.
• The 5th Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC V) will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in conjuntion with the XXXIs International Geological Congress (31t IGC) - Symposium 1-3, 6-17 August 2000.
Conveners: E.A.M. Koutsoukos and P. Bengtson
For further details:
31st International Geological Congress - Secretariat Bureau
Av. Pasteur, 404 - Anexo 31 IGC - Urca, 22290-240 Rio de Janeiro, RJ,
BRAZIL
Tel.: +55-(0)21-295 5847, fax: 295 8094, e-mail: 31igc@org.br
Home-Page: http://www.31igc.org
The "Second Symposium on the Jurassic of South America" will be held in Salta, Argentina, as part of the official programme of the XIV Congreso Geológico Argentino during 19-24 September 1999. The exact date for the symposium has not been confirmed yet.
The objective of the symposium is to meet and join the researchers and especialists on Paleontology, Stratigraphy, and related matters working on the Jurassic of South America and paleogeographically related regions.
The first symposium (1er Simposio Jurasico de America del Sur) was was held in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, as the "Simposio Jurásico Superior de América del Sur", in 5th of October of 1998 in , during the VII Congreso Argentino de Paleontología y Bioestratigrafía.
For further information please contact :
Horacio Parent Gustavo
2do Simposio Jurásico de América del Sur
Laboratorio de Paleontología - IFG, FCEIA
Universidad Nacional de Rosario
Pellegrini 250, 2000 Rosario, ARGENTINA
e-mail: infomax@satlink.com.ar
e-mail: parent@fceia.unr.edu.ar
fax: +54 41 802654
Gonzalez Bonorino
XIV Congreso Geol. Argentino
Escuela de Geología
Universidad Nacional de Salta
Buenos Aires 177, 4400 Salta, ARGENTINA
e-mail: XIVCGA@ciunsa.edu.ar
Web: http://www.unsa.edu.ar/eventos/xivcga/
fax: +54 87 255483
For any information see the HomePage site at: www.ufrgs.br/vulcam
For contact: Evandro Fernandes de LIMA, President of the Ist
Symposium on Vulcanism and Associated Environments, e-mail: evandro@if.ufrgs.br
The ODP Sattelite Reference Center on Foraminifera at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)
A Satellite Micropaleontological Reference Center is a micropaleontological research institution, specialized in one or more microfossils groups, which have been assigned by the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) as a subloan recipient of some of these microfossil sample collection, in order to maximize their using as reference collections.
The establishment of a Satellite Micropaleontological Reference Center/ODP in Rio de Janeiro aims to improve the study of forminifera in South America, especially in deep sea basins. We are sure that researches in the evolutionary history of the South Atlantic Ocean will receive great encouragement through such a reference center. Funded by the Jose Bonifacio Research Foundation (FUJB) and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), the Satellite Reference Center on Foraminifera ODP-UFRJ keeps appropriate space and equipment, specialized blbliography, computers and other facilities, enabling researchers to make better use of the ODP samples.
How to consult the ODP foraminiferal collection in UFRJ?
The complete list of foraminiferal samples deposited in MRCs is available through Internet. Researchers intending to consult the foraminiferal reference collection ath UFRJ can choose the samples which they would like study. Then, contact us in order to make an appointment of your visitation.
Visit our HomePage site at: http://www.ufrj.br/geologia/mrc.htm
For further information please contact:
Aristoteles M. Rios-Netto
Curator of the SatMRC ODP/UFRJ
e-mail: rio-netto@igeo.ufrj.br
Note: References of published contributions to IGCP Project 381 will be compiled and listed in each issue of SAMC News. Please report them for inclusion in our newsletters and annual reports, by sending to the editor or the SAMC Secretariat an offprint.
Koutsoukos, E.A.M., 1998. An extraterrestrial impact in the early Danian:
a secondary K/T boundary event? Terra Nova, Vol. 10, p. 68-73.
Objectives of IGCP Project 381 (1995—2000)
IGCP Project 381 "South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations" (abbreviated
SAMC) aims at promoting interdisciplinary and integrated geological correlative
studies in order to establish a well-defined standard stratigraphical scale
for the Mesozoic sedimentary basins of and around the South Atlantic Ocean
(here defined as extending from Antarctica in the south to the Caribbean
and north-west Africa in the north). Main objectives further include investigations
of the nature and sequence of major geological events during the formation
of the South Atlantic and the global impact of these events, thereby contributing
to our understanding of the Cretaceous "greenhouse" conditions and, not
the least, to the exploration of hydrocarbon and mineral resources in the
sedimentary basins bordering the South Atlantic.
IGCP 381 has developed into a major project and now has nearly 500
registered participants. For the second consecutive year the project was
rated as excellent and received high UNESCO/IUGS funding in 1998.
IGCP PROJECT 381 RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
IN BRAZIL
Reported by Eduardo A. M. Koutsoukos (Co-leader of IGCP Project 381
and national representative for Brazil) - PETROBRAS-CENPES/SEBIPE, 21949-900
Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. (e-mail: koutsoukos@cenpes.petrobras.com.br)
PETROBRAS Research Centre (CENPES)
Biostratigraphy and Palaeocology Sector (SEBIPE), Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil.
Reported by E. A. M. Koutsoukos
Collaborators:
Luzia Antonioli
Rogério L. Antunes
Mitsuru Arai
Armando Scarparo Cunha
Rodolfo Dino
Jarbas Guzzo
Cecília Cunha Lana
Paulo Milhomen
Luiz Carlos Veiga de Oliveira
René Rodrigues
Marta Claudia Viviers
Research Projects in progress:
The following research projects are carried out within the scope of
IGCP Project 381:
• High-resolution event stratigraphy, depositional history and palaeoceanography
of the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in South America.
Coordinated by E.A.M. Koutsoukos (foraminifera)- Research programme
(long-term).
Detailed lithostratigraphical, geochemical, micro- and macropalaeontological
integrated studies to characterise the sequence of events (stratigraphical,
palaeoceanographical and palaeobiological) across the Cretaceous-Tertiary
(K/T) boundary in South America.
A joint research programme with Peter Bengtson (ammonites), Gerson
Fauth (ostracodes) and Peter Schlicht (magnetostratigraphy) - University
of Heidelberg, Alexandre A. Grassi and Francisco Henrique O. Lima (calcareous
nannofossils) - UFRGS/PETROBRAS, Maria de Fátima R. Sarkis (dinoflagellates)
- UFRJ, Carla Cristina Campos (spores and pollens) - USP/University Guarulhos,
and René Rodrigues (stable isototope stratigraphy) - PETROBRAS-CENPES.
• Integrated stratigraphy, palaeogeography and palaeoclimatology
of the Cretaceous of northeastern Brazil.
Coordinated by E.A.M. Koutsoukos & P. Bengtson - Research programme
(long-term).
Two major objectives emerge within the general framework of the research
programme: (i) Refined integrated study of biozonal schemes, chemo- and
magnetostratigraphy for the Cretaceous sedimentary sequences in northeastern
Brazil. Precise characterisation of bio- and chronostratigraphic boundaries,
thereby enhancing interbasinal and intercontinental stratigraphical correlation.
(ii) Reconstruction of the palaeogeographical, palaeoceanographical and
palaeoclimatological history of the northern South Atlantic during the
Cretaceous.
A joint research programme with Armando Scarparo Cunha (calcareous
nannofossils) - UFRGS/PETROBRAS-CENPES, Rodolfo Dino (palynology) - PETROBRAS-CENPES,
Luzia Antonioli (palynology) - UFRJ/PETROBRAS-CENPES, Mitsuru Arai (palynology)
- PETROBRAS-CENPES, Cecília Cunha Lana (palynology) - PETROBRAS-CENPES,
Laureen Sally da Rosa Alves (paleobotany) - UFRGS, among others.
• Upper Cretaceous ostracodes assemblages of Central Cuba.
(CEINPET-SEBIPE joint research project)
Coordinated by Maria Lizette Diaz-Collell(1), Marta Claudia Viviers(2),
Jorge R. Sánchez-Arango(1)
(1) Centro de Investigaciones del Petróleo (CEINPET), La Havana,
Cuba.
(2) PETROBRAS-CENPES/DIVEX/SEBIPE, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Taxonomic and biostratigraphic studies of the ostracodes assemblages
recovered from Upper Cretaceous carbonate deposits (Via Blanca, Eloisa,
Cantabria and Jimaguayu formations) of Central Cuba.
• Palynochronostratigraphic calibration of Lower Cretaceous successions
from NE Brazil.
Coordinated by Rodolfo Dino (PETROBRAS-CENPES), in collaboration with
Jean Dejax (Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris) and Mohamed I.
Ibrahim (Alexandria University, Egypt).
Publications :
The following publications are contributions to IGCP Project 381:
ANTUNES, R.L., OLIVEIRA, L.C.V., SHIMABUKURO, S. & CUNHA, A.S.,
1998. Calcareous nannofossil biozones of the Brazilian continental margin:
evolution of a concept. In: 7th International Nannoplankton Association
Conference (10-13/02/98, La Parguera, Puerto Rico), Abstracts.
ARAI, M., BOTELHO NETO, J., LANA, C.C. & PEDRÃO, E. 1998.
Diferenciação biogeográfica dos dinoflagelados cretáceos
nas bacias brasileiras e sua relação com o provincialismo
no Atlântico. Resumo. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências,
Vol. 70, No. 2, p. 382, Rio de Janeiro.
Cunha, A.S. & Koutsoukos, E.A.M., 1998. Calcareous nannofossils
and planktic foraminifers in the upper Aptian of the Sergipe Basin, northeastern
Brazil: palaeoecological inferences. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,
Palaeoecology, Vol. 142, No. 3/4, p. 175-184..
Díaz-Collell, M.L., Viviers, M.C. & Sanchez Arango, J.R.,
1998. Estudios taxonómicos y bioestratigráficos de las asociaciones
de ostrácodos de formaciones del Cretácico tardío
en Cuba Central. 3er Congreso Cubano de Geologia y Mineria (GEOMIN’98,
La Habana, 24-27 March 1998), Geologia y Mineria’98, Memorias, Vol. 2,
pp. 277-280.
Koutsoukos, E.A.M., 1997. The search for an integrated palynostratigraphy
of Cretaceous South Atlantic sequences: The aims of IGCP Project 381. IX
Reunião de Palinólogos e Paleobotânicos -RPP (Universidade
de Guarulhos, São Paulo, December 1997), Boletim de Resumos.
Koutsoukos, E.A.M., 1998. Upper Cretaceous palaeogeography of the Sergipe
Basin, NE Brazil: area of the Divina Pastora and Mosqueiro Lows. Zentralblatt
für Geologie und Paläontologie, Teil I, H. 11/12, pp. 1325-1337.
Koutsoukos, E.A.M., 1998. Benthic foraminifers and paleoenvironments
across the K/T boundary at Poty, Pernambuco, NE Brazil. Sociedad Mexicana
de Paleontologia, Special Publication (FORAMS’98, Monterrey, Mexico, 5-12
July 1998), Abstracts, pp. 57-58.
Koutsoukos, E.A.M. & Azambuja Filho, N.C., 1998. Foraminiferal
paleoecology and systems tracts from Oligocene-Miocene deep-water oil fields
of Campos Basin, SE Brazil. Sociedad Mexicana de Paleontologia, Special
Publication (FORAMS’98, Monterrey, July 1998), Abstracts, p. 58.
LANA, C.C., 1998. The paleoenvironmental distribution of the upper
Cenomanian-lower Turonian dinocyst assemblages of Potiguar Basin, Northeast
Brazil. In: Sixth International Conference on Modern and Fossil Dinoflagellates
(Dino6, Trondheim, June 1998), Abstracts, Rapport botanisk Serie 1998-1,
Trondheim, p. 90.
Oliveira, L.C., Rodrigues, R., Lemos, V.B., Ayup-Zouain, R. & Wolff,
I.M., 1998. Multivariate analysis of calcareous nannoplankton and stable
isotopic study in the upper Campanian-lower Maastrichtian of the Campos
Basin (SE Brazil). In: 7th International Nannoplankton Association Conference
(10-13/02/98, La Parguera, Puerto Rico), Abstracts.
Rodrigues, R., Oliveira, L.C.V., Carvalho, M.D. & KoWsmann, R.O.,
1998. Anomalous Carbon and Oxygen isotopic signature in upper Maatrichtian
calcilutite, Campos Basin, Brazil. 5th International Conference on Gas
in Marine Sediments (Bologna, 9-12 Sept. 1998), Extended Abstracts, pp.
146-147.
Strohschoen Jr., O. & KOUTSOUKOS, E.A.M., 1998. Upper Cretaceous
foraminiferal palaeoecology of the South area of Campos Basin, southeastern
Brazil. Sociedad Mexicana de Paleontologia, Special Publication (FORAMS’98,
Monterrey, Mexico, 5-12 July 1998), Abstracts, pp. 102-103.
Strohschoen Jr., O., 1998. Thin section foraminiferal analysis and
its applications to upper Albian/ lower Turonian biostratigraphy of Campos
Basin, Brazil. Sociedad Mexicana de Paleontologia, Special Publication
(FORAMS’98, Monterrey, Mexico, 5-12 July 1998), Abstracts, p. 102.
(In Press)
ALVES, L.S.R. & KOUTSOUKOS, E.A.M., in press. Fossil woods of the
Serraria Formation (Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous), Sergipe Basin, NE
Brazil: morpho-anatomic study and paleoclimatic assessment. In: Congresso
Brasileiro de Geologia (Belo Horizonte, MG), 40, Boletim de Resumos.
ALVES, L.S.R. & KOUTSOUKOS, E.A.M., in press. Fossil Gymnospermae
of the Serraria Formation (Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous), Sergipe Basin,
NE Brazil: preliminary paleoclimatic inferences. Third Annual Conference
of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC III) (Comodoro Rivadavia, 17-20 November 1998),
Abstracts.
Antonioli, L., Rodrigues, M. A. C. & Dino, R., in press. Late Aptian-early
Albian palynomorphs of the Ceará basin - NE -Brazil. 31st Annual
Meeting of AASP, that will take place in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
(27-31 October 1998), Abstracts.
ARAI, M., PEREIRA, M.J., SHIMABUKURO, S., in press. Origem dos Chapadões
Brasileiros: uma análise à luz da estratigrafia de seqüências.
Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia (Belo Horizonte, 11-16/10/98), 40, Resumos.
ARAI, M. & KOUTSOUKOS, E.A.M., in press. Palynoforaminifera (foraminiferal
organic linings and allied material): a new tool for petroleum exploration.
AAPG RIO’98 Conference (Rio de Janeiro, 8-11/11/98), Extended Abstracts.
ARAI, M., BOTELHO NETO, J., LANA, C.C. & PEDRÃO, E., in
press. Biogeographic differentiation and provincialism of Cretaceous dinoflagellates
in Brazilian basins and the Atlantic Ocean. III Annual Conference of IGCP
Project 381 (Comodoro Rivadavia, 17-20/11/98), Abstracts.
DINO, R., in press. Aptian to lower Albian pollen and spores assemblages
from the Potiguar Basin - NE Brazil. 31st Annual Meeting of AASP, that
will take place in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico (27-31 October 1998),
Abstracts.
GUZZO, J.V.P. & ARIENTI, L.M., in press. Depositional Significance
of Lacustrine Black Shales: Falsifying a Paradigm. AAPG RIO98 Conference
(Rio de Janeiro, 8-11 November, 1998), Extended Abstracts.
Koutsoukos, E.A.M., in press. "Rhabdammmina-type" foraminiferal assemblages
in the Cretaceous of Northeastern Brazil. Grzybowski Foundation Special
Publication, London.
Koutsoukos, E.A.M., in press. An extraterrestrial impact in the early
Danian: a secondary K/T boundary event ? TERRA-Nova.
Koutsoukos, E.A.M., in press. The Guembelitria-Woodringina-Chiloguembelina
lineage (Foraminiferida) in the lower Danian of the Poty section, Pernambuco,
NE Brazil: radiation patterns. In: Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia (Belo
Horizonte, MG), 40, Boletim de Resumos.
Koutsoukos, E.A.M., in press. The lower Turonian succession in northeastern
Brazil: foraminiferal and environmental changes. Third Annual Conference
of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC III) (Comodoro Rivadavia, 17-20 November 1998),
Abstracts.
Koutsoukos, E.A.M. & de KLASZ, I., in press. Late Cretaceous Foraminiferida
biogeography (Families Bolivinidae, Buliminellidae, Gavelinellidae, Siphogenerinoididae,
Turrilinidae) in low latitude Atlantic regions: nortrheastern Brazilian
shelf and central West African basins. In: Koutsoukos, E.A.M., Bengtson,
P., de Klasz, I. & Batten, D.J. (Eds), Mesozoic Biogeographical Patterns
in the South Atlantic (IGCP Project 381 Thematic Issue), Cretaceous Research,
Special Issue.
Lana, C.C. & Carvalho, I.S., in press. Cretaceous esthereniid conchostraceans
from Potiguar Basin (Northeastern Brazil): relationships with Western African
conchostracofaunas and paleoecological inferences. Third Annual Conference
of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC III) (Comodoro Rivadavia, 17-20 November 1998),
Abstracts.
Lana, C.C. & Roesner, E.H., in press. Palinologia do Cretáceo
Superior marinho subaflorante na região de Natal, RN. Anais da Academia
Brasileira de Ciências (Seção de 2/10/98), Resumos,
Rio de Janeiro.
WOOD, G. D., MILLER, M. A., POCKNALL, D. T., ALEMAN, A. M., STEIN,
J. A. & DINO, R., in press. Paleoclimatologic, paleoecologic and biostratigraphic
significance of the middle Cretaceous elaborate microfloral province, Gondwana.
AAPG RIO98 Conference (Rio de Janeiro, 8-11 November, 1998), Extended Abstracts.
Dissertations and thesis:
Concluded:
ANTONIOLI, L., 1998. Biostratigraphy, palynology and paleoenvironmments
of Aptian-lower Albian strata of the Ceará Basin, northeastern Brazil.
M.Sc. Dissertation, State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).
Antunes, R.L., 1998. Nanofósseis calcários e sua bioestratigrafia
no Cretáceo da margem continental brasileira: bacias do Ceará
e Potiguar. Albian-Maastrichtian calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy
of the Potiguar and Ceará basins, Brazilian equatorial margin. Doctorate
Thesis (unpublished), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Instituto
de Geociências, Departamento de Geologia, 2 vols., 265 pp.
In Progress:
ANTONIOLI, L., in progress. An integrated palyno-chronostratigraphic
and palaeoecologic study of middle Cretaceous strata of the northern Brazilian
interior basins. Doctorate Thesis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
The following tasks were accomplished during this year:
1)The selection of the wells drilled for Petromisa located in the Parnaíba
basin was carried out. This choice was effected taking in account some
parameters such as: a) thickness of strata, b) geographic and/or structural
position in the basin, c) number of cores in the interval, d) intervals
rich in organic matter constituents (gray-clearly to black colors). 11
wells were selected: 9-PAG-6-MA, 9-PAG-8-MA, 9-PCR-1-MA, 9-PCR-2-MA, 9-PCR-3-MA,
9-PIF-4A-MA, 9-PIF-10-MA, 9-PIF-11-MA, 9-PIF-14-MA, 9-PIF-16-MA, 9-PIF-17-MA,
9-PIF-18-MA.
2) During April and beginning of May (04/27/98 to 05/03/98), the first
field work, according to the thesis program, was carried out. This first
field work aimed at the lithostratigraphic recognition, in the outcrop
area of the Codó and Itapecuru Formations (Parnaíba and São
Luis basins, respectively). In this phase, samples for palynological analyses
were collected, and a preliminary survey of the depositional systems (processes,
facies and sedimentary environments) of studied sections was undertaken.
3) A qualitative analysis was initiated.
4) In August a visit in the dependencies of E&P - AM / Petrobras
occurred, aiming to collect samples of the previously referring Petromisa
wells. Macrocospic analyses with a detailed lithologic description were
carried, in order to provide better correlation with deeper wells drilled
by Petrobras at the Parnaíba and São Luis basins.
Informally the Codó Formation consists of a sequence in which
three sedimentary units are distinguished: 1- the lower unit is composite
for pirobetuminosos gray to black, calcareous rocks (very rich in Ostracods),
and dolostones and shales, 2- the intermediate unit is predominantly arenaceous,
intercalatedwith dark siltstones and shales with ostracodes, 3- the upper
unit corresponds to a transgression in the basal part and a regression
in the upper part. It is composed of black shales overlapping siliciclastics.
The Codó Sequence was recovered by the deposition of thick alluvial,
continental (mainly nonmarine clastics) sequences of the Itapecuru Formation.
The depositional environment of these deposits (Fm. Codó), corresponds
to continental sabkha (Schneider et al., 1979), formed in asupratidal environment.
They contain a large evaporitic succession, such as anhydride and gipsite,
together with algal-mats, in the parts where lacustrine or shallow lagoonal
conditions predominated. 399 core samples were collected to be studied
for palynomorphs and geochemistry. The collected material is in the processing
phase.
MILHOMEN, P., in progress. Integrated stratigraphic analysis of the Aratu Stage in the Araçás Oil Field, Recôncavo Basin, Bahia, Brazil. M.Sc. dissertation, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Instituto de Geociências, Porto Alegre (RS).
CUNHA, A.A.S., in progress. Evolução paleoceanográfica do Atlântico Sul no Cenomaniano-Turoniano: um estudo das rochas ricas em matéria orgânica e dos depósitos carbonáticos cíclicos Doctorate Thesis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Instituto de Geociências, Porto Alegre (RS).
Working Groups on South Atlantic Evaporites and Regional Tectonics
Reported by Peter Szatmari (Chairman and Regional Coordinator)
PETROBRAS-CENPES, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(e-mail: szatmari@cenpes.petrobras.com.br)
During the past year, work continued on the Mesozoic tectonic correlation
of Africa and South America and on the evolution of both margins by salt
tectonics. A paper titled Tectonic Habitat of Petroleum Along the South
Atlantic Margins by Peter Szatmari, marked contribution to IGCP Project
N. 381, has been presented at the AAPG/ABGP Joint Research Symposium "Petroleum
Systems of the South Atlantic Margin", it has been printed as a 4-page
extended abstract, a longer copy is being prepared this year for the publication
of some of the Hedberg Conference papers in book form.
There has been intense activity in physical modeling by Marta Guerra,
Mônica Alves Pequeno and Peter Szatmari, at the Tectonic Laboratory
of the Petrobras Research Center, on tectonic controls of the opening of
the South Atlantic, which intends to quantify the parameters of continental
breakup. There has also been active modelling of the spatial and temporal
fcontrols of diapirism. A paper has been prepared for presentation at the
AAPG Rio Meeting in November 1998.
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)
Curso de Pós-Graduação em Geociências
Área de Estratigrafia - Convênio PETROBRAS/UFRGS
Reported by Gerson Terra - UFRGS/CPGeo, Av. Bento Gonçalves,
9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
The geological department of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), in Porto Alegre, southermost Brazil, carry out research work of strong relevance to IGCP Project 381, mainly at the M.Sc. and Doctorate level, under the supervision of PETROBRAS.
The following M.Sc. dissertations and Doctorate Theses are related to
SAMC:
Concluded:
• Estratigrafia e Análise Paleoambiental da Plataforma Carbonática
Jandaíra, Turoniano-Campaniano da Porção Centro-Oeste
da Bacia de Potiguar.
João Alexandre Gil - M.Sc. dissertation (concluded in 12/12/97)
• Análise estratigráfica e evolução paleogeográfica
da seção neoaptiana na porção Sul da Plataforma
de São Mateus, bacia do Espírito Santo - Brasil.
Roberto Adelar Bonora Vieira - M.Sc. dissertation (concluded in 30/03/98)
• Estratigrafia de seqüências de alta resolução
da seção neoaptiana Sul da área Centro-Norte da bacia
do Recôncavo, NE Brasil, com ênfase no Campo de Araçás.
André Tonetto Picarelli - Doctorate Thesis (concluded in 31/03/98)
• Evolução, análise estratigráfica e sistemas
deposicionais turbidíticos em paleocânions submarinos: exemplos
de Regência (ES) e Almada (BA).
Marcos Pimentel Mendes - M.Sc. dissertation (concluded in 22/05/98)
Research in progress:
• Paleoceanografia e ciclicidade orbital dos depósitos do Cenomaniano-Turoniano
do Atlântico Sul.
Armando A. Scarparo Cunha - Doctorate Thesis (conclusion in 2000).
• Estratigrafia e paleoceanografia do Cretáceo médio marinho,
da margem continental sudeste/leste do Brasil: uma abordagem holística.
Ricardo Latgé Milward de Azevedo - Doctorate Thesis (conclusion
in 2000).
• O limite Cretáceo-Terciário nas bacias de Pernambuco-Paraíba
e Campos: um estudo multidisciplinar.
Alexandre Grassi - M.Sc. dissertation (conclusion in 1999).
• Correlação tecnoto-sedimentar entre as bacias de Carnamu
e Recôncavo - BA, durante o tempo Rio da Serra/Jiquiá.
José Antonio Cupertino - (conclusion in 1998)
• Organofácies e palinologia aplicada à estratigrafia
de seqüências da Fm. Morro do Chaves (Aptiano) da Bacia de Sergipe/Alagoas.
Gilberto Inácio Henz - Doctorate Thesis (conclusion in 04/03/99)
• Análise paleoambiental e estratigráfica através
de geoquímica e palinofácies da Fm. Irati (Permiano) - Bacia
do Paraná.
Laury Medeiros de Araújo - Doctorate Thesis (conclusion in 03/09/00)
• Estratigrafia de eventos na dinâmica Gondwânica durante
o Eocretáceo.
Gilmar Vital Bueno - Doctorate Thesis (conclusion in 03/03/2000).
• Análise litofaciológica e cronoestratigrafia da Fm.
Botucatu na porção meridional do Estado de Santa Catarina
(folhas de Praia Grande e Jacinto Machado).
Fernanda Guilardi Silva - M.Sc. dissertation (conclusion in 1999).
• Petrologia e características de reservatório dos arenitos
Mucuri (Andar Alagoas - bacia do Espírito Santo) no contexto da
estratigrafia de seqüências.
Luciana Moreira Félix - M.Sc. dissertation (conclusion in 1999).
• Estudo estratigráfico integrada de alta resolução
do Campaniano-Maastrichtiano da bacia de Pernambuco-Paraíba: evolução
paleoceanográfica.
Francisco Henrique O. Lima - M.Sc. dissertation (conclusion in 2000).
• Análise sismoestratigráfica e ciclicidade do Maastrichtiano-Paleoceno
na porção central da bacia Potiguar.
Luis A. Furian Sessegolo - M.Sc. dissertation (conclusion in 2000).
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)
Departamento de Geologia, Instituto de Geociências
Reported by Ismar de Souza Carvalho - Departamento de Geologia, Instituto de Geociências, UFRJ, Cidade Universitária - Ilha do Fundão, 21.910-940 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
• Working Group "Cretaceous Continental Ecosystems"
Finantial Support: CNPq - Brazil
FAPERJ - Brazil
Fundação Universitária José Bonifácio/UFRJ
- Brazil
Publications:
CARVALHO, I.S. & KATTAH, S.S. 1998. As pegadas fósseis do
paleodeserto da bacia Sanfranciscana (Jurássico Superior -Cretáceo
Inferior, Minas Gerais). Anais Acad. bras. Ci., 70(1): 53-67.
ARANHA, F.J., RODRIGUES, M.S., CORREIA, M.M.F., CARVALHO, I.S. &
MARTINS, F.J.C., 1997. Itapecuru River Basin (Maranhão, Brazil):
limnological, geological and geomorphological preliminary characterization.
Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol., 26, p. 857-859.
BERTINI, R.J., NAVA, W.R. & CARVALHO, I.S., 1997. Notosuchian crocodylomorphs
from the Cretaceous Bauru Basin. An. Acad. bras. Ci., 69(1): 142.
CARVALHO, I.S. 1997. Os conchostráceos da bacia de Cedro (Nordeste
do Brasil, Cretáceo Inferior). In: Simpósio sobre a Bacia
do Araripe e bacias interiores do Nordeste (Crato, Ceará), 2. Resumo
das Comunicações, p. 30.
CARVALHO, I.S., VILAS-BÔAS, I. & BERGQVIST, L.P., 1997. Plesiosauros
da região equatorial brasileira - Bacia de São Luís
(Cretáceo Superior), Brasil. In: Congresso Brasileiro de Paleontologia
(São Pedro, SP), 15, Boletim de Resumos, p. 93.
FERNANDES, A.C.S. & CARVALHO, I.S., 1997. Icnofósseis de
invertebardos da bacia de Sousa (estado da Paraíba, Brasil): a localidade
de Serrote do Letreiro. In: Simpósio sobre a Bacia do Araripe e
bacias interiores do Nordeste (Crato, Ceará), 2. Resumo das Comunicações,
p. 29.
SOUZA LIMA, W., ZUCON, M.H. & CARVALHO, I.S. 1997. U In: Congresso
Brasileiro de Paleontologia (São Pedro, SP), 15, Boletim de Resumos,
p. 95.
(In press)
BERTINI, R.J. & CARVALHO, I.S., in press. Paleobiological and phylogenetical
comments about notosuchians, Cretaceous crocodylomorphs. Crocodilian Biology
and Evolution Conference, Abstract, Brisbane, Austrália.
CARVALHO, I.S. & BERTINI, R.J., in press. Paleoenvironments of
the Brazilian Cretaceous notosuchians. Crocodilian Biology and Evolution
Conference, Abstract, Brisbane, Austrália.
CARVALHO, I.S. & KATTAH, S.S., in press. Pegadas de dinossauros
do Grupo Areado (Bacia Sanfranciscana), Minas Gerais, Brasil. In: Congresso
Brasileiro de Geologia (Belo Horizonte, MG), 40, Boletim de Resumos.
CARVALHO, I.S. & PEDRÃO, E., in press. Brazilian Theropods
from the Equatorial Atlantic Margin: Behavior and Environmental Setting.
Gaia, Lisboa, Portugal.
FERNANDES, A.C.S., CARVALHO, I.S., SRIVASTAVA, N.K., HENRIQUES, M.H.P.
& PENA DOS REIS, R.P.B., in press. Icnofósseis da Bacia do Araripe
(Formação Arajara - Cretáceo), Brasil. In: Congresso
Nacional de Geologia, 5, Lisboa, Portugal. Sociedade Geológica de
Portugal.
FERNANDES, A.C.S., SRIVASTAVA, N.K., PENA DOS REIS, R.P.B., HENRIQUES,
M.H.P. & CARVALHO, I.S., in press. A icnofauna de invertebrados da
FormaÁão Arajara (Bacia do Araripe, Cretáceo Inferior).
In: Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia (Belo Horizonte, MG), 40, Boletim
de Resumos.
HENRIQUES, M.H.P., PENA DOS REIS, R.P.B., FERNANDES, A.C.S., SRIVASTAVA,
N.K. & CARVALHO, I.S., in press. Caracterização tafonômica
das associações registradas de Dastilbe sp. do Membro Crato
(Formação Santana, Bacia do Araripe - NE do Brasil, Cretácico).
In: Congresso Nacional de Geologia, 5, Lisboa, Portugal. Sociedade Geológica
de Portugal.
CARVALHO, I.S., in press. Geological environments of dinosaur footprints
in the intracratonic basins from Northeast Brazil during South Atlantic
opening (Early Cretaceous). Cretaceous Research.
CARVALHO, I.S. & BERTINI, R.J., in press. Mariliasuchus: um novo
Crocodylomorpha (Notosuchia) do Cretáceo da Bacia Bauru. Gaia. Lisboa,
Portugal.
CARVALHO, I.S., VILLAS BÔAS, I. & BERGQVIST, L.P., in press.
Plesiosauros da região equatorial brasileira. Bacia de São
Luís (Cretáceo Superior), Brasil. Gaia, Lisboa, Portugal.
SOUZA LIMA, W., CARVALHO, I.S. & ZUCON, M.H., in press. Um mosassauro
no Campaniano da Bacia de Sergipe-Alagoas, Nordeste do Brasil. Gaia, Lisboa,
Portugal.
Researches in Progress :
• Ichnofossils from the Araripe Basin. This basin is the best outcropping
Cretaceous Brazilian basin, with a large amount of fossil plants, invertebrates,
vertebrates and microfossils occurrrences. It have been analysed the ichnofossils
found in Arajara Formation and their paleoenvironmental meaning.
• Taphonomy in the Araripe Basin. Study of the taphonomic associations
of Crato Member (Santana Formation) to contribute to the characterization
of the paleoenvironmental conditions which determinated the sediments deposition
that constitute the unit.
• Cretaceous notosuchians. The nosotuchians are a peculiar crocodylomorpha
group, that show a wide distribution in Cretaceous rocks of South America
and Africa. They belong to a typical Gondwana. terrestrial biota. Their
study will allow some new paleoecological and chronostratigraphic interpretations
to the Brazilian Cretaceous continental deposits.
• Brazilian Marine Reptiles. The study of mosasaurs and plesiosaurs
from the Sergipe-Alagoas and São Luís basins. Their systematics
and applications to paleoecological analyses.
• Reptile Eggs. Analyses of the microstructures of Cretaceous reptile
eggshells from Bauru and Parnaíba basins. Classification and taxonomic
affinities.
• Cretaceous Freshwater Mollusks. The bivalvia and gastropoda from
Cretaceous Brazilian Basins. Biostratigraphy and use in paleoecological
interpretations.
Graduate Geology Course of the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
- Brazil
M.Sc. Dissertations :
• Descrição de Caracteres Morfológicos e Estudo
Composicional de Cascas de Ovos de Dinossauros da Formação
Allen (Cretáceo Superior), do Bajo de Santa Rosa, Província
de Rio Negro (Argentina). by Cláudia Maria Magalhães Ribeiro.
1997. Abstract: Morphological and compositional study of 39 dinosaur eggshell
fragments. They were obtained in the siliciclastic successions of the eo-maastrichtian
Allen Formation, from the outcrops of the southern border of the Bajo de
Santa Rosa (northern Patagonia, Argentina). This successions were deposited
as a reflexion of the tectonic movements of the Peruana or subhercinian
phase.
• Revisão da Classificação da Superfamília
Ostreoidea (Mollusca-Bivalvia) da Formação Jandaíra
- Cretáceo Superior da Bacia Potiguar (Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil).
by Maria C. E. Senra. 1997.
Abstract: Studies are made on the species of bivalves of the Superfamily
Ostreoidea of the Jandaíra Formation, Upper Cretaceous of Potiguar
Basin. Some paleoecological considerations are made on the Jandaíra
Formation, including the preliminary taphonomic characterization of the
oyster shells deposits.
Doctorate Thesis :
• Reconstituições Paleobiológicas das Bacias do
Parnaíba e de São Luís.
by Maria Eugenia de Carvalho Marchesini Santos. 1998. Paleobiological
reconstructions of the Parnaíba and São Luís Cretaceous
basins.
Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), Centro de Ciências
Exatas e Tecnológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação
em Geologia
Reported by Antonio Jorge Vasconcellos Garcia (e-mail: garcia@dgeo.unisinos.tche.br)
and Tânia L. Dutra (TANIA@dgeo.unisinos.tche.br)
- UNISINOS, Av. UNISINOS, 950, 93.022.000 São Leopoldo, RS, BRAZIL.
Working Group on Paleogeographical and paleoclimatical maps -
Coordinator: Antonio J. V. Garcia
Research focus to 1999-2001:
1. Paleogeography and paleoclimatology of Mesozoic sequences in Brazil
and Portugal - basin - basin evolution related to Gondwana breakup and
lithofaciologic and paleoclimatic imprints on diagenetic processes and
porosity distribution.
2. Provenance and diagenesis of sandstone, a petrologic tool to basin
evolution analysus of continental Mesozoic sequences in South America.
3. Lithofaciologic architecture, basin evolution and porosity distribution
in sandstone reservoirs/aquifers: origin and fluid migration in sedimentary
basins
Related Projects :
• CNPq Proc. 300504/85-3 (BPC 97-99) - Faciologic and Paleoclimatic
Controls on Diagenetic Processes and Porosity Evolution in Sandstones.
• CNPq Proc. 521457/97-1( Mod AI , 1998-2000) e CNPq/ICCTI(Portugal)
Proc. 910174/97-0
• Paleoenvironmental Ana Paleoclimatic Controls on Early Diagenetic
Processes and Fossil Records in Mesozoic Sequences in Brazil and Portugal.
• Provenance and Diagenesis of the Triassic and Cretaceous Sandstones
in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil: A Petrological approach to Lithofaciologic
and Taphonomic Characterization (FAPERGS Proc. 93/2906.3)
• GSGP-Global Sedimentary Geology Program (PANGEA PROJECT)
Project #01 - Paleogeography and Paleoclimatology of Mesozoic
Sequences in Brazil and Portugal - Basin Evolution Related to Gondwana
Breakup and Lithofaciologic and Paleoclimatic Imprints on Diagenetic Processes
and Porosity Distribution
(Related sub-projects: Sub-project # 1.1. Dinosaurs of Brazil Project,
Sub-project # 1.2. Paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic controls on early
diagenetic processes and fossil records in Mesozoic sequences in Brazil
and Portugal - CNPq Proc. 521457/97-1 (Mod AI , 1998-2).
Collaborators: A. J. V. Garcia (UNISINOS University, Brazil - Chairman),
E.L.C.Lavina (UNISINOS University, Brazil), U.F. Faccini (UNISINOS University,
Brazil), C.H.Nowatski (UNISINOS University, Brazil), K. Goldberg (Chicago
University, EUA), A.A.S. da Rosa (UFSM,Brazil), T.M. de Azevedo (Lisboa
University, Portugal), A.N. Azeredo (Lisboa University, Portugal), M.C.
de S. Cabral (Lisboa University, Portugal), N.L. Pimentel (Lisboa University,
Portugal), R.P. dos Reis (Instituto Geologico e Mineiro-IGM).
Sources of external funding: CNPq, CNPq-ICCTI(Portugal) International
Cooperation, CAPES, UNISINOS University, Lisboa University.
Short Report: (main focus) - Main focus on paleogeographic, paleoclimatic
and taphonomic aspects in Brazilian and Portuguese Mesozoic sequences,
basin evolution related to Gondwana breackup and lithofaciologic and paleoclimatic
imprints on diagenetic processes, paleobiogeographic aspects of the Mesozoic
continental and marine sequences related to Gondwana evolution and to Atlantic
Ocean opening (activities and main results) -
Publications :
(In Press)
Goldberg, K. & Garcia, A.J.V., in press. Palaeobiogeography of
the Bauru Group, a dinosaur-bearing Neocretaceous unit at Northeastern
Parana Basin, Brazil. Cretaceous Research, Special thematic issue (IGCP
Project 381) on Mesozoic Biogeographical Patterns in the South Atlantic.
Da Rosa, A.A.S. & Garcia, A.J.V., in press. Palaeobiogeographic
aspects in Berriasian (Early Cretaceous) at Brazilian North-Eastern Basins,
before the Gondwana Breack-up. Cretaceous Research, Special thematic issue
(IGCP Project 381) on Mesozoic Biogeographical Patterns in the South Atlantic.
Garcia, A.J.V., da Rosa, A.A.S & Goldberg, K., submitted. Paleoenvironmental
and paleoclimatic controls on early diagenetic processes and fossil records
in continental Cretaceous sandstones in Brazil. Journal of South American
Earth Sciences, Special Issue, IAS 18th Regional Meeting of Sedimentology
(Heidelberg, Germany, September 1997).
Garcia, A.J.V., da Rosa, A.A.S. & Goldberg, K., in press. Paleocurrent
and provenance analysis of the Brazilian Cretaceous continental sandstones:
a approach to characterization of the highlands during the Gondwana evolution.
3rd Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381, South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations
(SAMC III), Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina, 17-20 November 1998. (SAMC Project/IGCP
381 Contributions).
Project #02 - Provenance and Diagenesis of Sandstone: A Petrologic
Tool to Basin to Basin Evolution Analysis of Continental Mesozoic Sequences
in South America (Related sub-projects: Sub-project 2.1. Provenance and
diagenesis of the Triassic and Cretaceous sandstones in Rio Grande do Sul
State, Brazil: a petrological approach to lithofaciologic and taphonomic
characterization - FAPERGS Proc. 93/2906.3).
Collaborators: A. J. V. Garcia (UNISINOS University, Brazil - Chairman),
E.L.C.Lavina (UNISINOS University, Brazil), U.F. Faccini (UNISINOS University,
Brazil), C.H.Nowatski (UNISINOS University, Brazil), K. Goldberg (Chicago
University, EUA), A.A.S. da Rosa (UFSM,Brazil), H. Zerfaz (UNISINOS University,
Brazil), A. M. Suszczysnki (UNISINOS University, Brazil), S. Viana, (UFPe,
Brazil)
Sources of external funding: FAPERGS, São Pedro do Sul District
Office, Candelaria District Office, UNISINOS University, UFSM University.
Short Report: (main focus) - (activities and main results) - The aim
of this project is to test the applicability of the petrologic studies
(provenance and diagenetic analysis) in local and regional basin analysis.
The methodology include the conventional facies analysis in regional and
local scales to identify the depositional systems, alterations of alluvial
styles and staking patterns. The hierarchical classification of bounding
surfaces and architectural elements, are used in the outcrop scale.
Publications:
(In Press)
Faccini, U.F., Zerfass, H. & Garcia, A.J.V., in press. The Upper
Permian-Triassic stratigraphy and petrologic approach of the continental
sandstone in SE Parana Basin, Southern Barzil: depositional styles versus
base level changes. In : Bachamann, G., in press. Epicontinental Triassic
International Symposium, Halle/S., Germany.
Faccini, U.F., Lavina,E.L.C., Zerfaz, H. & Garcia, A J.V., in press.
Stratigraphic framework of the Permian-Triassic sequences in the southern
Parana Basin, Brazil. 3rd Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381, South
Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC III), Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina,
17-20 november 1998. (SAMC Project/IGCP 381 Contributions).
Zerfaz, H., Suszczysnki, A.M., Lavina,E.L.C., Faccini, U.F. & Garcia,
A.J.V., in press. Provenance of the Triassic sequences in the Rio Grande
do Sul State, southern Brazil: a contribution to Gondwana palaeogeography.
3rd Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381, South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations
(SAMC III), Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina, 17-20 november 1998. (SAMC Project/IGCP
381 Contributions).
Zerfaz, H., Garcia, A . J.V., Suszczysnki, A.M., Faccini, U.F. &
Lavina,E.L.C., in press. Diagenetic evolution and porosity distribution
in Triassic sandstone reservoirs in southern Parana Basin, Brazil. 3rd
Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381, South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations
(SAMC III), Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina, 17-20 november 1998. (SAMC Project/IGCP
381 Contributions).
Viana, S., Zerfaz, H. & Garcia, A . J.V., in press. Petrological
approach to recognize internal unconformities in continental Triassic deposits
in southern of the Paraná Basin, Brazil. 3rd Annual Conference of
IGCP Project 381, South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC III), Comodoro
Rivadavia, Argentina, 17-20 November 1998. (SAMC Project/IGCP 381 Contributions).
PROJECT #03 - Lithofaciologic architecture, basin evolution and
porosity distribution in sandstone reservoirs/aquifers: origin and fluid
migration in sedimentary basins (Related sub-projects: Sub-project # 3.1.
Faciologic and paleoclimatic control on diagenetic processes and porosity
evolution in sandstone - CNPq proc. 300504/85-3//bpc 97-99, Sub-project
3.2. Geometry, architecture and heterogeneity characterization in sedimentary
sequences - PADCT III/FINEP),
Collaborators: A. J. V. Garcia (UNISINOS University, Brazil - Chairman),
P.S.G. Paim (UNISINOS University, Brazil - Chairman), S. Morad (Uppsala
University, Sweden), L.F. De Ros (UFRGS, Brazil), K. Goldberg (Chicago
University, USA), A. A. S. da Rosa (UFSM, Brazil), E.L.C. Lavina (UNISINOS
University, Brazil), U.F. Faccini (UNISINOS University, Brazil), C.H. Nowatski
(UNISINOS University, Brazil), F.J. Althoff (UNISINOS University, Brazil),
O.G.W. Coelho (UNISINOS University, Brazil), R.P. dos Reis.
Sources of external funding: CNPq, PADCT III/FINEP, PETROBRAS, CPRM
- Geological Survey of Brazil, UNISINOS University, Uppsala University
- Sweden, University of Chicago - USA.
Short Report: (main focus) - Geometry and lithofaciologic architecture
characterization and heterogeneity distribution in sedimentary sequences,
Lithofaciologic and basin evolution controls on diagenetic processes and
porosity distribution within hydrocarbon sandstone reservoirs and aquifers,
Paleogeographic and paleoclimatic control on sandstone framework composition,
Diagenetic processes and changes of the detrital composition - implications
on provenence analysis, Paleoenvironmental, paleogeographic
Publications:
Garcia, A.J.V., Morad, S., De Ros, L.F. & Al-Aasm, I.S., 1998.
Paleogeographic, paleoclimatic and burial-history controls on the diagenetic
evolution of reservoir sandstones: evidence from the Lower Cretaceous Serraria
sandstones in Sergipe-Alagoas Basin, NE Brazil. In: Morad, S. (ed.) Carbonate
Diagenesis in Sandstone, IAS Special Publication 26. Oxford, UK, pp. 107-140.
Teaching Programs:
Continuing Education Program in Sedimentary Geology (CEPSG), related
to the development of research projects:
Focus on: An integrated approach on basin analysis and sedimentary
petrology (Continuing Education Program in Sedimentary Petrology - CEPSP)
towards predictive models on the characterization of ore deposits and reservoir/aquifer
quality. Provenance analysis, paleogeographic, paleoclimatic and burial-history
imprints on diagenetic processes. Lithofaciologic and diagenetic controls
on permeability heterogeneity within hydrocarbon reservoirs and aquifers.
Sedimentary and diagenetic processes as ore forming.
1. Tectonic imprints on basin evolution and fluid migration in sedimentary
sequences.
2. Sequence stratigraphy and depositional systems.
3. Paleoicnology and micropaleontology.
4. Characterization of reservoir rocks: geometry, architecture and
heterogeneity distribution.
5. Sampling, preparation and analytic methods in sedimentary petrology.
6. Geochemistry of the diagenetic processes: Paleoclimatic imprints
and ore-forming fluid evolution.
7. Provenance and diagenesis of siliciclastic rocks: A paleogeographic
and petrologic approach on diagenetic processes and porosity evolution.
8. Diagenetic evolution and porosity distribution in sedimentary reservoir/
aquifer.
Lecture Program:
1. Faciologic, paleoclimatic and burial history controls on diagenetic
processes and porosity evolution in sandstone,
2. Paleobiogeographic and paleoclimatic aspects of the Brazilian dinosaurs
sites and the Gondwana evolution,
3. Provenance and diagenesis: An interdisciplinar approach in basin
analysis and avaliation of mineral resources,
4. Ore-forming geofluids: A sedimentary geology approach.
Research Project:
• Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary floras from Northern Antarctic Peninsula
and their paleoclimatic and paleogeographic significance.
Coordinator: Tania L. Dutra
Collaborators: Ubiratan Ferrucio Faccini (sedimentology), Vilson Wildner
(volcaniclastic rocks), Renata Guimarães Netto (associated icnofossils),
Beatriz Leipnitz (palinology).
Source of external funding: only local - CNPq-CIRM
Short Report: After finishing a PhD thesis in this subject with the
study "Composition and History of vegetation at the Cretaceous and Tertiary
of King George Island, Peninsula Antarctica", presented at the Federal
University of Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS, in September, 1997, work focused
on the fossil material of the nearby island (Nelson Island), in wich volcanic
rocks and fossils show many similarities with those formed during the Late
Cretaceous (late Campanian - early Maastrichtian) from King George Island.
The taphoflora shows micro to mesophyllic leaves and many ferns that indicates
warm temperate and wet conditions to this interval in the western side
of the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. All the present elements
shows great affinity with the Australian and Patagonian vegetation. It
is intended that these results be presented in the next meeting of IGCP
Project 381.
Publications:
DUTRA, T.L., 1997a. Clima, Tempo e Fisionomia Foliar: uma comprovação
a partir das tafofloras da Península Antárctica. In: Congresso
Brasileiro de Paleontologia, 15 (São Pedro, SP), Sociedade Brasileira
de Paleontologia. Boletim de Resumos, p. 39.
DUTRA, T.L., 1997b. Primitive leaves of Nothofagus (Nothofagaceae)
in Antarctic Peninsula: an Upper Campanian record and a betulaceous more
than fagaceous morphological character. In: Congresso Geologico Chileno,
8 (Antofagasta, Chile), Anais, Vol. 1, pp. 511-514.
DUTRA, T.L. 1997c. Clima e Vegetação na Península
Antártica durante o Cretáceo-Terciário. In: Reunião
de Paleobotânicos e Palinólogos, 9 (IX RPP, Guarulhos, São
Paulo, December 1997), Boletim de Resumos, p. 230.
ACCORDI, L.A. & DUTRA, T.L., 1997. Fisionomia das folhas de angiospermas
acompanhantes de Araucária angustifolia: uma ferramenta para avaliação
dos parâmetros climáticos, modernos e do passado. In: Reunião
Acadêmica da Biologia (São Leopoldo, RS, November 1997), 6,
Painel e Resumo.
STRANZ, A., DUTRA, T. L. 1997. Anatomia foliar de Araucária
angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze em formações vegetais do Rio
Grande do Sul: uma ferramenta para a paleobotânica. In: Reunião
de Paleobotânicos e Palinólogos, 9 (IX RPP, Guarulhos, São
Paulo, December 1997), Boletim de Resumos, p. 249.
(In Press)
DUTRA , T.L., in press. Climate and vegetation in Antarctic Peninsula
during the Cretaceous and Tertiary. In: Koutsoukos, E.A.M., Bengtson, P.,
de Klasz, I. & Batten, D.J. (Eds), Mesozoic Biogeographical Patterns
in the South Atlantic (IGCP Project 381 Thematic Issue), Cretaceous Research,
Special Issue.
Summary: Biochronostratigraphic framework suggest by the fossils: with
reference to Mesozoic, the King George and Nelson Islands, the two most
northern islands from Shetalnd Island, exibits probably only an interval
that corresponds to the end of Campanian (77My). Other works and datations
indicate a tendency to more old ages when you go to the south , with Jurassic
and Triassic appearing at Livingston Island . To the north of King George
Island and in Orkney and South Georgia Islands, the ages become more youger
, with taphofloras from the late Paleoecene - early Eocene, and late Oligocene.
With the end of the vegetation (cold climates arrive), only marine organisms
are registered (scarcely fossil wood yet) in probably late Miocene and
Pliocene times.
Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Departamento de Geociências,
Laboratório de Estratigrafia e Paleobiologia.
Reported by Átila Augusto Stock da Rosa - (e-mail: atila@base.ufsm.br)
- Campus da UFSM, Faixa de Camobi km 09, prédio 17, 97119-900 Santa
Maria, RS.
1. Research projects:
a) Palaeogeography and provenance of the pre-rift sequence (Berriasian)
from the interior basins, northeastern Brazil
- Collaborator: Antônio Jorge Vasconcellos Garcia (Curso de Pós-graduação
- Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos)
- No external funding right now, received FAPEMIG (Fundação
de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais) and CNPq (Conselho
Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) fundings
in 1993 and fellowships - Field work finished, which led to a Master Thesis,
several abstracts and papers were concluded in the palaeogeographic, palaeobiogeographic
and provenance basis
b) Bauru Group (Upper Cretaceous) from Mato Grosso State, central-western
Brazil
- Collaborator: Ricardo Kalikowski Weska (Departamento de Recursos
Minerais - Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso)
- No external funding right now, received a CNPq fellowship in 1997
- Field work in the two southernmost half-grabens (Poxoréu and
Chapada dos Guimarães), next field season (1999) will cover sub-basins
in Chapada dos Parecis, one abstract presented in a regional meeting on
central-western geology, and one submitted to the Third Annual Conference
of IGCP 381
c) Upper Triassic landscapes and biota from Santa Maria region, southern
Brazil
- Geology Team from Laboratório de Geologia Ambiental (LAGEOLAM)
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria
- Fundings from FAPERGS (Fundação de Amparo à
Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul)
- Begginning field and lab work, organization of the palaeontological
collection in a Stratigraphy and Palaeobiology Laboratory, preparation
of the first described and well preserved prosauropod from the Triassic
of Brazil, one abstract submitted to the National Symposium on Vertebrate
Palaeontology, and one to the Third Annual Conference of IGCP 381.
2. List of acknowledged publications:
Garcia, A.J.V., Da Rosa, Á.A.S. & Goldberg, K. 1997. Paleoenvironmental
and paleoclimatic controls on early diagenetic processes and the fossil
record in the continental Cretaceous sandstones of Brazil. In: Gaea heidelbergensis,
p. 136-137 [Abstracts volume of the 18th IAS European Meetinf of Sedimentology,
Heidelberg, September 2-4, 1997].
Da Rosa, Á.A.S., Weska, R.K. & Santos, W.A., 1997. Faciologia
de calcários do Grupo Bauru em Poxoréu, MT. In: VI Simpósio
Regional de Geologia do Centro-Oeste (Cuiabá/MT, 26-31 October 1997),
Anais, pp. 105-108.
(In Press)
Da Rosa, Á.A.S., in press. Continental limestone facies from
the Upper Cretaceous of Mato Grosso State, central-western Brazil. Third
Annual Conference of IGCP 381 (Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina), Abstracts.
Da Rosa, Á.A.S. & Garcia, A.J.V., in press. Palaobiogeographic
considerations on Juro-Cretaceous of northeastern interior Brazil. In:
Koutsoukos, E.A.M., Bengtson, P., de Klasz, I. & Batten, D.J. (Eds),
Mesozoic Biogeographical Patterns in the South Atlantic (IGCP Project 381
Thematic Issue), Cretaceous Research, Special Issue.
Da Rosa, Á.A.S., Azevedo, S.A.K.de, Boelter, R.A. & Leal,
L.A., in press. On the discovery of a prosauropod in the Upper Triassic
of Santa Maria region, southern Brazil. Third Annual Conference of IGCP
381 (Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina), Abstracts.
(Submitted)
Azevedo, S.A.K.de, Da Rosa, Á.A.S., Boelter, R.A. & Leal,
L.A., submitted A new prosauropod dinosaur from the Neotriassic of southern
Brazil. I Simpósio Brasileiro de Paleotologia de Vertebrados (7-12
December 1998, Porto Alegre).
Garcia, A.J.V., Da Rosa, Á.A.S. & Goldberg, K., submitted.
Paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic controls on early diagenetic processes
and the fossil records in continental Cretaceous sandstones in Brazil.
IGCP Symposium Volume of Journal of South American Earth Sciences ("Mesozoic
Palaoentology and Stratigraphy of South America and the South Atlantic")
3. Summary of biochronostratigraphic work:
Three terrestrial environments are being currently researched. A new
prosauropod dinosaur found in the uppermost Triassic rocks from Santa Maria
is in preparation, and its correlation with Argentinian fauna will help
to envisage migration routes, evolutionary trends and a biostratigraphic
refinement of Brazilian Triassic.
Provenance studies in the pre-rift sequence (Berriasian) of the interior
basins, northeastern Brazil, allowed correlation of several basins, while
pointing out a period of basement uplift and basin disconnection. The compilation
of biostratigraphic papers done in my Master Thesis points that pre-rift
sequence must be considered as Berriasian, which should be considered the
updated age of Dom João local stage.
The stratigraphic and petrologic work in the Upper Cretaceous has recently
started, but a broad correlation with Bauru Group can be envisaged. The
Upper Cretaceous in Mato Grosso State must be revised, and this work will
begin in the next field season
Departamento de Geologia Sedimentar, UNESP - Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
Reported by Dimas Dias Brito (E-mail: dimas@caviar.igce.unesp.br)
Research Projects:
1) Micropaleontology, biochronostratigraphy, and paleoenvironments
of the non-marine Cretaceous sedimentary deposits of the Bauru Group, western
area of the São Paulo State, Brazil (*)
(*) this project is coordinated by Dimas Dias-Brito (UNESP,Rio Claro,
Brazil)
a) List of colallaborators: Dimas Dias-Brito (UNESP-Rio Claro), Eduardo
Aldo Musacchio (UNPSJB, Argentina), M. S. A. S. Maranhão (Geological
Institute of São Paulo), J. M. Suarez (UNESP- Presidente Prudente),
J. C. de Castro (UNESP-Rio Claro), Paulo Milhomen and René Rodrigues
(PETROBRAS-CENPES-Rio de Janeiro).
b) Source of external funding: Fundação de Amparo à
Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, São Paulo)
c) Short report on activities:
The project is a program to investigate the micropaleontology of the
Bauru Group, an important Cretaceous continental unity of the Paraná
Basin. This unit, as observed in outcrops and bore holes data (cores and
cutting samples), is largely composed by oxidized siliciclastic rocks (sandstones,
siltites and argilite/shales) containing, in some levels, ostracods and
charophyte gyrogonites. Systematic and paleoecological studies of these
organisms are being associated with facies and istotopic analysis. Stratigraphic
correlation is being carried out taking into account outcrops and bore
holes data. The project search for a better chronostratigraphic definition
of the of the Bauru Group (until now considered as a middle to Late Cretaceous
unit). Coeval sections from South America, Africa and South Atlanctic are
being compared, taking into account the micropaleontological content. The
research results will benift hydrogeological programs in the area.
Since 1997 the following activities were performed: descrition of several
outcrops and cored sediments (with photographic documentation) and study
of bore holes eletric profiles. Collect of material. In the laboratory
samples were processed and a significative biotic content was analysed
and documented using optical and eletronic microscopes.
2) Mid-Cretaceous Stratigraphy and Paleoceanography of the southeastern
Brazilian Continental Margin (*) (**)
(*) This project is coordinated by Dr. Dimas Dias-Brito (UNESP, Rio
Claro, Brazil)
(**) Two Ph.D. Thesis is under development in UFRGS - Brazil
a) List of collaborators: Dimas Dias-Brito (UNESP-Rio Claro), Ricardo
Latgé M. de Azevedo, Armando A. Scarparo Cunha (PETROBRAS-CENPES-Rio
de Janeiro), Daniel M. Bonotto, Antonio J. R. Nardy (UNESP-Rio Claro).
b) Source of external funding: PADCT - Ministry of Science and Technology
- Brazil
b) Short report on activities and main results:
The project was recently initiated. It focuses the Campos and Santos
offshore basins and some bore holes drilled by the Deep Sea Drilling Project
in the Falkland/Malvin Plateau and Namibia margin. The study aims a more
refined geochronological framework for the mid Cretaceous (late ? Aptian/
Early Albian to Turonian), as well as to improve the paleoceanographic
knowledge regarding to these two basins at that time.
Lithostratigraphic analysis, seismic stratigraphy and study of electrical
profiles will be combined with biostratigraphic (foraminifera and calcareous
nannoplankton), carbonate microfacies, organic and inorganic geochemistry
data. The approach includes ciclicity and sequence stratigraphy. The research
results will benefit the petroleum exploration and explotation in the area.
3) An Atlas on the mid Cretaceous pelagic carbonate rocks of Brazil.
a) Coordinator: Dimas Dias-Brito (UNESP-Rio Claro, Brazil)
b) Source of external funding: Fundação de Amparo à
Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, São Paulo)
c) Short report on activities and main results:
The Atlas is situated in the scope of the Atlas of South Atlantic Cretaceous
Carbonate Microfacies (IGCP 381, Thematic Working Group).
The manuscripts are being prepared to be send to the publisher. It
presents the main mid Cretaceous open sea microfaciological patterns found
along the Brazilian coastal basins. The major biogenic elements are displayed
in dozens of plates. Each plate is commented concerning paleoecological
aspects. It is presented a paleobathymetric method to be used in coeval
and similar sections (Tethyan ones).
Departamento de Engenharia de Minas - DEMINAS, Centro de Tecnologia
e Geociencias - CTG, Universidade federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
Reported by Eldemar de Albuquerque Menor - UFPE, DEMINAS, Cidade Universitária,
50740 Recife, PE, BRAZIL. (e-mail: menor@zaz.com.br)
Research Project:
Genesis of the Maastrichtian phosphatic deposits of the Pernambuco
Paraíba Basin, Northeastern Brazil
Participants: Armand Boujo & Eldemar A. Menor.
Sponsor: FAPESP, since february 97 to february 99.
Publications:
MENOR, E. A., 1997. Concepts on the prospection and evaluation of gypsum
deposits, Araripe Basin. SICOM, Gypsumfair 97 (Recife), pp. 30-33.
Summary: In the Santana Formation (Aptian), Araripe Basin, northeastern
Brazil, the mining gypsum lithologic bed set constitutes proximal facies
of a (almost) closed sedimentary system, where some marine incursions were
occurred. Structurally, these facies are distributed overlapping horst
features of the riftean period of the basin. The graben dominions coincide
with the depocentres of the basin during the Santana Formation sedimentation.
A geophysical modeling including electroresistivity, gravimetry and seismic
integrated data point out the best prospective areas.
The mining gypsum bed set present a typical red bed a few meters above
the main gypsum layer.
X-ray diffratometry, and chemical analyses, display that the gypsum
ores includes minor quantities of anhydrite, generally. However, the lower
section of the main gypsum layer has a dominant anhydritic composition.
MENOR, E.A., SIAL, A.N. & FERREIRA, V.P., 1997. Comportamento isotópico
de d13C PDB e d18O PDB na transição Maastrichtiano-Paleoceno
em bacias marginais do Nordeste do Brasil. Fortaleza, XVII Simp. Geol.
NE (Fortaleza), SBG Bol. 15, pp. 86-89.
Summary: The K-T transition and the Lower Paleocene are studied in
two carbonatic sedimentary sequences: Pernambuco-Paraíba Basin and
Potiguar Basin, Northeastern Brazil. In the first one sampling was made
in outcrop (Poty Quarry) and includes carbonatic rocks from the upper section
of the Gramame Formation, and from the Maria Farinha Formation (Lower Paleocene).
The second one includes corebit carbonatic samples from offshore drill
hole (1-RNS-8), interesting the Guamaré Formation (Potiguar Basin).
The lithological profiles, %COT and the isotopic data was displayed
in logs and compared to the relative global sea movements (Haq et al.),
according equalized scales based in the mean rate of sedimentation between
biostratigraphically controlled layers. The isotopic behavior is somewhat
similar in the K-T boundary both in the Pernambuco-Paraíba and Potiguar
basins. The K-T boundary is characterized by increasing of 18O values just
before the boundary, and by a sudden drop in d13C values right after that
Because mixtures into the corebit sampling intervals (3m) the isotopic
contrast are frequently attenuated.
The Paleocene-Eocene boundary (Potiguar Basin) is marked by a strong
incursion of 18O values, according global changes from fresh to warmer
climates. According the comparison between isotopic data and the relative
sea water movements it was possible to separate the Danian and Tanethian
stages in the Paleocene.
Menor, E.A. & Amaral, A.J.R., 1997. A transição santoniano-maastrichtiana
da Bacia Pernambuco-Paraíba: revisão estratigráfica.
XVII Simp. Geol. NE (Fortaleza), SBG Bol. 15, pp. 199-201.
Summary: The Maastrichtian "Olinda phosphorite" (Gramame Formation,
Pernambuco-Paraíba Basin) results from reworking of phosphatic elements
(microfossils internal molds, coprolites, grains, etc.) included in carbonatic
and detrital sediments of a previous transgressive sequence of Campanian
age. These elements were concentrated by hydrodynamic mechanisms as winnowing
and currents on favorable sites of a shallow platform, throughout a regressive
event, in the early stage of the Maastrichtian. The carbonatic phase was
leached during the diagenetic evolution.
The phosphatic limestones are the oceanward counterpart of the "Olinda
phosphorite". However, this geometric disposition does not represent a
synsedimentary evolution.
Sial, A.N., Ferreira, V.P. & Menor,E.A., 1997. C and O isotopes
in offshore and continental limestones, NE Brazil. South-Amer. Symp. Isot.
Geol (São Paulo), pp. 295-296.
Summary: The K-T boundary in two sedimentary limestone sequences was
studied on basis of the isotopic behavior of carbonatic rocks. The first
one includes samples from an outcrop (Poty Quarry) regarding the Gramame
(Maastrichtian) and Maria Farinha (Paleocene) formations, Pernambuco-Paraíba
Basin (PE-PB Basin). The second one includes corebit carbonatic samples
from offshore drill holes, interesting the Guamaré Formation (Potiguar
Basin).
d18O ranges for the PE-PB Basin limestones are similar to each other,
from -6 to -3 PDB and -5.5 to 2.7 PDB , respectively, and d13C values are
all positive. The K-T boundary is characterized by increasing of 18O values
from 4.0 to 0.9 PDB , just before the boundary, and by a sudden drop in
d13C values from +1.9 to 5.5 PDB right after that. A minimum in the d13C
after the K-T boundary is also observed elsewhere and is interpreted as
possible change in the biomass or related to an increase in the oxidation
of the organic carbon on land or on newly exposed continental shelf, due
to a drop in the sea level.
In the Potiguar Basin the K-T boundary is also characterized by a d13C
minimum. The bottom of the Eocene is marked by a positive incursion of
d13C, which is accompanied by a negative one in d18O.
Laboratório de Geociências, Universidade Guarulhos (UnG)-Guarulhos,
SP, BRAZIL.
Reported by Maria Judite Garcia - UnG, Praça Tereza Cristina,
No. 1, Centro. 07023-070 Guarulhos, SP, BRAZIL. (e-mail: geo@ung.br)
Research Project:
Upper Cretaceous Continental Sedimentation in the Austral Portion of
South America
Working-Group Chairman: Vicente José Fulfaro (UnG / UNESP)
Colaborators:
Antonio Roberto Saad (UNESP/UnG)
Alessandro Batezelli (UNESP)
Carla Cristina Campos (UnG)
Cesar A. Goso (U.R)
Gerardo Veroslavsky (U.R)
Hector de Santa Ana (ANCAP and U.R)
José Alexandre de J. Perinotto (UNESP)
Maria Judite Garcia (UnG)
* UnG - Universidade Guarulhos
* UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista
* U.R - Universidad de la Republica (Uruguay)
* ANCAP - Administración Nacional de Hidrocarburos, Alchool
y Portland (Uruguay)
Financial support: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa
do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), Faculdad de Ciencias de la Universidad
de la Republica (U.R) and Universidade Guarulhos.
Short Report: Five Cretaceous continental basins are being investigated.
Three of then are located in Brazil (Parecis, Sanfranciscana and Bauru),
one in Uruguay (Santa Lucia) and the fifth one in Uruguay and Argentina
(Paysandu). Major efforts in field investigation are being done in Bauru,
Paysandu and Santa Lucia basins. The project main goal is to determine
the Upper Cretaceous units in these sedimentary piles, its relationships
with the precedent cycles and to stablish the paleogeography, for this
time interval, in this portion of South America. In order to support a
general conclusion and cronocorrelations with other units of existing basins
in the ueighbouring countries such as Bolívia and Paraguay similar
studies was also carried on.
Since we already had gathered the necessary data from Bolívia
and Sanfranciscana basins and the Santa Lucía basin had its biostratigraphy
studied by Carla Cristina Campos presented as her MSc. dissertation theme
and its stratigraphy by Gerardo Veroslavsky as his DSc. thesis, presently,
field and paleontological investigations are being done only in the Bauru
(Brazil and Paraguay) and the Paysandu (Uruguay and Argentina) basins.
The main achieved results reached to the moment indicate the presence
of two well defined groups of continental basins in this sector of South
America. The first group, comprising the Santa Lucia basin and possible
some basal units of the Bauru and Paysandu basins, seems to be originated
in the Albian expanding to the beginning of Upper Cretaceous The second
one is represented by the units that occupies the Bauru basin major areas
and the eastern margin of the Paysandu basin. Their depositional episodes
started in the Coniacion (?) ending, probably, at the K/T boundary. Each
of the two groups, as a whole, presents a different behaviour in respect
to their structural frameworks and depositional patterns.
Publications:
(All are acknowledged contributions to FAPESP Project No. 1996/7090-8
-"O Cretáceo Superior Sedimentar Continental na Parte Austral da
América do Sul", and to IGCP Project 381 - South Atlantic Mesozoic
Correlations - UNESCO).
CAMPOS, C. C., GARCIA, M. J., DINO, R. & VEROSLAVSKY, G., 1997.
Palynological records in the Migues Formation (Borehole SL11-SP1), Santa
Lucia Basin - Uruguay. Revista Universidade Guarulhos, Ano II - No. Especial,
pp. 85-97.
Summary: Interpreted as an intracratonic rift, the Mesozoic Santa Lucía
Basin is located within the southern part of the Sul -Rio-Grandense Shield,
Uruguay. Boreholes drilled in the course of petroleum exploration provide
the opportunity to estabilish the lithologic composition and age of the
basins sedimentary sequence. Available core samples of continental pelitic
levels in the Migues Formation of the SL11-SP1/T11 well have proven particularly
amenable to palynological analysis. Quantitative data of recovered palynoflora
reveals that the assemblage is dominated by trilete spores and rimulate
and colpate pollen grains occuring in almost what amounts. Angiospermous
pollen grains are present as minor components, reaching 8% of the total
assemblage. Systematic study disclosed the presence of the following taxa:
Retitriletes sp, Klukisporites pseudoreticulatus, Cicatricosisporites sp,
Foveosporites sp, Gnetaceaepolllenites jansonii, Steevesipollenites grambasti,
Cycadopites follicularis, Striatopollis reticulatus, Stephanocolpites sp.
and Cyclocristella senticosa. The latter species are here recorded for
the first time from sediments of South America. An Early Cretaceous (Albian)
age is inferred from the presence of Stephanocolpites and Cyclocristella
senticosa. The high frequency of rimulate and polyplicate pollen grains,
associated with a very conspicuous presence of pteridophytic/bryophytic
spores and Botryococcus algae, for the Core T11 of the Borehole SL11-SP1
(Piedra Sola), reflect a warm, humid climate. The presence of terrestrial
palynomorphs and continental organic debris, without any marine microplankton,
indicates a non-marine depositional environment for the host sediments.
CAMPOS, C. C., GARCIA, M. J., DINO, R., VEROSLAVSKY, G., SAAD, A.R.
& FULFARO, V.J., 1998. Castellanos Formation palynological record from
SL9-C1 and SL12-SB wells in the Santa Lucía Basin northern portion,
Cretaceous of Uruguay. II Congreso Urugayo de Geologia (Punta del Este,
May 1998), Proceedings, pp. 173-176.
Summary: It is herein presented the occurrence of Albian palynomorphs
in the Castellanos Formation a sedimentary unit of continental origin found
in core samples from the SL9-C1 and SL12-SB wells, both drilled in the
northern sub-basin of the Santa Lucía basin in southeastern Uruguay.
In the spore-polinic association analized are decribed pteridophytic
representants such as Cicatricosisporites, Klukisporites, Appendicisporites,
Densoisporites, Cyathidites, Leptolepidites, Taurocosporites genera, of
the gymnospoerms like Podocarpidites, Gamerroites, Callialasporites, Cycadopites,
Classopollis, representing the Ephedrales like Equisetosporites, Steevesipillinites,
Gnetaceaepollenites and Stellatopollis indicating the presence of angiosperms.
Also, a great quantity of Bothryococcus genera, a continental alga, occurs
associated to this microflora.
(In Press)
CAMPOS, C. C., GARCIA, M. J., DINO, R., VEROSLAVSKY, G., SAAD, A.R.
& FULFARO, V.J., in press. Palynomorphs from the Castellanos Formation
in ythe northern section of the Santa Lucía Basin, Albian of Uruguay.
Revista Universidade Guarulhos.
Summary: It is herein described the occurrence of albian palinomorphs
in the Castellanos Formation a sedimentary unit of continental origin in
core samples from the SL9-C1 and SL12-SB wells, both drilled in the northern
sub-basin of the Santa Lucía basin located in southeastern Uruguay.
In the spore-polinic association analized are described briophytic,
Stereisporites, Cingulotriletes, pteridophytic representants such as Cicatricosisporites,
Klukisporites, Appendicisporites, Densoisporites, Cyathidites, Leptolepidites,
Taurocosporites genera, gymnosperms like Podocarpidites, Gamerroites, Callialasporites,
Cycadopites, Classopollis, representing the Ephedrales like Equisetosporites,
Steevesipollenites, Gnetaceaepollenites and Stellatopollis indicating the
presence of angiosperms. Also, associated to this microflora.occurs a great
quantity of Bothryococcus genera, a continental algal.
CAMPOS, C. C., GARCIA, M. J., DINO, R., VEROSLAVSKY, G., SAAD, A.R.
& FULFARO, V.J., in press. Palynostratigraphy of Santa Lucía
Basin, Albian from Uruguay. Annual Meeting 1998 AASP.
Summary: The Cretaceous section of the Santa Lucía Basin is
represented by two units named Castellanos and Migues formations of fluvio-lacustrine
origin. Presently a structural high named Santa Rosa divides the Santa
Lucía Basin in two sectors known as North and South sub-basins.
The palynological study in these two units was based in 71 samples
collected in cores from 6 wells drilled in this basin, but only 7 of these
samples, belonging to the SL9-C1 (samples T15 and T20) and SL12-SB (samples
T3 and T7) wells in the northern sub-basin and in the SL7-S2 (sample T15),
SJ-2 (sample T22) and SL11-SP1 (sample T11) wells in the South sub-basin
were fertiles.
Lithologically the Castellanos Formation is constituted by gray pelits
with intercalated sandstones and eventual pyrite and evaporite laminae,
association that supports the lacustrine system atributed to this stratigraphic
level of the basin. The predominant lithology of the Migues Formation is
composed by red sandstones intercalated with centimetric beds of brown/red
pelits attributed as have been originated by fluvial deposits. Both formations
have a transitional contact and interfingers laterally.
The poorly and diversified palynofloristic association and the small
number of fertiles samples did not favoured the stabilishement of a more
accurate biostratigraphic zonation.
Based in the limited stratigraphic range of some of these palynomorphs,
as Striatopollis reticulatus, Stellatopollis barghornii, Klukisporites
variegatus, Eucomiidites troedssonii, Equisetosporites ambiguus, Stephanocolpites
sp, and Cyclocristella senticosa among others more abundants and guides
for Albian deposits, as Cycadopites, Classopollis, Exesipollenites tumulus,
Spheripollenites scabratus, Steevesipollenties, Podocarpidites, Gamerroites
and Retitriletes, also frequents in the neighbouring Cretaceous basins
of Argentina, an Albian age was assigned to this fertile stratigraphic
interval which is correlated to the Petrobras P-280 Zone estabilished for
the Brazilian Cretaceous marginal basins.
In samples from wells situated closer to the ancient basin margins
occur a great variety of spores species belonging to the Cicatricosisporites
genus, and other palynomorphs related to bryophites and pteridophytes characterizing
a more humidy zone to these areas.
As it is common to the Albian strata of cratonic basins in South America,
Europe, Africa and Asia, Botrhyococcus spores are also abundant in this
association.
Joint Brazilian/Argentinian research projects related to IGCP Project
381 on Cretaceous continental ecosystems.
Reported by Renato Rodolfo Andreis - Geology Institute, Federal University
of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), 21910-240 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. E-mail:
andreis@igeo.ufrj.br
1) Stratigraphy, paleoenvironments and paleontology of Upper Cretaceous
sedimentary successions from Patagonia, Argentina (*).
(*) This project is being developed under the coordination of Dr. Ruben
Cuneo, and is included into the research program of the Museo Paleontológico
"Egidio Feruglio" (Trelew, Chubut, Argentina).
a) List of Collaborators
Dr. RUBEN CUNEO - Museo Paleontológico "Egidio Feruglio", Trelew,
Province of Chubut, Argentina.
Dr. SERGIO ARCHANGELSKY - Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino
Rivadavia", Paleobotany Section, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Dr. RENATO ANDREIS - Instituto de Geociências - Geology Dept.
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Brazil.
Geol. GERARDO CLADERA - Museo Paleontológico "Egidio Feruglio,
Trelew, Province of Chubut, Argentina.
Dra. PATRICIA ZALBA - Comisión de Investigación Científica
de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CETMIC) and Universidad Nacional de La
Plata, Laboratorio de Análisis Cerámico, M.B. Gonnet, Provincia
de Buenos Aures, Argentina.
b) Source of external funding:
Museo Paleontológico "Egidio Feruglio", Trelew, Province of
Chubut, Argentina
c) Short Report on activities and main results:
Throughout this project, detrital successions of siliciclastic nature,
that appear intercalated between the reddish fluvial vulcaniclastic rocks
of the Cerro Barcino Formation (Chubut Group), of uncertain age between
the Barremian and the Campanian, and the marine sandy successins belonging
to Roca or Salamanca Formations (upper Maastrichtian-Danian) will be characterised.
This stratigraphic interval represents a very extended episode at the northern
part of Patagonia and, particularly, around the Meseta of Somuncurá.
Also to this interval many formational units have been related by its content
in microfossils and/or vertebrate remains. Among these units, there must
be mentioned the Los Alamitos, La Colonia, Puesto Escobar, Aguada de Cecilio,
Paso del Sapo, Lefipán and Coli Toro, as well others that crops
out at the Chubut, Rio Negro and Neuquén Provinces: Formations Laguna
Palacios, El Trébol (upper part), Meseta Espinosa (upper part),
Allen and Jagüel.
This project comprises a better knowledge on stratigraphy, paleoenvironmental
and paleogeographic interpretation of the siliciclastic and sometime pyroclastic
successions belonging to the Allen and La Colonia formations. These units
crops out in southern province of Rio Negro (Allen) and northern province
of Chubut (La Colonia), and represent a part of the evolutive history of
the Late Campanian - early to middle Maastrichtian interval, mainly related
to the transgression of the Maastrichtian sea. This transgressive event
covered progressively several parts of northern Patagonia and other regions
of Argentina located along the eastern border of the Pampean Range, or
at the southern Magallanes Basin.
In relation to the Allen Formation successions, studied at the Bajo
de Santa Rosa and nearest areas since 1993, after the last revision made
in January 1997, the geological map, that covers about 10,000 km2, has
been completed, and a text related to stratigraphy, paleoenvironmental
and paleogeographic evolution is now being prepared. The petrofacies study
of several sandstone and pyroclastic rocks is still under study.
Related to La Colonia successions, several detailed stratigraphic columns
were prepared (Cañadón de la Chiva Muerta and Cerro Bayo,
showing lithofacial and cyclicity characteristics, and location of fossiliferous
levels as well (leaves of angiosperms and conifers, sseds, and comminuted
plant remains, and vertebrate remains represented by dinosaur and plasiosaur
bones). Actually, also the study of clay minerals by X-ray techniques is
being done by Dra. Patricia Zalba to get a better knowledge of their origin,
composition and diagenetic modifications
2) Integrated study of the Baquero Formation (Lower Cretaceous) tafoflora,
Province of Santa Cruz, Argentina
(*) This project Is coordinated by Dr. Sergio Archangelsky - Museo
Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernanrdino Rivadavia", Buenos Aires,
Argentina
a) List of Collaborators:
Dr. SERGIO ARCHANGELSKY - Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino
Rivadavia", Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Dr. RUBEN CUNEO - Museo Paleontológico "Egidio Feruglio", Trelew,
Province of Chubut, Argentina.
Dr. RENATO ANDREIS - Instituto de Geociências - Geology Dept.
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Brazil
Dra. ANA ARCHANGELSKY - Museo Paleontológico "Egidio Feruglio",
Trelew, Province of Chubut, Argentina.
Dra. VILLAR DE SEOANE - Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino
Rivadavia", Buenos Aires, Argentina
Geol. GERARDO CLADERA - Museo Paleontológico "Egidio Feruglio",
Trelew, Province of Chubut, Argentina.
Tecn. LUIS LEZAMA - Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernanrdino
Rivadavia", Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Dra. PATRICIA ZALBA - Comisión de Investigación Científica
de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CETMIC) and Universidad Nacional de La
Plata, Laboratorio de Análisis Cerámico, M.B. Gonnet, Provincia
de Buenos Aures, Argentina.
b) Source of external funding:
Museo Paleontológico "Egidio Feruglio", and CONICET (National
Research Council of Argentina, Buenos Aires)
c) Short report on activities and main results:
After the end, in 1996, of the research related to the project "Fossil
flora and stratigraphy of the Baquero Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Province
of Santa Cruz, Argentina", new reseaches have started in 1998 with the
project "Integrated study of the Baquero Formation (Lower Cretaceous) tafoflora,
Province of Santa Cruz, Argentina". In relation to this project, during
February 1998 the volcaniclastic successions of the Baquero Formation cropping
out at Meseta Baquero, Estancia Bajo Tigre and Anfiteatro de Ticó
were again reviewed mainly in terms of their stratigraphy. This study,
initiated during 1997, allow as to recognize definitively that the Baquero
Formation can be subdivided into three units, all of them also with formational
character. In other words, the Baquero Group has been created and the next
step will be prepare a geological map showing the distribution of those
three new formations, including geological sections, detailed columnar
profiles and the distribution of the abundant flora in ach unit, allowing
in this case, a new evolutive view of the Baqueró paleoflora.
These units represents the evolution of Baquero Basin, from a initial
shallow lacustrian and related meandering fluvial systems (unit 1), to
later ephemerous river and shallow pond sedimentation (unit 2). The last
unit (unit 3) represents the installation of a huge braided fluvial system,
that eroded partially the unit 2 successions, and was flowing towards East
(in a general sense). The first two units include claystones, silstones,
primary tuffs and tuffaceous rocks (reworked primary tuffs), fine grained
up to breccias (breccias only at the second unit, composed of tuff fragments).
The third unit, include also lithic sandstones and conglomerates, derived
from the underlying volcanic and volcaniclastic (ignimbrites) basement
(Chon-Aike Formation) and other pyroclastic rocks (Bajo Grande Formation),
all of Jurassic age.
A M.Sc. Thesis was recently defended by Geol. Gerardo Cladera (Facultad
de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Airtes, Argentina)
under the direction of Dr. Ruben Cuneo (Museo Paleontologico "Egidio Feruglio",
Trelew, Chubut). The main scope of the thesis was the stratigraphy and
composition of the volcaniclastic successions at the Meseta Baquero, always
considered as the type area for the Baquero Formation. Based on this these
and other previous papers it was possible to consider the sequences as
belonging to the third unit. A paper describing the new stratigraphic scheme
and the nature of the volcaniclastic rocks included in each unit (by means
of normal microscopy, x-ray determinations, etc) is under development.
Only the first and third unit, include abundant plant remains and pollen,
that are under study by Dr. Sergio Archangelsky, Dra. Ana Archangelsky,
Dr. Ruben Cuneo, Dra. Villar de Seoane, and Tecn. Luis Lezama.
3) Paleoenvironments, paleoecology and paleoclima in the Upper Cretaceous
successions of the Triangulo Mineiro area (western Minas Gerais State,
Brazil) (*).
(*) A Doctorate Thesis is under development by Geol. Ramses Capilla
(Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal de Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil), under the direction of Prof. Renato Andreis (same Institution).
This thesis is named "Revisão estratigráfica e caracterização
paleoambiental da Formação Marília (Cretácico
Superior) na região do Triangulo Mineiro".
a) List of Collaborators: Geol. Ramses Capilla
b) Source of external funding: Grant from the National Research Council (CNPq-Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas, Brasilia, Brazil).
c) Short report on activities and main results:
In December 1997 a field-trip to the Triangulo Mineiro (Minas Gerais
State, Brazil) region was made, mainly for analysing the continental Late
Cretaceous successions at the locality of Prata. In that area remains of
dinosaurs (bones, teeths) and ichnofossils were collected in fluvial deposits
related to the Adamantina Formation. The sediments are mainly sandy, but
may include silstones and muds. The dinosaur remains appear mainly broken,
transported by fluvial currents, mainly related to channel facies. This
paleontological collection is now being prepared for study by specialists
from the Museu Nacional (UFRJ).
During May-June 1998 the geological mapping around the locality of
Uberaba (Minas Gerais, Brazil), was initiated, and mainly related to the
Marilia Formation successions. This unit, usualy considered as a independent
unit, seems to be a part of another unit (the Ponte Alta Formation, mainly
representing a proximal braided river sucession). This hypothesis, also
suggested by other authors, is based on the origin of the calcareous rocks
of the Marília Formation, probably related to the vertical migration
of a phreatic level, and not related to lacustrine deposition as other
researchers proclame.
In September Geol Rames Capilla will do a new field-trip to the thesis
area (mainly around the localities of Peirópolis and Uberaba, Minas
Gerais, Brazil) for continuing the mapping of the Late Cretaceous outcrops,
realize detailed stratigraphic sections, and collect dinosaur bone remains.
4) Geology, petrography and petrogenesis of Late Cretaceous-Early tertiary alkaline volcanoclastic deposits, related to igneous complexes of Rio de Janeiro State , Brazil.
a) List of Collaborators:
Dr. VITOR DE CARVALHO KLEIN - Museu Nacional - Universidade Federal
do Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil.
Dr. JOEL GOMES VALENÇA - Instituto de Geociências - Depto.
Geologia - Universidade Federal do Rio do Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro (RJ),
Brazil.
Dr. RENATO R. ANDREIS - Instituto de Geociências - Depto. Geologia
- Universidade do Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil.
Geol. M.Sc. RENATO R. CABRAL RAMOS - Instituto de Geociencias - Depto.
Geologia - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro (RJ),
Brazil
Geol. M.Sc. CIRO A. AVILA - Museu Nacional - Universidade Federal do
Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil.
Geol. M.Sc. RAMSES CAPILLA - Instituto de Geociências - Depto.
Geologia - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro (RJ),
Brazil.
Geol. M.Sc. ATLAS V. CORRÊA NETO - Instituto de Geociências
- Depto. Geologia - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro
(RJ), Brazil.
Dr. Andre Luiz Ferrari - Departamento de Geologia, UFF, Niterói.
b) Source of external funding: Field-trips were made with our own funds.
c) Short report on activities and main results:
During the period of June to August 1998, field-trips were made to
the region of Itauna, near Niterói (State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil),
for studing several outcrops of volcaniclastic successions. These successions
represent explosive volcanic events, related to multiple intrusive processes
of subvolcanic character. Two major phases of intrusion were defined by
Valença (1980)(*): an early phase is composed of pseudoleucite-nepheline
syenites and nepheline-rich syenites as two ring intrusions, while the
late phase consists of one ring intrusion of analcite-nepheline syenite,
two intrusive cores of phonolite, and a series of magmatic intrusive breccias.
The outcrops of these breccias were preliminary reviewed and here considered
as ignimbritic in character. Owing to the forest cover is difficult to
recognize a complete succession and even its thickness, but it is supposed
to reach almost 60 m. A preliminay mapping and three detailed estratigraphic
profiles were made. As a result, all the deposits can be considered as
welded air-fall tuffs, including airborne ejecta, implying deposition from
a pyroclastic flow. The main and representative rocks (around 20 samples)
will be studied by means of normal microscopy (thin sections) and scanning
electron microscopy as well, for describing composition, textural and structural
characteristics.
(*) Valença, J. G., 1980. Geology, Petrography and Petrogenesis
of some Alkaline Igneous Complexes of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. PhD
Thesis, Faculty of Graduate Studies, The University of Western Ontario,
Canada.
Publications:
ARCHANGELSKY, A., 1997. Pseudoctenis giganteus, a new cycad from the
Baqueró Formation, Lower Cretaceous of Argentina. Ameghiniana, 34(4):
pp. 387-391, Buenos Aires.
ARCHANGELSKY, S. & LEZAMA, L., 1998. Typological note on the Hausmania
species (Filicales, Dipteridaceae) described by E. Feruglio (1937) based
on Mesozoic material from Patagonia, Argentina. Ameghiniana, 35(1): pp.
101-102, Buenos Aires
ARCHANGELSKY, S. & VILLAR DE SEOANE, L., 1998. Palynological studies
of the Baqueró Formation (Cretaceous), Santa Cruz Province, Argentina.
VIII. Ameghiniana, 35 (1): pp. 7-19, Buenos Aires.
CARVALHO, L.B., AZEVEDO, S.A.K. & CAPILLA, R., 1997. Evidências
da presença de Plesiossauros (Sauropterygia: Elasmosauridae) na
bacia Pernambucana-Paraíba, Neocretáceo do nordeste brasileiro.
An. Acad. Bras. Ci., Vol. 69(3): 434.
HENRIQUES, D.D.R., AZEVEDO, S.A.K., KELLNER, A.W., CARVALHO, L.B.,
CAPILLA, R., SAYÃO, J.M., CARVALHO, A.B., SILVA, H.P. & SOARES,
A.A., 1998. New fossils from the Late Cretaceous Bauru Group at Prata,
Minas Gerais, Brasil. An. Acad. Bras. Ci., Vol. 70.
(In Press)
To be presented to the VII Sedimentological Argentine Meeting, Salta,
12-16 October 1998 :
ANDREIS, R.R. & CLADERA, G., in press. Sistemas fluviales entrelazados
neocretácicos en la Patagonia septentrional argentina: facies, ciclicidad
y paleocorrientes.
ANDREIS, R.R., in press. Estratigrafía, composición,
paleoambientes y paleogeografía de algunas unidades cretácicas
de la Patagonia, Argentina.
MANASSERO, M., ZALBA, P.E., ANDREIS, R.R. & MOROSI, M., in press.
Estratigrafia y composición de sucesiones volcaniclasticas de la
Formación Cerro Barcino (Grupo Chubut, Cretácico Superior),
entre Los Altares y Las Plumas, Chubut, Argentina.
DEPT. OF GEOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF BUENOS
AIRES RESEARCH GROUP
Reported by R. Scasso - Dept. of Geology, University of Buenos Aires,
ARGENTINA.
(1) Title of research project(s) related to SAMC: Stratigraphy and sedimentology
of the Ameghino Formation = Nordenskjöld Formation (Late Jurassic)
of the Antarctic peninsula, with emphasis in ammonite-radiolarian stratigraphy
and diagenetic processess.
Coordination: Roberto A. Scasso (Univ. de Buenos Aires - Argentina),
(a) List of collaborators:
Wolfgang Kiessling, Arnold Zeiss (Univ. Erlangen - Germany).
Alberto Riccardi (Univ. Nac. de La Plata - Argentina),
Francisco Medina (CIRGEO - Argentina)
(b) Source(s) of external funding: PEI = Proyecto de Estímulo a la Investigación, from Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentine. Logistic support in Antarctica from the Instituto Antártico Argentino.
(c) Short report on activities and main results since September 1997.
Main activities pointed to high-resolution radiolarian-ammonite stratigraphy.
New biostratigraphic data from co-occurring radiolarians and ammonites
in sections of Upper Jurassic sequences of the Antarctic Peninsula (Byers
Peninsula, in Livingston Island, Sharp Valley, in James Ross Island and
Longing Gap), permit a revised and more refined chronostratigraphic assignment.
New data allow the definition of a revised chronostratigraphic assignment
of some North American radiolarian zones established by Pessagno and collaborators
and correlation with Late Jurassic sequences all over the world.
Studies on the frequency of explosive volcanic eruptions and tuff-radiolarite
Markov cycles in the Late Jurassic volcanic arc are being carried out.
Preliminary results were submitted to argentine scientific Meetings (VII
Reunión Argentina de Sedimentología - October 1998 - Salta)
and Latinoamerican Geological Congress - Buenos Aires - November 1998).
A paper about Diagenetic evolution of Upper Jurassic carbonate concretions
from the Antarctic Peninsula by Roberto Scasso and Wolfgang Kiessling is
ready to be submitted to the Journal of Sedimentary Research. It deals
with tabular and lenticular calcite concretions widespread in Upper Jurassic
mudstone-tuff sequences of the Antarctic Peninsula. Mineralogical, geochemical
(main and trace elements and stable isotopes) are presented and the diagenetic
history of the beds in several localities with different diagenetic grades
is analysed.
(2) List of publications since September 1997, acknowledged as contributions
to SAMC :
Abstracts and Extended Abstracts:
KIESSLING, W. & SCASSO, R., 1997. Tithonian-Berriasian radiolarian
biostratigraphy of the Austral Province in Antarctica. - INTERRAD VIII,
Abstracts, p. 76, Paris-Bierville.
(In Press)
MEDINA, F. & SCASSO, R.A., in press. Aporte a la Bioestratigrafía
del Grupo Byers, Isla Livingston, Shetlands del Sur, Antártida.
IV Jornadas de Comunicaciones sobre Investigaciones Antárticas,
Actas.
IDOYAGA, M.G., SCASSO, R.A., LOPETRONE, E.J., Y RINALDI, C.A., in press.
Manifestación de cinc e indicios de mineralizacion en la Península
Byers, Isla Livingston, Islas Shetland del Sur, Antártida. IV Jornadas
de Comunicaciones sobre Investigaciones Antárticas, Actas.
KIESSLING, W., SCASSO, R.A., in press. Bioestratigrafia de radiolarios
del Titoniano-Berriasiano de la Provincia Austral en Antártida.
IV Jornadas de Comunicaciones sobre Investigaciones Antárticas,
Actas.
SCASSO, R.A., RICHTER, M. & VIERA DIAS, E., in press. Fish-bearing
outcrops from the Upper Jurassic of the Antarctic Peninsula and its paleoenvironment.
IV Jornadas de Comunicaciones sobre Investigaciones Antárticas,
Actas.
Long papers: (In Press)
KIESSLING, W., SCASSO, R., ZEISS, A., RICCARDI, A., MEDINA, F., in
press. Combined Radiolarian-Ammonite Stratigraphy for the Late Jurassic
of the Antarctic Peninsula: Implications for Radiolarian Stratigraphy.
Geodiversitas.
Research Project:
Lower Cretaceous ammonite faunas of the Neuquén Basin, Argentina
Reported by Peter Rawson (e-mail: ucfbpfr@ucl.ac.uk)
Collaborators: Dra Maria B Aguirre-Urreta (University of Buenos Aires)
and Professor Peter F Rawson (University College London).
Funding: The British Council (Argentina)/ANTORCHAS
The project has been running for several years, and the first phase
culminated in the publication of a detailed ammonite zonation for the Valanginian
to Barremian sequence of the Neuquén Basin (Aguirre-Urreta &
Rawson 1997). Funding has just been renewed and the project will be expanding
to embrace colleagues working on nannofossils, foraminifera, palynology/palynofacies
and strontium isotope stratigraphy. The aim is to produce an integrated
biostratigraphy for the basin and establish firmer correlations with the
"standard" sequences in Europe. In the process many taxa are being described
fully for the first time.
The Neuquén Basin opened to the Pacific and has some faunal
links with Andean basins further north. However, we have recently established
some ammonite links with the Austral Basin during the Valanginian (Aguirre-Urreta
& Rawson 1998) and Hauterivian which indicate a physical connection
between the two basins. As the Austral Basin opened to the South Atlantic
our work in the Neuquén Basin now has a direct relevance to the
objectives of project 381.
Publications:
Aguirre-Urreta, M.B. & Rawson, P.F., 1997. The ammonite sequence
in the Agrio Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Neuquén Basin, Argentina.
Geological Magazine 134, pp. 449-458.
(In Press)
Aguirre-Urreta, M.B. & Rawson, P.F., in press. The Early Cretaceous
(Valanginian) ammonite Chacantuceras gen. nov. - a link between the Neuquén
and Austral Basins. Asociacion Geologica Argentina, Revista.
CENTRO AUSTRAL DE INVESTIGACIONES
CIENTIFICAS (CADIC-CONICET)
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
Reported by Eduardo B. Olivero (Regional Coordinator)
Av. Malvinas Argentinas s/no., 9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
(e-mail: eolivero@ satlink.com)
CADIC-CONICET RESEARCH GROUP
Research activities:
I) Jurassic-Paleogene geological evolution of the Andes of Tierra del
Fuego.
II) Santonian-Maastrichtian stratigraphy, paleontology, and sedimentology
of the James Ross Basin, Antarctica.
I) JURASSIC PALEOGENE GEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION OF THE ANDES OF TIERRA DEL
FUEGO
1) Title of Research Project:
Paleontology, Stratigraphy, and Sedimentology of Mesozoic-Paleogene
marine succesions of Tierra del Fuego. E. B. Olivero, Director. PICT 221-PIP
4304, CONICET, Argentina.
a) List of collaborators:
Dr. Norberto Malumian, general geology, and micropaleontology (Foraminifera),
Servicio Geologico-CONICET
Dr. Roberto Scasso, sedimentology and stratigraphy, Univ. Buenos Aires-CONICET
Lic. Francisco Medina, stratigraphy and invertebrate paleontology,
CONICET
Lic. Susana Palamarczuk, micropaleontology (palynology), CONICET
Lic. Daniel R. Martinioni, general geology, stratigraphy, sedimentology,
CONICET.
b) Source of external money:
Agencia Nacional de Promocion Cientifica y Tecnologica and CONICET,
Argentina.
2) Title of Research Project:
Prospection, sedimentary environments, and genesis of phosphate deposits
in Patagonia. UBACYT Ex 299, Dr. R. A. Scasso and Dra. Liliana Castro,
Directors.
a) List of collaborators: Dr. Eduardo B. Olivero, CONICET
b) Source of external money: University of Buenos Aires.
1c, 2c) Short report on activities and main results since September
1997:
We continue our studies on the stratigraphy and sedimentology of the
deep marine Jurassic-Cretaceous deposits of the Rocas Verdes Marginal Basin
and their stratigraphic transition to slope-distal platform Cretaceous
deposits and foreland Cretaceous-Paleogene successions of the Austral and
Malvinas basins. In 1997/1998, we have produced new studies on the Cretaceous-Paleocene
stratigraphy of central Tierra del Fuego and a comprehensive description
of the lithology and age of the very thick Eocene succession in the southeastern
Atlantic coast of the island and its stratigraphic relationships with the
Upper Cretaceous rocks in the area.
Our interpretation of the Paleogene continental molasse of Sloggett
Bay as syntectonic deposits exposed in a small tectonic window below an
Upper Jurassic thrust sheet bears important implications for the structural
and tectonic evolution of the Andes Fueguinos. The prospection of marine
phospates in the Cretaceous-Cenozoic succession has resulted in the finding
of important anomalies (up to 20% of P2O5) in early Paleogene phosphate
nodules suggesting the presence and extension of this Cenozoic phosphogenic
episode to high latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere.
3) Title of Research Project:
Geophysics and Geodynamics studies in Tierra del Fuego. PICT Agencia
Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica, Argentina.
Director: Dr. Raúl Perdomo, Universidad Nacional de la Plata, Argentina.
a) List of collaborators:
Dra. Graciela Font, Univ. Nacional de La Plata
Lic. José Frebrer, Instituto Antártico Argentino
José Hormachea, Estación Astronómica Río
Grande, CONICET
Dr. Eduardo Olivero, CADIC-CONICET
Lic. Jorge Strelin, Instituto Antártico Argentino, CADIC-CONICET
Lic. Daniel R. Martinioni, CADIC-CONICET
b) Source of external money: Agencia Nacional de Promocion Científica y Tecnológica and CONICET, Argentina.
c) Short report on activities and main results since September 1997:
The project has just started. The main aims are to integrate geodetic
(GPS), gravimetric, magnetic, and seismologic measurements and results
with geological studies for geotectonic modeling of the Andes Fueguinos.
II) SANTONIAN-MAASTRICHTIAN STRATIGRAPHY, PALEONTOLOGY, AND SEDIMENTOLOGY OF THE JAMES ROSS BASIN, ANTARCTICA.
1) Title of Research Project:
Paleontology, Stratigraphy, and Sedimentology of Santonian-Maastrichtian
marine successions from the James Ross Basin, Antarctica. E. B. Olivero,
Director.
a) List of collaborators:
Dra. Andrea Choncheyro, micropaleontology (Nannoplancton), Univ. Buenos
Aires-CONICET
Dr. Roberto Scasso, sedimentology and stratigraphy, Univ. Buenos Aires-CONICET
Lic. Francisco Medina, stratigraphy and invertebrate paleontology,
CONICET
Lic. Susana Palamarczuk, micropaleontology (palynology), CONICET
Lic. Daniel R. Martinioni, general geology, stratigraphy, sedimentology,
CONICET.
b) Source of external money: Instituto Antartico Argentino
c) Short report on activities and main results since September 1997:
We have conducted fieldwork on the James Ross Basin during January
and February 1998 directed to improve the stratigraphic, sedimentologic,
and paleontologic knowledge of the Santonian-Maastrichtian marine succession
in the basin. Micropaleontologic (nannoplancton and palynology) and megafossil
(ammonites and bivalves) studies are in progress, with the main objective
of getting a better correlation between the western and eastern part of
the basin and a better definition of the Santonian/Campanian and Campanian/Maastrichtian
stages boundaries. As a result of previous fieldwork in the basin we have
elaborated a preliminary sequence stratigraphy framework, delineated the
Santonian/Maastrichtian ammonite zonation, and established the main biogeographic
patterns of the ammonite family Kossmaticeratidae in southern high latitudes.
In addition, we have presented new important evidence concerning the complex
sedimentary geometry of Maastrichtian beds in the area. In this regard,
the recognition for the first time of large, mud-filled incised channels
helps to explain the apparent stratigraphic inversion of Maastrichtian
beds previously mentioned for the area.
2) Publications:
Martinioni, D. R., 1997. Cretaceous-Paleogene surface stratigraphy
of the Austral Basin in the southernmost Andes: new evidences from central
Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. IAS 18th European Regional Meeting of Sedimentology.
Gaea heidelbergensis, 3, pp. 231-232.
Olivero, E.B., 1997. Jurassic-Paleogene Stratigraphy and Basin Evolution
of the Eastern Andes of Tierra del Fuego. IAS 18th European Regional Meeting
of Sedimentology. Gaea heidelbergensis, 3, pp. 258-259.
Olivero, E.B., R. D. Acevedo & D. R. Martinioni, 1997. Geología
del Mesozoico en Bahía Ensenada, Tierra del Fuego. Revista de la
Asociación Geológica Argentina, Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 169-179.
Olivero, E.B., L. Castro, R.A. Scasso, A. M. Fazio & P. Miretzky,
1998. Fosfatos marinos del Paleogeno de Tierra del Fuego. Revista de la
Asociación Geológica Argentina, Vol. 53, No. 2.
Olivero E. B, S. Marenssi, S. Santillana & D. Martinioni, 1998.
Estratigrafía y sedimentología de la Formación Sloggett
(Terciario), Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Revista de la Asociación
Geológica Argentina, 53 (1): 19.
(In Press)
Olivero, E.B. & F.A. Medina, in press. Patterns of Late Cretaceous
ammonite biogeography in southern high latitudes: The family Kossmaticeratidae
in Antarctica. In: Koutsoukos, E.A.M., Bengtson, P., de Klasz, I. &
Batten, D.J. (Eds), Mesozoic Biogeographical Patterns in the South Atlantic
(IGCP Project 381 Thematic Issue), Cretaceous Research, Special Issue.
(Submitted)
Martinioni, D.R., E. Linares & R. D. Acevedo, submitted. Significado
de la edad isotópica de diques básicos intruidos en la Formación
Beauvoir (Cretácico temprano), Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Revista
de la Asociación Geológica Argentina.
Olivero, E.B., V. Barreda, S. Marenssi, S. Santillana & D. R. Martinioni,
submitted. Estratigrafía, sedimentología y palinología
de la Formación Sloggett (Paleogeno continental), Tierra del Fuego,
Argentina. Revista de la Asociación Geológica Argentina.
Olivero, E.B., submitted. Large mud-filled channels in the Maastrichtian
of the López de Bertodano Formation (Seymour Island, Antarctica):
Stratigraphical implications. Revista de la Asociación Geológica
Argentina.
IGCP PROJECT 381: REPORT ON RELEVANT
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AT THE BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY, CAMBRIDGE, U.K. -
1998
by J. Alistair Crame (Regional Coordinator) - British Antarctic Survey,
Cambridge, U.K.
J. A. Crame and J. M. McArthur (University College, London) have been
continuing their investigations into the strontium stratigrpahy of the
extensive Late Cretaceous succession exposed within the James Ross Basin.
A prolific Gunnarites antarcticus faunal assemblage has been dated at 70.97
Ma, i.e. extremely close to the Campanian - Maastrichtian boundary (71.3
Ma). This distinctive ammonite fauna is providing a valuable new basis
for defining the base of the terminal Maastrichtian stage within the southern
high-latitudes. Further samples have also been run, and we now have the
basis for firmly re-calibrating the Turonian - Maastrichtian stages in
Antarctica. In the forthcoming (1998-99) field season we will be taking
a party of five scientists and field assistants to continue our detailed
investigations of the Maastrichtian sections exposed on Seymour and Snow
Hill islands. Palynological investigations are being supervised by J.B.
Riding (BGS).
B. Hathway has synthesised previously published studies, new data,
and comparisons with successions in southern South America, to generate
a model for the evolution of the Larsen Basin on the eastern margin of
the Antarctic Peninsula magmatic arc. The basin fill is divided into a
series of depositional packages (megasequences) bounded by regional unconformities,
that represent major, discrete phases of basin evolution. A largely non-marine,
Lower to Upper Jurassic syn-rift megasequence, an Upper Jurassic to Lower
Cretaceous transgressive post-rift succession, and a Lower Cretaceous to
Eocene regressive megasequence have been provisionally identified. This
framework represents a key step towards understanding not only the history
of the Larsen Basin, but the wider interplay between convergent margin
tectonics and continental rifting in the Mesozoic of the southwest Gondwana
region.
S.A. Lomas has been working on a key section of the Larsen Basin fill
on Spath Peninsula, northern Snow Hill Island. A 525-m-thick, interval
of unlithified Maastrichtian fossiliferous sediments represents a range
of relatively shallow marine depositional environments, including a slump-related
methane-seep community, offshore mixed sand-mud packages, lower shoreface
sands, glauconitic transgressive sand banks, and nearshore mud belts. Of
particular interest is a giant-scale cross-bedded sand body representing
an obliquely prograding, storm-influenced offshore sand-bank. Glaucony
is common in sandy transgressive systems and in condensed facies, and also
correlates broadly with the abundance of volcanic ash. Two clear sequence
boundaries are recognised. Both are believed to be basin-wide, although
it is uncertain whether their origins are tectonic or eustatic.
Publications :
Cantrill, D.J., 1998. Early Cretaceous fern foliage referable to Lophosoriaceae
from President Head, Snow Island, Antarctica. Alcheringa, Vol. 22, pp.
241-258.
Hathway, B., Duane, A.M., Kelley, S.P & Cantrill, D.J., 1997. 40Ar/39Ar
geochronology and palynology of the Lower Cretaceous Cerro Negro Formation,
western South Shetland Islands: a key succession for nonmarine, Antarctic
Mesozoic biostratigraphy. Abstracts, 18th IAS Regional European Meeting
of Sedimentology, Heidelberg. Gaea heidelbergensis, 3, p. 159.
Hathway, B. & Lomas, S.A., 1998. The Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous
Byers Group, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica: revised stratigraphy and
regional correlations. Cretaceous Research, Vol. 19, pp. 43-67.
Hathway, B., Macdonald, D.I.M., Riding, J.B. & Cantrill, D.J.,
1998. Table Nunatak: a key outcrop of Upper Cretaceous shallow-marine strata
in the southern Larsen Basin, Antarctic Peninsula. Geological Magazine,
Vol. 135, pp. 519-535.
(Submitted)
Cantrill, D.J., submitted. A Cretaceous macroflora from a freshwater
lake deposit, President Head, Snow Island, Antarctica. Palaeontographica
B.
Crame, J.A., McArthur, J.M., Pirrie, D. & Riding, J.B., submitted.
Strontium isotope correlation of the basal Maastrichtian stage in Antarctica
to the European and US standard biostratigraphical schemes. Journal of
the Geological Society, London.
IGCP Project 381 RESEACH ACTIVITIES
IN THE U.K.
Reported by Kenneth Thompson (UK national correspondent)
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Durham, Durham DH1
3LE, UK.
(e-mail: Kenneth.Thomson@durham.ac.uk)
Nick Cameron's (Imperial College) contributions are:
1) Completion of the "Oil and Gas Habitats of the South Atlantic" volume
for the Geological Society. This will appear on 19/1/99 as Special Publication
No. 153. The contents are listed in the most recent SAMC Newsletter. The
book is dedicated to IGCP Project 381 and represents Nick's Imperial College
'hat' contribution to the project. The book will include a CD-ROM by Ian
Davison. Co-editors are Ray Bate and Val Clure.
2) Co-chair for the 1998 AAPG International meeting in Rio de Janeiro
poster session entitled "West Africa: Mesozoic Pre-Salt Hydrocarbon Systems".
Though this session is not part of IGCP 381, the co-chair invite arose
form the "Oil and Gas Habitats" meeting in 1997. Nick will be in Rio for
the meeting.
3) Nick has formed with Ray Bate, Val Clure and now Duncan MacGregor
of PGS an Africa Special Interests Group for the Petroleum Exploration
Society of Great Britain. The first meeting on West Africa was a big success.
A North Africa meeting will take place on 23/9 and plans for a South Africa
area meeting in early 1999. This is not really related to IGCP381, but
the project is always in mind.
4) There is a 10% chance that Nick will attend the IGCP 381 reunion
in Argentina this November - Nick planned to go, but business may intervene.
Jonathon P. Turner's (University of Birmingham) contribution:
1) Jonathon is currently working with Bruce Rosendahl (Rosenthiel School
of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences, Miami) on the unique deep seismic
dataset PROBE (proto-oceanic basin evolution). This involved Jonathon visiting
Miami in May 1998 for which the Royal Society provided funding. The principal
outcomes of this work were that the Moho beneath the oceans is very clearly
defined and appears to conform to a more or less perfect Airy model of
isostatic compensation. However, the Moho beneath the stretched and thinned
continental crust, adjacent to the ocean is poorly defined. There appear
to be a number of high amplitude reflector that are interpreted to represent
the former Moho, subsequently elevated or depressed above or below the
level of isostatic compensation due to later tectonic movements. Along
the Gulf of Guinea, where the PROBE data are located, Brazil and Africa
did not undergo orthogonal divergence during Atlantic opening. Instead
they diverged at an angle of 30 degrees (Brazil down, Africa up) along
a shear zone that abruptly juxtaposes oceanic and continental crust. This
shear zone runs sub-parallel to the coast of northern Gabon and Equatorial
Guinea. It plays a fundamental role in determining the width of the shelf
along this part of West Africa. Although the Gulf of Guinea is generally
thought of as a non-volcanic margin the PROBE data shows occurrences of
volcanic material, especially in graben on stretched oceanic crust close
to the contact with the continent. Oceanic crust underwent faulting during
lithospheric stretching in the early drift phase. The shelf break is a
long-term geological feature that appears to have remained where it is
throughout ocean opening. Its position is controlled by deep crustal structure,
the details of which still have to be determined.
Ken Thomson's contribution:
1) Along with co-worker Professor John Underhill (University of Edinburgh)
and Doug Paton (Jointly supervised PhD student). Work has been progressing
on the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the North Falkland and Outeniqua
basins. The work has demonstrated a distinct similarity in the structural
styles of both these basins confirming the rotational origin of the Falklands
as a microplate of South African origin.There is also a similarity in the
relative timing of tectonic events in these basins but until drilling results
from the North Falkland Basin are released into the public domain it is
impossible to confirm whether these two basins rifting at the same time.
Ray H. BATE’s contribution (reported by R. Bate, e-mail:Ray_Bate@compuserve.com):
My contribution to the understanding of the Pre-Salt ostracods of the
South Atlantic is, at present without the involvement of another scientist.
However, with respect to my Company's involvement in the study of the Pre-Salt
lacustrine section of the Kwanza Basin, Angola, I have obtained many new
species and several new genera. It is my intention to publish this fauna
in association with The Natural History Museum in London, and my co-author
will be Dr.John Whittaker.
This new fauna is distinct from the ostracod fauna normally associated
with the Lower Congo Basin and Gabon, although there are many species in
common. Dr.Whittaker and I would be pleased to publish the results of our
work as part of IGCP 381. Indeed, the importance of this study will be
not only with respect to the description of new taxa, but should provide
valuable data for the exploration oil industry at the same time. I trust
this information will assist you in your endeavours.
IGCP PROJECT 381 RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
IN COLOMBIA
Reported by Luis Vergara S. (Regional Coordinator) - Universidad Nacional
de Colombia.
(e-mail: lvergara@ciencias.ciencias.unal.edu.co)
During the last year, only a few research papers dealing with the Mesozoic
of Colombia, particularly with the Cretaceous system, were published. Apart
from specialized papers on the Cretaceous stratigraphy, considerable advance
was achieved on the geochemical evaluation of Cretaceous rocks in basins
such as the Magdalena Valley, Catatumbo (Maracaibo) and Putumayo. Papers
already mentioned in the last year's report to be in press in volume 22
of the journal Geología Colombiana appeared on late 1997 and are
listed below for researchers interested in having the complete reference.
The Geological Survey, Ingeominas, headed the creation of the National
Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature and gathered geologists from different
affiliations in an attempt to regulate the nomenclature in Colombia. It
is intended to publish monographs of each stratigraphic unit that will
clarify their relationships and propose the most appropriate names for
them. Ingeominas has continue mapping areas such as the Upper Magdalena
Valley, where a thick Mesozoic succession was deposited, which still needs
to be studied in detail. Practically no new research projects are being
carried out currently on national institutions, most of the research done
about Colombia is being done by researchers or PhD. students abroad.
Publications :
MORA, A., VENEGAS, D. & VERGARA, L., 1998. Estratigrafía
del Cretácico Superior y Terciario Inferior en el Sector Norte de
la Cuenca del Putumayo, Departamento del Caquetá. Geología
Colombiana, 23, pp. 1-19, Figs. 1- 19, 2 Tables, 4 Plates.
PATARROYO, P., 1997. El Barremiano inferior en la base de la Formación
Paja, Barichara, Santander, Colombia. Geología Colombiana, 22, pp.
135-138
RAMON, J.C., 1997. Oil Geochemistry of the Putumayo Basin. CT&F-Ciencia,
Tecnología y Futuro, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 25-34 (for 1996, but appeared
on late 1997).
RAMON, J.C., DZOU, L. & GIRALDO, B., 1997. Geochemical Evaluation
of the Middle Magdalena Basin, Colombia. CT&F-Ciencia, Tecnología
y Futuro, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 47-66
TCHEGLIAKOVA, N., SARMIENTO, G. & GUERRERO, J., 1997. Bioestratigrafía
y paleoecología de los foraminíferos bentónicos de
la Formación Chipaque y del Grupo Guadalupe. Turoniano-Maastrichtiano
del Piedemonte Llanero de los Andes Colombianos. Geología Colombiana,
22, pp. 103-119
VERGARA, L. (1997) Paleontological Notes on some Foraminifera from
the Cretaceous of the Upper Magdalena Valley. Geologia Colombiana, 22,
pp. 121-133
VERGARA, L. & RODRIGUEZ, G., 1997. The Upper Cretaceous and Lower
Paleocene of the Eastern Bogotá Plateau and Llanos Thrustbelt, Colombia:
Alternative Appraisal to the Nomenclature and Sequence Stratigraphy. Geología
Colombiana, 22, pp. 51-79
VILLAMIL, T., 1997. Depositional and geochemical cyclicity in the Cretaceous
fine-grained strata of Colombia. A model for organic matter content. CT&F-Ciencia,
Tecnología y Futuro, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 5-23 (for 1996, but appeared
on late 1997).
VILLAMIL, T., KAUFFMAN, E. G. & LEANZA, H. A., 1998. Epibiont habitation
patterns and their implications for life habits and orientation among Trigoniid
bivalves. Lethaia, 31, pp. 43-56
YUREWICS, D.A., ADVOCATE, D.M., LO, H.B. & HERNÁNDEZ, E.A.,
1998. Source rocks and oil families, southwest Maracaibo basin (Catatumbo
subbasin), Colombia. A.A.P.G. Bulletin, Vol. 82, No. 7, pp. 1329-1352.
(In Press)
GONZÁLEZ, J.O. & MARTINEZ, J. I., in press. El gènero
Siphogenerinoides en el Cretáceo Superior del Valle Superior del
Magdalena, Colombia. Revista Española de Micropaleontología,
Madrid.
IGCP Project 381 RESEACH ACTIVITIES
IN CUBA
Reported by Jorge R. SANCHEZ-ARANGO - Centro de Investigaciones del
Petróleo (CEINPET), La Habana 12000, CUBA.
The Cuban specialists participating in the Project have been active
during this year. They had the opportunity to examine several topics with
scientists from other regions related to the active working groups of the
Project.
Firstly at the end of March, a joint meeting of IGCP Projects No. 381
and 362 was held under the auspices of the Cuban Geological Society and
the Cuban National Committee for IGCP, during the Third Cuban Geological
Congress in Havana. Interdisciplinary presentations of key topics of research
and progress reports of geological correlations between the South and North
Atlantic were discussed.
Some of the most interesting presentations were related to the following working Groups.
• Santonian-Campanian and Campanian-Maastrichtian Boundaries.
Several European Late Cretaceous sections at the northern margin of
the Tethyan realm were investigated for an integration of nannofossil,
planktonic foraminifera and ammonite zonations across the Santonian-Campanian
and the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary.
• Biochronostratigraphic Framework for the Mesozoic Successions.
1. Several Calpionellid species and incertae sedis forms have been
reported and described from the Vaca Muerta Formation (Late Tithonian),
Alta Coordillera Mendocina, Argentina. This is the first report of those
groups in that region which are the same assemblage previously known in
the western Caribbean Province. This is an evidence of the existence of
the Hispanic Corredor. Evidently this is important to the paleogeography
of the Tithonian.
2. Stratigraphic correlations of the several Aptian transgressive successions
in northeast Mexico were analysed. Typical Aptian ammonites such as Dufrenoyia,
Rhytidohoplites, Burckhardtites, and Colombiceras dominate the macrofauna
of those successions, allowing the recognition of standard biozones, and
therefore, the correlation of biostratigraphic units at a regional scale.
• K/T boundary.
New information from western Cuba was added to the Cretaceous-Tertiary
Boundary in the Caribbean. Proximal wave deposits, tsunami deposits, and
turbidity current-debris flow deposits related to the impact event have
been found in the Gulf of Mexico-Caribbean region and in Central America.
In western Cuba, the top of the Cretaceous is marked by deposits ranging
from a 2 meters thick calcarenite to widespread carbonate megabreccias
up to 450 meters in thickness. The calcarenite contains smectite clasts
that may represent altered glass, and quartz grains with possible shock
features. The megabreccias apparently were formed by catastrophic deposition
caused by latest Cretaceous destruction and collapse of carbonate platforms.
The wide distribution and enormous volume of megabreccia units suggest
that they represent a very large catastrophic event, and may be related
to the Chicxulub impact.
• New data from the equatorial Atlantic has been obtained during
Ocean Drilling Program Leg 159.
Of particular interest are the data pertinent to the opening of a seaway
between the South and North Atlantic, stratigraphic correlations and paleoceanographic
changes resulting from such opening. Sedimentologic, mineralogic, micropaleontologic,
and organic geochemical studies have shown that the interplay of tectonic
and oceanographic processes along the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Transform
Margin created a strongly differentiated equatorial Atlantic Gateway. These-stage
scenario probably correspond to the tectonic evolution from and early Cretaceous
intracratonic rift and transform basin to a late Cretaceous passive margin.
Current research of Cuban participants for IGCP Project 381 (CEINPET staff)
• Macroforaminifers and calcareous algae in Cretaceous deposits from several surface and subsurface sections in Cuba, including the Urgonian facies. These investigations include a correlation with the same facies exemplified in other parts of the Caribbean and Central America, such as Chiapas in Mexico, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. In addition, the taxonomic studies on some taxa belonging to the orbitoidal Foraminifera should add new evidences on the problematic status of that group.
• Biostratigraphy of the middle Cretaceous planktonic foraminifera and representatives of the calcispherullids and colomiellids. This investigation is carrying on in sediments of the Bahamas paleomargin in Cuba. Generic and specific diversity are associated with paleoenvironmental and paleoceanographic changes. The results could help to correlate bioevents with other marine sections, such as the Brazilian Atlantic margin.
• Upper Cretaceous ostracodes assemblages of Central Cuba. This is a CEINPET (Cuba)-SEBIPE (Brazil) joint research project. Taxonomic and biostratigraphic studies of the ostracodes assemblages recovered from Upper Cretaceous siliciclastic and carbonate deposits of central Cuba. A preliminary scope of these studies shows that the ostracodes assemblages in Cuba exhibit close paleogeographical affinities with those known in the Gulf Coast. Comparisons at different taxonomic levels among deep-water ostracodes of Cuba, northeastern part of Brazil, northeastern part of Africa are in progress to precise the paleogeographical map of the late Cretaceous, with the system of oceanic circulation proposed for the Western Tethys.
• Palynological studies are in progress. Palynomorphs and dinoflagellates have been determined from several sections in deep wells, corresponding to a transition continental-marine environment. Several representatives of fern spores have been identified in the Oxfordian/Kimmeridgian interval. Further, several species of Dinoflagellates corresponding to the proximal type were recognized in the Tithonian marine successions.
• Jurassic carbonate reservoirs in Cuba were studied based on their litology, paleoenvironment, microfacies, electrofacies, eustatic events, types and range of porosity and permeability, quality and production. Forthcoming steps should try to correlate these reservoirs with those similar in the Tampico-Tuxpan region in Mexico.
• Magnetostratigraphic and calpionellid biostratigraphic scales correlation in the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary strata. A group of participants from the Geological Institute of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University (Czech Republic) and Oil Research Center (Cuba) is involved on this topic. The Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary strata are relatively well-defined on the basis of biostratigraphy. However, this boundary is something different between the Tethyan and Boreal realms. Exact biostratigraphic correlation of these boundaries between realms is impossible due to a lack of common index species and a poorly developed biostratigraphic record in transitional areas. The purpose of the magnetostratigraphic studies is to offer a reliable alternative method of identifying chronologically identical sections in distinct regions and can potentially be used to correlate globally biostratigraphic zonations near the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary.
Some of the participants in this research have been previously working in two sections in the Western Carpathians (Brodno and Stramberk, Czech Republic), in Umbria (central Italy) and Carcabuey and Sierra Gorda (southern Spain).
Two good exposures of the carbonate sections in the Sierra de los Organos and Sierra del Rosario (western Cuba) seem to give good results for this purpose. The study of the ammonites and calpionellids in those sections are well previously established. However, a detailed sampling to identify the normal and several chrones polarity will make possible the study of the magnetic polarity sequence M in the late Jurassic.
Publications :
Barragan, R., 1998 Stratigraphic correlations of Aptian transgressive
sequences in northeast Mexico. 3er Congreso Cubano de Geologia y Mineria
(GEOMIN’98, La Habana, 24-27 March 1998), Geologia y Mineria’98, Memorias,
Vol. 2, pp. 264-267.
Blanco, S., Segura, R. & Brey, D., 1998. Facies del Cretácico
medio del paleomargen de las Bahamas en Cuba central. 3er Congreso Cubano
de Geologia y Mineria (GEOMIN’98, La Habana, 24-27 March 1998), Geologia
y Mineria’98, Memorias, Vol. 2, pp. 268-270.
Blanco Gonzáles, M., 1998. Palinología del Jurásico
Superior en Cuba central. 3er Congreso Cubano de Geologia y Mineria (GEOMIN’98,
La Habana, 24-27 March 1998), Geologia y Mineria’98, Memorias, Vol. 2,
pp. 271-273.
Cobiella-Reguera, J.L., 1998. Una panorámica de los Sistemas
Jurásico y Cretácico de Cuba. 3er Congreso Cubano de Geologia
y Mineria (GEOMIN’98, La Habana, 24-27 March 1998), Geologia y Mineria’98,
Memorias, Vol. 2, pp. 274-276.
Díaz-Collell, M.L., Viviers, M.C. & Sanchez Arango, J.R.,
1998. Estudios taxonómicos y bioestratigráficos de las asociaciones
de ostrácodos de formaciones del Cretácico tardío
en Cuba Central. 3er Congreso Cubano de Geologia y Mineria (GEOMIN’98,
La Habana, 24-27 March 1998), Geologia y Mineria’98, Memorias, Vol. 2,
pp. 277-280.
Escobar, A.M., Sánchez-Arango, J.R. & Perera Falcon, C.,
1998. Aplicacion del nanoplancton calcareos en la exploracion de hidrocarburos.
Nanoflora en el el intervalo Cretácico Superior-Eoceno en Cuba central.
3er Congreso Cubano de Geologia y Mineria (GEOMIN’98, La Habana, 24-27
March 1998), Geologia y Mineria’98, Memorias, Vol. 2, pp. 281-283.
Fernández-Carmona, J., Alvarez, P. & Aguirre-Urreta, B.,
1998. Calpionélidos Calcáreos y grupos incertae sedis de
la provincia del Tethys en la Formación Vaca Muerta (Tithoniano
Superior), Alta Cordillera Mendocina, Argentina. Su importancia paleogeográfica.
3er Congreso Cubano de Geologia y Mineria (GEOMIN’98, La Habana, 24-27
March 1998), Geologia y Mineria’98, Memorias, Vol. 2, pp. 284-286
Fernández-Carmona, J. & Pendás-Amador, M., 1998.
Familias Stomiospharidae y Cadosinidae: Nueva utilización de la
micropaleontología aplicada a la exploración petrolera. 3er
Congreso Cubano de Geologia y Mineria (GEOMIN’98, La Habana, 24-27 March
1998), Geologia y Mineria’98, Memorias, Vol. 2, pp. 287-289.
Furrazola-Bermúdez, G., Gutiérrez Domech, R., Torres
Silva, A.I. & Pantaleón, G., 1998. Los Ammonites del Mesozoico
de Cuba. Actualización. 3er Congreso Cubano de Geologia y Mineria
(GEOMIN’98, La Habana, 24-27 March 1998), Geologia y Mineria’98, Memorias,
Vol. 2, pp. 291-194.
García Delgado, D.E., Díaz Otero, C., Gil González,
S. & Rojas Consuegra, R., 1998. Contribucion al estudio bioestratigráfico
de algunas formaciones comprendidas en el limite K/T en Cuba. 3er Congreso
Cubano de Geologia y Mineria (GEOMIN’98, La Habana, 24-27 March 1998),
Geologia y Mineria’98, Memorias, Vol. 2, pp. 297-300.
GONZÁLEZ, S.G., HERNÁNDEZ, E., TORRES SILVA, A.I. &
DELGADO, D.G.Estudio cuantitativo de la composicion bioclastica de los
depositos del Maastrichtiano superior de Sierra del rosario, Cuba Occidental.
3er Congreso Cubano de Geologia y Mineria (GEOMIN’98, La Habana, 24-27
March 1998), Geologia y Mineria’98, Memorias, Vol. 2, pp. 301-303.
Lopez QUINTERO, J.O., Navarrete REYES, L.E. & Blanco GONZÁLEZ,
M., 1998. Generación de petróleo en Cuba por rocas madre
de edad Cretácico. 3er Congreso Cubano de Geologia y Mineria (GEOMIN’98,
La Habana, 24-27 March 1998), Geologia y Mineria’98, Memorias, Vol. 2,
pp. 305-306.
López RIVERA, J.G. & PÉREZ, R., 1998. La Geología
del petróleo de las cuencas del sudeste de México y Septentrional
Cubana. Elementos comunes. 3er Congreso Cubano de Geologia y Mineria (GEOMIN’98,
La Habana, 24-27 March 1998), Geologia y Mineria’98, Memorias, Vol. 2,
pp. 307-308.
Sánchéz-Arango, J.R., Tenreyro, R., Socorro, R., Blanco,
S. & Brey, D., 1998. Relaciones cuenca-plataforma en el paleomargen
continental Bahamas-Cuba: estratigrafia, sedimentogénesis y paleogeografia.
3er Congreso Cubano de Geologia y Mineria (GEOMIN’98, La Habana, 24-27
March 1998), Geologia y Mineria’98, Memorias, Vol. 2, pp. 312-314.
SOTO, R.S.& BANCO BUSTAMANTE, S., 1998. La secuencia de Camajuaní:
un sector del margem divergente del continente norteamericano en continua
sumersión desde el Tithoniano hasta el Turoniano. 3er Congreso Cubano
de Geologia y Mineria (GEOMIN’98, La Habana, 24-27 March 1998), Geologia
y Mineria’98, Memorias, Vol. 2, pp. 315-318.
Tenreyro PÉREZ, R., Otero MARRERO, R., Toucet TÉLLEZ,
S. & LOPEZ RIVERA, J., 1998. Evaluación del potential de hidrocarburos
del sur del Golfo de México. 3er Congreso Cubano de Geologia y Mineria
(GEOMIN’98, La Habana, 24-27 March 1998), Geologia y Mineria’98, Memorias,
Vol. 2, pp. 319-321.
Zulma Gasparini, M. Ferández & Manuel A. Iturralde-Vinent
Los reptiles marinos Jurásicos como evidencia de la existencia del
corredor caribeño. 3er Congreso Cubano de Geologia y Mineria (GEOMIN’98,
La Habana, 24-27 March 1998), Geologia y Mineria’98, Memorias, Vol. 2,
pp. 295-296.
IGCP Project 381 RESEACH ACTIVITIES
IN THE U.S.A.
Reported by Thomas W. Dignes (Regional Coordinator) - Chevron Overseas
Petroleum, Inc., San Ramon, CA 94583, USA. E-mail: TWDI@chevron.com
Key SAMC related papers from two important meetings that took place during the 1997-98 reporting period:
Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain - Africa Group - West
African Conference: "Success in West Africa, The Application of Innovation"
June 4th, 1998, London, England.
1 - A sequence stratigraphic approach to exploration & redevelopment
in the Abidjan Margin, Cote d'Ivorie, by J. Morrison et al.
2 - The structural style of the outer Gabon Margin and its implication
for ultradeep water hydrocarbon exploration, by C. Trowell.
3 - Sequence stratigraphy of the Lower Cretaceous lake sediments of
the West African Rift - A tool for hydrocarbon exploration, by R. Bate.
4 - Facies distribution and stratigraphic architecture of the Pinda
Formation, Nemba Field, Cabinda, Angola: A framework for deterministic
modeling of a mixed carbonate - clastic reservoir, by B. Power et al.
Sixth International Conference on Modern & Fossil Dinoflagellate:
Dino 6
June 7-12th, 1998, Trondheim, Norway.
1 - Interpreting paleoenvironments in the Albian Pinda Formation, Cabinda,
Angola, from ditch cuttings using ecologic groupings of dinocysts, spore/pollen
and petrographic data, by S. Gaponoff et al.
2 - Variations in South Atlantic calcareous dinoflagellate associations
since the Late Cretaceous, by T. Hildebrand-Hobel and H. Willems.
3 - Dinoflagellate cysts, spores and pollen from the North Gabon Subbasin
and their bearing on the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean, by G. D.
Wood et al.
Significant Publications:
Braccini, E., Denison, C., Scheevel, J., Jeronimo, P., Orsolini, P.
& Barletta, V., 1997. A revised chrono-lithostratigraphic framework
for the Pre-Salt (Lower Cretaceous) in Cabinda, Angola. Bull. Centre Rech.
Elf Explor. Prod., Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 125 -151 (November 21, 1997).
Wood, G.D. & Miller, M.A., 1997. Stratigraphic, paleoecologic and
petroleum generating significance of Chlorophyta (chlorococcalean algae)
in the Cretaceous of western Africa and South America. Africa Geoscience
Review, Vol. 14, Nos. 3 & 4, pp. 499-510.
Wood, G.D., Miller, M.A., Sofer, Z., Krebs, W.N. & Hedlund, R.W.,
1997. Palynology, palynofacies, paleoenvironments and geochemistry of the
Lower Cretaceous (Pre-salt) Cocobeach Group, North Gabon Subbasin, Gabon.
Africa Geoscience Review, Vol. 14, Nos. 3 & 4, pp. 481-497.
Department of Marine Geology, Earth
Science Centre, Göteborg University, Sweden
Reported by Joen Widmark (National Representative) - Marine Geology,
Earth Science Centre, Göteborg University, 413 81 Göteborg, Sweden.
E-mail: joen@gvc.gu.se
(New Address: Joen Widmark, Earth Sciences Centre/Marine Geology, University of Göteborg, Box 460, 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden. Tel.: +46-(0)31-773 44 70, Fax: +46-(0)31-773 49 03, e-mail: joen@gvc.gu.se, Site: http://www.gvc.gu.se/personal/joen.htm)
Research activities related to SAMC (October 1997 - September 98)
:
In January Michal Kucera successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis "Quantitative
studies of morphological evolution and biogeogrephic patters in Cretaceous
and Tertiary foraminifera" - he is now off to sunny California doing his
postdoc with Prof. James Kennett and we wish Michal all the best in his
new affiliation! Dr. Stefan Majoran studies deep-sea ostracods in DSDP/ODP
material from the Late Cretaceous South Atlantic, he is a shorebased scientist
investigating ostracods in the Maastrichtian and K/T boundary material
derived from ODP Leg 171B, which was drilled during January-February 1997
at Blake Nose, western North Atlantic. Dr. Joen Widmark has moved to the
southern part of Sweden and established a biostrat consultancy, but he
will still be affiliated with Göteborg University.
Publications :
Kucera, M. & Malmgren, B.A., 1998 Terminal Cretaceous warming event
in the mid-latitude South Atlantic Ocean: evidence from poleward migration
of Contusotruncana contusa (planktonic foraminifera) morphotypes. Palaeogeography,
Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 138: 1-15.
Kucera, M., Malmgren, B. A. & Sturesson, U., 1997. Foraminiferal
dissolution of the Walvis Ridge and Rio Grande Rise during the latest Cretaceous:
Inferences for deep-water circulation in the South Atlantic. Palaeogeography,
Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 129: 195-213.
ODP Leg 171B Scientific Party (Widmark, J.G.V. among 29 co-authors).
Leg 171B. Initial Reports of the ODP, 171B.
Widmark, J.G.V. & Kucera, M., 1998. New species of the genus Parkiella
(Foraminiferida) from the Late Cretaceous Central Pacific Ocean: biostratigraphy,
biogeography, and the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. Journal of Micropaleontology,
17: 51-60.
(In press)
Kucera, M. & Malmgren, B.A., in press Differences betwen evolution
of mean form and evolution of new morphotypes: an example from Late Cretaceous
planktonic foraminifera. Paleobiology.
Majoran, S., Kucera, M. & Widmark, J.G.V., in press. Maastrichtian
deep-sea ostracods from DSDP/ODP Sites 327, 356, 525, 527, 528, 529, and
698 in the South Atlantic. Revista Española de Micropaleontologia.
Widmark, J.G.V., in press. Biogeography of terminal Cretaceous benthic
foraminifera: deep-water circulation and trophic gradients in the deep
South Atlantic. In: Koutsoukos, E.A.M., Bengtson, P., de Klasz, I. &
Batten, D.J. (Eds), Mesozoic Biogeographical Patterns in the South Atlantic,
Cretaceous Research, Special Issue.
(Submitted)
Kucera, M., submitted. Biochronology of the mid-Pliocene Sphaeroidinella
event: evidence for diachrony of punctuated anagenesis.
Kucera, M. & Widmark, J.G.V., submitted. Gradual morphological
evolution in the Late Cretaceous deep-sea foraminifer Parkiella lineage.
Historical Biology.
IGCP Project 381: Report on relevant
research activities at LPP Foundation, The Netherlands.
Reported by Roel Verreussel - LPP Foundation, Budapestlaan 4, 3582
CD Utrecht, The Netherlands..
1) There are no scientific projects related to SAMC, only commercial
(consulting) projects. The commercial industrially-funded projects related
to SAMC concern PALYNOLOGY FROM THE POST-SALT AND FROM THE PRE-SALT OF
ON-SHORE AND OFF-SHORE GABON, WEST AFRICA.
2) Our (LPP Foundation) palynological zonation for the Upper Cretaceous
of Gabon is not published yet, but Mitsuru Arai and I are constantly discussing
all aspects of South Atlantic Mesozoic palynology. He also has our zonation
(as presented at the Isla Margarita conference in `97).
IGCP Project 381 RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
IN GERMANY
Reported by Peter Bengtson (German representative and co-leader of
IGCP 381)
University of Heidelberg, Germany (e-mail: Peter.Bengtson@urz.Uni-Heidelberg.de)
Activities of the German group in 1998
The following 31 workers based in Germany are registered as participants
of IGCP 381:
Bandel, Klaus (Universität Hamburg)
Bebiolka, Anke (Technische Universität Berlin)
Baecker-Fauth, Simone (Universität Heidelberg)
Bengtson, Peter (Universität Heidelberg)
Bengtson, Suzana (Universität Heidelberg)
Boeger, Horst (Universität Kiel)
Carvalho, Marcelo de Araujo (Universität Heidelberg)
El Albani, Abderrazzak (Universität Kiel)
Fauth, Gerson (Universität Heidelberg)
Gebhardt, Holger (Technische Universität Berlin)
Graefe, Kai-Uwe (Universität Bremen)
Hay, William W. (GEOMAR, Kiel)
Herrmann, Achim (Universität Heidelberg; Penn State University)
Hildebrand-Habel, Tania (Universität Bremen)
Kiessling, Wolfgang (Universität Erlangen)
Koutsoukos, Eduardo A.M. (Universität Heidelberg; Petrobras, Rio
de Janeiro)
Kowalczyk, Gotthard (Universität Frankfurt)
Kuhnt, Wolfgang (Universität Kiel)
Luther, Axel (Universität Heidelberg)
Mutterlose, Joerg (Universität Bochum)
Pletsch, Thomas (Universität Kiel)
Reicherter, Klaus (Universität Hamburg)
Schlicht, Peter (Universität Heidelberg)
Schneider, Stefanie (Universität Heidelberg)
Seeling, Jens (Universität Heidelberg)
Seibertz, Ekbert (Universität Braunschweig)
Speijer, Robert P. (Universität Bremen)
Stinnesbeck, Wolfgang (Universität Karlsruhe)
Walter, Simone (Universität Heidelberg)
Wagner, Thomas (Universität Bremen)
Willems, Helmut (Universität Bremen)
Individual project involvement ranges from full research commitment to that of observer’s status, with most participants showing medium to high activity within the project.
Research activities
In the following, research projects carried out by participants active in Germany and of relevance to IGCP 381 are listed, as reported by November 1998. A number of projects are being carried out in collaboration with workers outside Germany.
Berlin
- Thermal and burial history of Cretaceous and Tertiary sediments in
the Benue Trough (middle and upper regions), Nigeria (H. Gebhardt, in collaboration
with B.-D. Erdtmann, S.O. Akande, O.J. Ojo, I.A. Ojo, A.F. Abimbola). -
Project funded by the Volkswagen Foundation until 1997 and by DAAD, the
German Academic Exchange Service.
This project was designed to investigate the paleoenvironments, organic
maturity, and thermal and burial history of the Cretaceous-Tertiary sedimentary
successions in the middle and upper regions of the Benue Trough. The paleoenvironments
and maturity of sediments in the Benue rift basins are significant in view
of the implications for prospecting for hydrocarbon and hydrothermal mineral
resources. The project focussed on several traverses in the Middle and
Upper Benue regions, where good outcrop sections and boreholes are available
for study. In the study area, the Cretaceous sediments were deposited in
a wide range of environments varying from fluviodeltaic, lacustrine and
shoreline to inner shelf environments. Source rock facies evaluation of
the Bima, Yolde, Pindiga and Gombe Formations indicates a low to fair concentration
of organic matter. These formations are considered to be poor to fair oil
and gas source rocks with a predominance of terrestrially derived organic
matter.
Publications :
Akande, S.O., Ojo, O.J., Erdtmann, B.-D. & Hetenyi, M., 1997. Paleoenvironments,
thermal history and source rock potential of the Upper Benue rift basins,
Nigeria, and their implications for hydrocarbon exploration. In: International
Association of Organic Geochemists Conference, Maastricht 1997, p. 1-2.
Akande, S.O., Ojo, O.J., Gebhardt, H. & Erdtmann, B.-D., 1997.
Paleoenvironments, source rocks and thermal maturation studies of the Benue
Trough rift basins, Nigeria. In: American Association of Petroleum Geologists/Association
of Brazilian Petroleum Geologists Symposium on the Petroleum Systems of
the South Atlantic, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, p. 1-3.
Akande, S.O. & Erdtmann, B.-D., 1998. Burial metamorphism (thermal
maturation) in Cretaceous sediments of the southern Benue Trough and Anambra
Basin, Nigeria. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin 82:6,
p. 1191-1206.
Akande, S.O., Ojo, I.A. & Erdtmann, B.-D., 1997. The Albian to
Coniacian successions of the Middle Benue Trough of Nigeria: paleoenvironments,
thermal maturation and source rock evaluation. In: Nigerian Association
of Petroleum Explorationists Conference, Lagos 1997, p. 64.
Akande, S.O., Ojo, O.J. & Erdtmann, B.-D., 1997. Thermal maturity
of Cretaceous successions in the Benue rift basins, Nigeria. In: Nigerian
Mining and Geoscience Society 34th Annual Conference, Ife, Abstracts Volume.
Akande, S.O., Ojo, O.J. & Erdtmann, B.D., 1997. Upper Cretaceous
phosphorites in the Benue Trough of Nigeria: distribution, properties and
origin. In: Papman (ed.): Mineral Deposits, p. 519-522, Balkema, Rotterdam.
Erdtmann, B.-D., Akande, S.O., Gebhardt, H., Ojo, O.J., Ojo, I.A. &
Abimbola, A.F., 1997. Thermal and burial history of Cretaceous and Tertiary
sediments in the Benue Trough (middle and upper regions), Nigeria. Final
Report to VW Foundation, Projekt Az I / 68546 und I/71699, 70 pp.
Gebhardt, H., 1997. Cenomanian to Turonian foraminifera from Ashaka
(NE Nigeria): quantitative analysis and palaeoenvironmental interpretation.
Cretaceous Research 18:1, p. 17-36.
Gebhardt, H., 1997. Benthonische Foraminiferen der unteren Mamu Formation
von Leru (Maastrichtium, Sudnigeria): Paläoökologie und paläogeographische
Bedeutung. Terra Nostra 97/6, p. 52.
Gebhardt, H., 1998. Benthic foraminifera from the Maastrichtian lower
Mamu Formation near Leru (southern Nigeria): paleoecology and paleogeographic
significance. Journal of Foraminiferal Research 28:1, p. 76-89.
Gebhardt, H. & Ojo, O.J., 1998. Korrelation im Benue-Trog (Nigeria):
Probleme und Lösungsmöglichkeiten für den Zeitraum Cenoman-Coniac.
Terra Nostra 98/3, V93-V94.
Gebhardt, H., Ojo, O.J., Akande, S.O. & Erdtmann, B.-D., 1997.
Paleogeography of the Upper Benue Trough (Nigeria) in Cenomanian to Turonian
Times. Nigerian Mining and Geoscience Society, 33rd Annual Conference,
Abstracts Volume, p. 33.
Ojo, I. A., Akande, S. O. & Erdtmann, B.-D., 1997. Thermal maturation
and source rock potential of Cretaceous sediments in the Middle Benue Trough
and their implications for hydrocarbon exploration: a preliminary report.
Nigerian Mining and Geoscience Society 33rd annual conference, Abstracts
Volume, p. 32.
Braunschweig
- Middle Cretaceous of Mexico (E. Seibertz).
Revision of previously collected fossil material has continued and
concentrated on microcrinoids (roveacrinids) and belemnites. - Subprojects:
(a) Belemnites of Mexico (E. Seibertz, in collaboration with C. Spaeth).
The project aims at a revision of extant fossil material, including
material from the UNAM in Mexico, D.F.
Publication :
Seibertz, E. & Spaeth, C., 1998. Erster Nachweis von Cylindroteuthis
im Jura Nord-Mexikos (Belemnitida, Ober-Callov, Zacatecas). Terra Nostra
98/5, p. 151-152.
(b) Ammonites of the Lower Cretaceous rudist facies of central Mexico
(E. Seibertz, in collaboration with J. Pantoja-Alor).
In parts of the Michoacan Archipelago, besides Lower Cretaceous volcanoclastic
sediments there are fossiliferous platform and reef carbonates. Correlation
has until now been difficult, but the first ammonites found clearly indicate
a late Barremian to early Aptian age.
Publication :
Seibertz, E. & Pantoja-Alor, J., 1998. Ammoniten-Spotlights in
der unterkretazischen Rudisten-Fazies Zentral-Mexikos (?Barreme bis ?Alb,
Michoacan). Terra Nostra 98/5, p. 150-151.
Bremen
- Evolution of South Atlantic calcareous dinoflagellates since the
Late Cretaceous (T. Hildebrand-Habel, H. Willems, in collaboration with
D. Dias-Brito). - Project funded by DFG, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft,
within the "ODP Schwerpunktprogramm".
Calcareous dinoflagellates often dominate the dinoflagellate cyst assemblage
in Cretaceous to Recent oceanic sediments. However, their temporal and
spatial distribution patterns in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic South Atlantic
Ocean has scarcely been studied. Therefore, the calcareous dinoflagellate
content of three South Atlantic DSDP/ODP Sites (356, 357, 689B) was investigated.
Distinct stratigraphic and latitudinal differences were identified in the
time-interval of early Maastrichtian to late Miocene. The associations
and characteristic wall types fluctuate quantitatively and qualitatively
in stratigraphic patterns. Significant shifts, primarily at the K-T boundary,
the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, and the Oligocene-Miocene boundary reflect
changes in environmental conditions. The distribution of calcareous dinoflagellates
is controlled by external factors, probably related to climate change.
Only minor latitudinal differences are obvious prior to the late Paleocene.
Radially structured taxa are possibly better adapted to the conditions
in high latitudes, i.e. low temperatures, low insolation, and higher nutrient
supply. Our study illustrates the sensitive reaction of calcareous dinoflagellates
to changing environmental conditions. The organisms thus represent a proxy
for paleoecological and paleoceanographic reconstructions.
Publications :
Hildebrand-Habel, T. & Willems, H., 1998. Kalkige Dinoflagellaten
im Südatlantik: Regionale Unterschiede in ihrere Entwicklung seit
der höheren Oberkreide und potentielle Steuerungsfaktoren. Terra Nostra
98/3, V131-V132.
Hildebrand-Habel, T. & Willems, H., 1998. The development of calcareous
dinoflagellates in the South Atlantic since Late Cretaceous times. Asociación
Paleontológica del Golfo San Jorge, Boletín 2, p. 16.
Erlangen
- Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Radiolaria from Antarctica as a key
to understanding mid Mesozoic paleoceanography (W. Kiessling). - Subprojects:
(a) Correlation of marine Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous fore-arc
and back-arc basin deposits of the Antarctic Peninsula (W. Kiessling, in
collaboration with R. Scasso, A. Riccardi, F. Medina, A. Zeiss).
The objective of this subproject is to correlate the South Atlantic
back-arc deposits with coeval fore-arc deposits of the Palaeo-Pacific Ocean.
For this purpose Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous basins of the northern
Antarctic Peninsula have been selected for study.
New biostratigraphic data from co-occurring radiolarians and ammonites
in Upper Jurassic sequences of Byers Peninsula on Livingston Island and
Longing Gap, Graham Land, permit a revised and more refined regional stratigraphy.
The new data also allow a revision of the chronostratigraphic assignment
of some American radiolarian zones established by Pessagno and collaborators:
The boundary of Zone 3-4 is assigned to the latest Kimmeridgian, contrasting
the former assignment to the early-late Tithonian boundary. The boundary
between Subzone 4 beta and 4 alpha is assigned to the early Tithonian,
but was usually correlated with the early-late late Tithonian boundary.
The new chronostratigraphic data from Antarctica are used together
with recent results of Baumgartner and collaborators to revise the age
assignment of the North American Late Jurassic radiolarian zones.
Publication :
Kiessling, W., Scasso, R., Zeiss, A., Riccardi, A.C. & Medina,
F., in press. Combined radiolarian-ammonite stratigraphy for the Late Jurassic
of the Antarctic Peninsula: implications for radiolarian stratigraphy.
Geodiversitas.
(b) Late Jurassic Austral Radiolaria (W. Kiessling).
Radiolarian faunas from the type section of the mainly Late Jurassic
Ameghino Formation (=Nordenskjöld Formation) on the Antarctic Peninsula
(Longing Gap, Graham Land) have been described taxonomically, analyzed
stratigraphically and interpreted paleoecologically, based on quantitative
observations. A total of 359 species were identified, of which ca. 200
probably new. Twenty-eight new species and three new subspecies have been
described, and the most abundant and characteristic species used for a
regional radiolarian stratigraphy.
The faunas show distinct high-latitude characteristics. They are marked
by high abundances of Parvicingula s.l. and spongy spumellarians, whereas
Tethyan taxa like Mirifusus, Ristola, Tethysetta, Tritrabs, Syringocapsidae,
Spongocapsulidae, and Xitidae are absent or very rare. Average diversity
is high although significantly lower than in coeval Tethyan samples. Cluster
analysis has revealed a major change in faunal composition near the early-late
Tithonian boundary. The characterisitics of the Antarctic radiolarian faunas
allow an Austral Province to be defined, extending from circum-Antarctica
to northeastern Australia. This province is similar to the Northern Tethyan
and Southern Boreal provinces sensu Pessagno & Blome (1986). The new
data call for revision of the biogeographic scheme of these authors and
forms the basis of a preliminary global paleobiogeographic map for the
Tithonian.
Publication :
Kiessling, W., in press Taxonomy, stratigraphy and paleoecology of
Late Jurassic radiolarians from the Antarctic Peninsula. Micropaleontology.
Hamburg
- Reevaluation of the Maastrichtian Quiriquina fauna of Central Chile,
especially the gastropods (K. Bandel, W. Stinnesbeck, in collaboration
with A. Quinzio). - Project funded by DAAD, the German Academic Exchange
Service.
This project involves comparison with late Cretaceous faunas from other
parts of the world. In particular, the survival of some genera or even
species across the K-T boundary is of interest.
The project started with a comparison of Late Cretaceous to Miocene
faunas from Central Chile to Panama, in order to evaluate faunal exchange
along tropical pathways as well as across the South American continent
and along the Antarctic shelves. The studies are centred around gastropods.
This also includes the interrelation of the modern fauna, both in fresh
water and the coastal sea found in Chile today.
Within this project, S. Nielsen (Hamburg) has studied a Late Triassic
flora in the area of Concepcion and discovered a very close connection
at the species level with the flora of South Africa. In cooperation with
A. Quincio (Concepcion) the depositional environment of metamorphic shales
near the coast of Concepcion has been interpreted as lake deposits. If
this interpretation is correct, major changes in the geological history
of the pre-Triassic coast of Chile must be considered.
Publications :
Bandel, K., 1998. Cretaceous gastropods from the Chilenanian Quiriquina
Formation (Maastrichtian) - a paleobiogeographic evaluation. Terra Nostra
98/5, p. 7-8.
Bandel, K., Bonilla, R., Quinzio, L.A. & Reuther, C.-D., 1997.
Serie fluvioglacial a limnica de Santa Juana, en el bajo Bio Bio, Parte
sur del Chile Central: una cuenca intermontana Permica? In: Congreso Geologico
Chileno VIII (Antofagasta),p. 432-439.
- Geochemical correlation of late Cretaceous and early Cenozoic ashes
from the Blake Nose transect (ODP Leg 171B) with the volcanic sequence
of eastern Cuba
(K. Reicherter, T. Pletsch, in collaboration with D. Garcia, J. Sanchez-Arancho,
J. Smit). - Project funded by DFG, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
Late Cretaceous and early Cenozoic sediments recovered during Ocean
Drilling Program Leg 171B (Holes 10491to 1053) at Blake Nose off shore
Florida/Atlantic contain several ash layers that provide good markers for
a site-to-site correlation. The ash layers are characterized sedimentologically,
petrologically and geochemically in order to reconstruct the depositional
environments of the volcaniclastic strata and to identify identical layers
for correlation and temporal calibration of the holes. There is evidence
that both, fall-out deposits with thicknesses around 1 cm and volcaniclastic-rich
turbidites with thicknesses of max. 2 cm, are intercalated in nannofossil
oozes and chalks. Bulk rock analyses of major and trace elements of X-ray
fluorescence analysis, data of X-ray diffractometry and SEM-EDX-analysis
have been carried out. The geochemical discrimination of the differentiated
dacitic-rhyodacitic ashes reflects a clear volcanic island-arc origin,
based on contents of trace elements. This points to a volcanic source in
the Caribbean region, probably on/or close to the Greater Antilles, where
subduction and volcanism were active at least to the Middle-Late Eocene.
Publications :
Reicherter, K., 1998. The Mesozoic Tethys-Atlantic connection and its
tectono-stratigraphic evolution. 3rd Cuban Geological Congress on Geology
and Mining (La Habana), Abstracts, p. 172-175.
Reicherter, K. & Pletsch, T., 1998. Geochemistry of Eocene ash
layers: first results from ODP Leg 171 B (Blake Nose, western Central Atlantic).
3rd Cuban Geol. Congress on Geology and Mining (La Habana), Abstracts,
p. 305-306.
Heidelberg
- The Cenomanian-Turonian boundary in northeastern Brazil: high-resolution
stratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental evolution (P. Bengtson, E.A.M. Koutsoukos,
J. Seeling, S. Walter, A. Herrmann). - Project funded by DFG, Deutsche
Forschungsgemeinschaft. Subprojects:
(a) Palaeontology and biostratigraphy of the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary
in the Sergipe Basin (J. Seeling, P. Bengtson).
Taxonomic work on the echinoid and bivalve faunas is approaching completion,
with several manuscripts in draft stage. For comparative studies collections
have been studied (e.g. NHM, London; SFB 69 at the TU Berlin; Institut
Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Brussels; Royal Museum for Central
Africa, Tervuren). A prerequisite for accurate chronocorrelation is that
there is taxonomic agreement for the diagnostic taxa. A workshop on Cenomanian-Turonian
ammonites is being planned with the aim to reach consensus for this key
stratigraphic group.
Publications :
Seeling, J. & Bengtson, P., 1998. Cenomanian to lower Turonian
oysters of the Sergipe Basin, north-eastern Brazil. Terra Nostra 98/3,
P171-P172.
Seeling, J. & Bengtson, P., 1998. Palaeobiogeographic affinities
of the Cenomanian-lower Turonian (Cretaceous) oysters of the Sergipe Basin,
north-eastern Brazil. Terra Nostra 98/5, p. 149-150.
(b) Environmental and facies analysis of the Cenomanian-Turonian transition
in the Sergipe Basin (S. Walter, P. Bengtson).
Three microfacies types have been recognized within the upper sequence,
where biostratigraphic analysis has indicated the presence of the Cenomanian-Turonian
boundary. Two of these microfacies types occur only in the nodular limestone
unit and can be grouped into a facies association that corresponds to a
depositional setting on the outer ramp. The upper part is dominated by
echinoderm-inoceramid packstones, which were probably deposited in a mid-ramp
setting.
Walter, S. & Bengtson, P., 1998. Biostratigraphy and microfacies analysis of the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary beds in the Laranjeiras and Itaporanga areas, Sergipe Basin, northeastern Brazil. Terra Nostra 98/5, 170-171.
(c) Dinoflagellates of the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary in the Sergipe
Basin (C. Cunha Lana, Petrobras-Cenpes, in collaboration with E.A.M.K.
Koutsoukos and P. Bengtson).
The study is based on material from outcrops in the southern part of
the Sergipe Basin and aims at a biostratigraphic scale for dinoflagellates
that can be integrated with the current ammonite and foraminifer scales
for the basin.
- Aptian-Maastrichtian ammonites and integrated biostratigraphy of northeastern
Brazil (P. Bengtson, E.A.M. Koutsoukos). - Subprojects:
(a) Aptian ammonites and foraminifers from the Sergipe Basin (P. Bengtson,
E.A.M. Koutsoukos).
Taxonomic work is ongoing.
(b) Biostratigraphic correlation of the upper Aptian-Albian succession
of northeastern Brazil (P. Bengtson, E.A.M. Koutsoukos).
The results of this subproject are being prepared for the proceedings
of the 1997 Regional Meeting of IGCP Project 381, in Heidelberg.
(c) Campanian ammonites and inoceramids from the Sergipe Basin (P. Bengtson,
E.A.M. Koutsoukos, in collaboration with W. Souza-Lima, K.-A. Tröger,
J. Burnett, M.H. Zucon).
Taxonomic work is ongoing.
(d) Ammonite taxonomy and biostratigraphy of northeastern Brazil (P.
Bengtson, S. Bengtson).
Additional material has been secured from the only existing but today
destroyed lower Cenomanian ammonite-bearing locality on the western margin
of the South Atlantic. The material includes an apparently new genus, which
further enhances the previously recorded high diversity of these beds.
Bengtson, S., 1998. The biostratigraphical assignment of the lower Cenomanian ammonites of Itaporanga, Sergipe Basin, Brazil. Terra Nostra 98/5, p. 13-14.
- Cretaceous macropalaeontology, biostratigraphy and palaeoecology of
Antarctica (P. Bengtson, A. Luther, S. Bengtson). Subprojects.
(a) Upper Cretaceous palaeoecology and sedimentology of the James Ross
Basin, Antarctic Peninsula (A. Luther, P. Bengtson, in collaboration with
the British Antarctic Survey.). - Project funded until mid 1997 DFG, Deutsche
Forschungsgemeinschaft.
The aim of this project is to obtain an integrated view of the development
of the James Ross Basin by studying the fossil biota, the sedimentology
and the palaeoecology. Palaeoecological investigations, which form the
major part of this project, should clarify the relationship between biota
and sedimentary facies. The project will be concluded in early 1999.
During the past year work was concentrated on investigating the benthos
of the Hamilton Point Member, James Ross Basin, with systematic description
of all benthic macrofossils and trace fossils and their biostratigraphical
and palaeoecological significance. The Hamilton Point Member is a 450 m
thick sequence of dark, bioturbated silty mudstones, fine-grained sandstones
and ash layers exposed on southern James Ross Island. It contains a benthic
community which, compared to older and younger strata of the basin, shows
a notably lower diversity and (for most taxa) abundance. The benthos consists
of only two species of the serpulid Rotularia, which dominate the entire
sequence, the bivalve Thyasira townsendi White and the crinoid Isselicrinus
antarcticus Rasmussen, which both occur only sporadically. The ichnofossil
assemblageshows a similarly low diversity with five genera dominated by
Chondrites and Planolites. It is suggested that short-term dysaerobic conditions
caused by episodic eutrophic conditions or storm-influenced short-term
oxygenation of dysaerobic stagnant bottom water are the reasons for the
low diversity benthos of the Hamilton Point Member. The systematic and
biostratigraphic potential of Rotularia in the James Ross Basin has been
re-evaluated and the stratigraphic ranges of Thyasira townsendi and Isselicrinus
antarcticus extended down to the middle Campanian.
(b) Ostracodes of the Hamilton Point Member, Upper Cretaceous of southeastern
James Ross Basin, Antarctic Peninsula (G. Fauth, A. Luther).
The ostracode assemblage of the Hamilton Point Member of southeastern
James Ross Basin is being described systematically. The association shows
low abundance levels and a low diversity, with eleven species being distributed
on nine genera. This work offers an opportunity to increase the knowledge
of the poorly known ostracodes of the southern hemisphere as well as to
complement the palaeoecological record from this part of the James Ross
Basin. The subproject comprises the first taxonomic study and paleoecologic
analysis of ostracodes from the basin.
(c) Ammonites of the genus Spiticeras from Livingston Island, South
Shetland Islands, Antarctica (S. Bengtson, in collaboration with M.R.A.
Thomson).
The taxonomic work of this subproject has been concluded and the results
are being prepared for publication.
Publication :
Bengtson, S. & Thomson, M.R.A., 1998. Berriasian ammonites from
Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Asociación
Paleontológica del Golfo San Jorge, Boletín 2, 5-6.
(d) Revision of the Austral Kossmaticeratidae (P. Bengtson, S. Bengtson, in collaboration with M.R.A. Thomson).
- Late Cretaceous radiolarian palaeoceanographyy and biostratigraphy
in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean (S. Baecker-Fauth, P. Bengtson, in collaboration
with V. Brasil-Lemos). - Project funded by CNPq, the Brazilian Research
Council.
This project comprises study of ODP samples from the equatorial Atlantic.
Preservation and abundance of the Late Cretaceous radiolarian faunas from
ODP Leg 108 Site 661A and Leg 159 Site 959D have been analysed. Whereas
some samples contain abundant radiolarians, others show extremely low densities
or are nearly devoid of radiolarians. Preservation varies from poor to
good. The radiolarians are normally associated with foraminifers and ichthyoliths,
although some samples contain radiolarians only.
Publication :
Baecker-Fauth, S., 1998. Late Cretaceous radiolarians from the equatorial
Atlantic (ODP Legs 108 and 159): occurrence, abundance and preservation.
Terra Nostra 98/5, p. 7.
- Ostracode assemblages across the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in the
Pernambuco-Paraiba Basin, northeastern Brazil: Systematics, biostratigraphy
and palaeoenvironments (G. Fauth, P. Bengtson, E.A.M. Koutsoukos). - Project
funded by DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service.
The ostracode assemblage in the Poty Quarry near Recife, northeastern
Brazil, is well preserved and abundant, occurring in all the samples of
the section. In the uppermost Cretaceous sediments abundant specimens of
the genus Cytherella sp. have been recorded together with species of the
genera Bairdia, Cytheropteron, Cythereis, Brachycythere, Protobuntonia,
Bythocypris, Protocosta and Paracypris. The earliest Tertiary sediments
record a faunal change with the occurrence of species of the genera Soudanella,
Paleocosta, Cythereis, Dahomeya, Monoceratina, Paracypris and the always
abundant Cytherella.
Fauth, G. & Koutsoukos, E.A.M., 1998. Paleoecology of the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in the Poty Quarry, northeastern Brazil, based on ostracodes: a preliminary study. Terra Nostra 98/5, p. 36.
- Palynostratigraphy and palynofacies reconstruction of the upper Aptian-lower
Albian of the Sergipe Basin, northeastern Brazil (M.A. Carvalho, P. Bengtson,
E.A.M. Koutsoukos). - Project funded by DAAD, the German Academic Exchange
Service.
The project consists of a palaeoenvironmental and biostratigraphic
study of the upper Aptian-lower Albian sequence of the Sergipe Basin, based
on palynology and palynofacies analysis. In order to recognize the paleoenvironments
of the mixed carbonate-siliciclastic platform system (Muribeca and Riachuelo
formations), palynofacies analysis have been carried out from two borehole
profiles. Using the kerogen classifications combined with multivariate
analysis (factor, correlation and cluster analysis) eight palynofacies
intervals have been identified in the sequence studied. In addition to
the palynofacies analysis, a preliminary cyclicity analysis has been made.
- Magnetostratigraphy and rock magnetism of uppermost Cretaceous sedimentary
successions and the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in northeastern Brazil
(P. Schlicht, P. Bengtson, E.A.M. Koutsoukos, in collaboration with K.
Krumsiek, U. Hambach). - Project funded by DFG, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
The aim of this project is to integrate the local stratigraphy of the
uppermost Cretaceous successions exposed in the northeastern Brazilian
sedimentary basins with the global chronostratigraphic scale and the Geomagnetic
Polarity Time Scale (GPTS), using palaeomagnetic-biostratigraphic methods.
In addition, rock-magnetic methods and state-of-the-art time-series analysis
are being used to analyse high-frequency marl-limestone cycles, which can
serve as a chronostratigraphic tool and for intrabasinal correlation. A
particularly important goal will be the precise positioning of the Cretaceous-Tertiary
(K-T) boundary in the Pernambuco-Paraíba Basin in relation to the
GPTS and correlation with key K-T sections in other parts of the world.
Initial field work in the Pernambuco-Paraíba basin was carried
out in early 1998 and alternating marl-limestone couplets of Maastrichtian-Paleocene
age of three major sites were sampled, the Poty quarry (near Olinda, Pernambuco),
the CIPASA quarry (near the Pernambuco-Paraíba border) and the CIMEPAR
quarry (in Jo o Pessoa, Paraíba). A clear magnetic-susceptibility
signal is present, which shows cyclic variations that may reflect Milankovitch
cycles. Possible astronomic frequencies reflected in the sediments will
be analyzed using spectral analysis, a method applicable not only to uppermost
Cretaceous rocks and sediments but also to rocks of the Aptian-Santonian
"magnetic quiet zone". Based on this method it should be possible to calculate
sedimentation rates and the time span represented by individual sedimentary
packets. The data will also contribute to the current work by F.J. Hilgen
and others on a "new astronomically calibrated time scale" and extend its
application back into the Cretaceous.
Schlicht, P., Koutsoukos, E.A.M., Bengtson, P. & Krumsiek, K., 1998. Magnetic properties of Maastrichtian to Paleocene sediments from the Pernambuco-Paraiba Basin (NE Brazil): preliminary results. Asociación Paleontológica del Golfo San Jorge, Boletín 2, 29-30.
Kiel
- The opening of the Equatorial Atlantic Gateway and its impact on
Cretaceous-Paleogene climate, circulation, biogeography, and organic carbon
accumulation
(T. Pletsch, W. Kuhnt, in collaboration with T. Wagner, A. Holbourn,
M. Moullade, J. Erbacher, F. Oboh-Ikuenobe, E. Soeding). - Project funded
until mid 1997 by DFG, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
The sedimentology, clay mineralogy, organic geochemistry, and the palaeoecology
of different microfossil groups (benthic foraminfers, radiolarians, palynomorphs)
were studied in order to document the changing depositional environments
along the Cote d’Ivoire-Ghana Transform Margin, drilled during ODP Leg
159. Laboratory work is largely completed and the publication of results
has begun. These include the striking relationship between the stepwise
subsidence evolution and the litho-, organo-, and biofacies along the transform
margin. Notably, presence and type of organic matter depend to a large
extent on the position of the depositional sites and on the existence of
ridges that provided a shelter against erosive, oxygenating bottom waters
that started to bath the margin after separation of Africa and South America.
Clay minerals and benthic foraminifers testify to abrupt bathymetric changes
along the margin that can be correlated with the major steps in the tectonic
evolution of the opening Equatorial Atlantic Gateway. Intense aridification
around the Equatorial Atlantic during the latest Cretaceous, as proposed
from General Circulation Models, is reflected in the mineral composition
of the sediments.
Wagner, T. & Pletsch, T., 1998. Tectono-sedimentary controls on Cretaceous black shale deposition along the opening Equatorial Atlantic Gateway (ODP Leg 159). In N. Cameron, R. Bate & V. Clure (eds): The Oil and Gas Habitat of the South Atlantic. Geological Society [of London], Special Publication (in press).
Holbourn, A., Kuhnt, W., El Albani, A., Pletsch, T., Luderer, F. & Wagner, T., 1998. Upper Cretaceous palaeoenvironments and benthic foraminiferal assemblages of potential source rocks from the western African margin, Central Atlantic. In N. Cameron, R. Bate & V. Clure (eds): The Oil and Gas Habitat of the South Atlantic. Geological Society [of London], Special Publication (in press).
Pletsch, T., Wagner, T., Erbacher, J., Holbourn, A., Kuhnt, W., Moullade, M., Oboh-Ikuenobe, F. & Söding, E. (in review). Cretaceous depositional environments along the opening Equatorial Atlantic Gateway (Cote d’Ivoire-Ghana Transform Margin, ODP Leg 159). Palaeo-3
- Cretaceous-Paleogene depositional environments in western Cuba: correlation
with the western Tethys (T. Pletsch, K. Reicherter, in collaboration with
J. Sanchez-Arrango, J. Cobiella-Reguera, M. Iturralde-Vinent). - Project
partly funded by DAAD, German Academic Exchange Service. Proposal for DFG
funding is currently under review.
Western Cuba has an apparently complete Cretaceous section that bears
striking similarities with well-known Tethyan sections in the western Mediterranean.
These sections may provide an important link between Tethys, Central Atlantic,
and the proposed "Super-Tethys". Although singnificant efforts have been
invested into mapping and general stratigraphy until the late 70's, almost
no modern work was conducted to understand the depositional environments
of these deposits. A more refined stratigraphy (including bio-, chemo-,
and magnetostratigraphy) is needed, however, to arrive at reliable correlations
with other regions. We took the first steps to initiate a German-Cuban
co-operation that aims at the reconstruction of Cretaceous to Paleogene
depositional environments in western Cuba.
- The Santa Maria sequence in southern Brazil and its eolian frame:
sedimentology, palaeoecology and palaeogeography of an aquatic sedimentary
trough within the Botucatu desert during the Kazanian-Norian interval (H.
Böger, G. Kowalczyk). - Project funded by DFG, Deutsche Forschunggemeinschaft.
In the past year interest was focused mainly on the investigation of
the sedimentary and depositional environment and the classification of
the lithostratigraphic succession of the continental Early Mesozoic red
beds of the Parana Basin. In its southeastern part, in Rio Grande do Sul,
this succession shows an exceptional differentiation. The succession, following
partly marine beds of suggested Permian age (Rio do Rasto Formation), starts
with eolian and fluvial deposits, the Rosario do Sul Formation. It consists
of eolian sand sheets and dunes, interdune sediments and braided river
associations with limited extension, which rest with an erosional unconfomity
on the Rio do Rasto Formation.
The Rosario do Sul Formation is overlain by (and in juxtaposition to)
red, structureless silt- and claystones with isolated and amalgamated channel
fills, the Sanga do Cabral Formation. The channel fills contain exclusively
intraformational conglomerates and calcareous sandstones. This unit is
characterized by the extraordinary abundance of detrital micas (muscovite
and biotite) which have yielded K/Ar ages of 418 ± 8 Ma and 423.5
± 9.7 Ma. The Sanga do Cabra Formation is the most widespread Triassic
fluvial unit in Rio Grande do Sul and belongs - in the central part of
its occurrence - to a floodplain environment. Towards the source areas
the grain sizes increase and the architectural features point to ephemeral
braided streams.
The Rosario do Sul and Sanga do Cabral formations show similar sedimentological
features as the Piramboia Formation of Sao Paulo and are placed in a comparable
lithostratigraphic position.
The overlying Santa Maria Formation has been divided into a lower Passo
das Tropas Member and an upper Alemoa Member. The Passo das Tropas Member
is formed by conglomerates and sandstones of braided rivers which pass
into silt- and claystones of floodplain deposits. Locally these fine-grained
sediments contain plant remains (Thinnfeldia, Dicroidium), conchostraca
and insects. In some places silcretes have developed. The Alemoa Member
consists of red structureless clay- and siltstones with numerous caliche
layers and silicified evaporite relics and was deposited in an evaporitic
playa environment. The fossil record consists mainly of tetrapod remains,
which reflect an ancient ecosystem that obviously was of importance for
the early stages of evolution of higher tetrapods (dinosaurs, archosauria,
mammal-like "reptiles", etc.). Most of the tetrapod sites in the central
part of Rio Grande do Sul seem to be confined to the same stratigraphic
level, namely the upper part of the Alemoa Member, which in analogy with
the occurrences of the Ischuagalasto Basin in Argentina, are 228 Ma of
age.
The Santa Maria Formation is restricted to the central part of Rio
Grande do Sul and rests unconformably on the Sanga do Cabral Formation.
It is overlain by a thick eolian sequence, the Botucatu Sandstone. At its
base fluvial (braided river) clastics have developed. Locally thick channel
fills occur between the Alemoa/Sanga do Cabral Formation and the eolian
Botucatu Sandstone. In some places these clastic units contain accumulations
of petrified wood (Caturrita Formation; Mata Formation).
The Botucatu Sandstone resting on the Santa Maria or Sanga do Cabral
formation is characterized by textural features typical for eolian sediments
and has been formed within a sand sea. It is covered by the successions
of flood basalts of the Parana Basin (Serra Geral Formation).
The Triassic fluvial and playa deposits of Rio Grande do Sul (Sanga
do Cabral and Santa Maria formations) form a lens-shaped architectural
unit separating two different eolian and partly eolian successions. According
to biostratigraphical and radiometic data, the arid, eolian-dominated environment
persisted over an unusually long period of time of at least 100 Ma. It
started probably in the latest Permian and ended at the first onset of
the volcanic activities of the Serra Geral Event in the Early Cretaceous
(133 Ma).
The causes for this unusual long lasting desert environment - whether
climatic, paleogeographical or tectonic - still need to be discussed.
(In addition to the lists of participants appended to SAMC News 11).
ABDEL AAL, Abo El Ela - Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria
University, EGYPT. Tel.: Egypt-5406454, e-mail: Sc-Alex2@CNS.SISNET.NET
Research interests: Invertebrate macropaleontology, systematic classification,
their shell wall structure and chemical composition; professor of macropaleontology
in Alexandria University..
PARNELL, John - Dept. of Geology, Queen's University, Belfast BT7 1NN,
U.K.
Tel.: +44-(0)1232-335148, e-mail: j.parnell@qub.ac.uk
Research interests: Fluid migration histories in Atlantic margin basins.
AGUILAR, Cesar A. Gosos - Prof. Adjunto de Sedimentologia, Jefe Dpto. Geologia - Instituto de Geologia y Paleontologia (INGEPA), Facultad de Ciencias - Universidad de la Republica, Igua 4225. CP 11400. CC 10773. Montevideo, URUGUAY - (Tel: +598-2-5258620/21//int. 172, fax: +598-2-5258617, e-mail: gosito@fing.edu.uy). Asistente de Geologia, Dpto. Geotecnica - Instituto de Estructuras y Transporte (IET), Facultad de Ingenieria - Universidad de la Republica, Av. Julio Herrera y Reissig 565. CP 11300. CC 30. Montevideo, URUGUAY - (fax: +598-2-7112880).
DIGNES, Thomas W. - Mobil Technology Company, Mobil Exploration & Producing Technical Center, P.O. Box 650232, Dallas, TX 75265-0232, U.S.A.
DUTRA, Tânia - e-mail: tania@dgeo.unisinos.tche.br
SOBREIRA, Jorge Fiori Fernandes - PETROBRAS/ E&P-ES/ GEXP/GEINT,
São Mateus, ES, BRAZIL. Tel.: +55-(0)27-7614436, fax: +55-(0)27-7614210
Research interests: tectonics, vulcanism, geologic and geophysics data
integration, basin analysis.
We would like to express our gratitude to PETROBRAS-CENPES, Rio de Janeiro,
for support involved in editing, photocopying and mailing all the copies
of SAMC News 12.
Maintaned by Peter Bengtson and Jens Seeling