IGCP Project No. 381
South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations
 
SAMC NEWS
No. 15 - December 1999

ISSN 1413-6813
Dear Colleague,
This last issue of SAMC News for 1999 presents an update of project research activities (October 1998-September 1999), with reports from national representatives, regional coordinators and working group chairmen (see p. 14).
   Currently the total number of project publications amounts to 505   (113 published articles and extended abstracts in the year 1999, as of September 1999). In addition, 17 articles are currently in press and 3 have been submitted for publication. One Ph.D. thesis has been concluded in 1999 and 20 M.Sc. and Doctorate theses are in progress within the framework of the project (see individual Reports of Research Activities).
   In Luanda, Angola, the Réunion Regionalle du Project PICG No. 381 will be held jointly with the 14 ème Colloque Africain de Micropaléontologie & 4 ème Colloque de Stratigraphie et de Paléogéographie de l’Atlantique Sud, from 21 to 24 May, 2000.
   The Fifth Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC V) will be held 6-17 August 2000 in conjunction with the XXXI International Geological Congress (31st IGC) - Symposium 1-3, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

WITH BEST WISHES FOR A VERY HAPPY AND FRUITFUL
New Year 2000!
bonne année 2000!
Glueckliches Neues Jahr 2000!
 
IGCP Project 381
South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC)

Project Leaders:
Eduardo A. M. KOUTSOUKOS - PETROBRAS-CENPES/DIVEX/SEBIPE, Cidade Universitária, Quadra 7, 21949-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL. Tel.: +55-(0)21-8656417 or 8656440, 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 a letter or e-mail to 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.


INDEX
 

• SAMC-Net

• Contacts and further information

• SAMC Secretariat

• Regional Coordinators and National Nepresentatives for IGCP Project 381 (December 1999)

• IGCP Project 381 Thematic Working Groups and Chairmen

• South Atlantic Index Fossil Species: Systematics, Biostratigraphy and Palaeoecology

• SAMC - Thematic and Symposium Volumes
      • Proceedings of the Second Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC II)
      • Oil and Gas Habitats of the South Atlantic
      • Mesozoic Biogeographic Patterns in the South Atlantric
      • Mesozoic Palaeontology and Stratigraphy of South America and the South Atlantic
      • Petroleum Systems of the South Atlantic Margins 

• Forthcoming meetings of IGCP Project 381 :
     • Réunion Regionalle du Project PICG No. 381 - South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations, held jointly with the 14 ème Colloque Africain de Micropaléontologie, 4 ème Colloque de Stratigraphie et de Paléogéographie de l’Atlantique Sud, et  Réunion Annuelle sur l’Orogénie Kibarienne  - Project PIGC No. 418.  Luanda, Angola, 21-24 May 2000   (Second Circular)
     • Fifth Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC V),
       to be held in conjunction with the  XXXIs International Geological
       Congress  (31st IGC)  -  Symposium 1-3,  Rio de Janeiro,  6-17 August 2000

• Reports of Research Activities (October 1998-September 1999)
     • IGCP Project 381 research activities in Brazil
         • PETROBRAS Research Centre (CENPES), Biostratigraphy and Palaeoecology Sector (SEBIPE), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
         • Working Groups on South Atlantic Evaporites and Regional Tectonics
         • Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Curso de Pós-Graduação em Geociências, Área de Estratigrafia, Convênio PETROBRAS/UFRGS
         • Working Group on Paleogeographic and paleoclimatic maps 
         • Research projects related to IGCP Project 381 on Cretaceous Continental Ecosystems
         • Federal University of  Paraná - UFPR
         • Federal University of  Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS 
        • Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geologia
         • Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay 
         • Research projects at the National University of Rosario, Argentina.
         • UNPSJB (Patagonia University), Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut. Argentina.
          • Centro Austral de Investigaciones Cientificas (CADIC), Ushuaia, Argentina
          • IGCP Project 381 research activities in Ivory Coast
 • IGCP Project 381  research activities in Cuba
 • IGCP Project 381  research activities in the U.K.
 • IGCP Project 381 research activities in Germany

• New Participants

• Changes of address and amendments

• Acknowledgements



SAMC Secretariat:

For English-speaking participants: Márcio R. MELO - PETROBRAS-CENPES, Cidade Universitária, Quadra 7, 21949-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL. Tel: +55-21-8656460, fax: 8656799, 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.: +55-21-8656452, fax: 8656795, e-mail: arai@cenpes.petrobras.com.br

 


Regional Coordinators and National Representatives for IGCP Project 381 (as of October 1999)

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 2 33-5426.

Argentina: Eduardo 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.: +54-901-22 310/312/314, fax: 30644, e-mail: eolivero@ satlink.com

Brazil: Eduardo A. M. KOUTSOUKOS - PETROBRAS-CENPES, Cidade Universitária, 21949-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL. Tel. +55-21-8656417 or 8656440, Fax: 2803318, e-mail: koutsoukos@cenpes.petrobras.com.br

Peter SZATMARI - PETROBRAS-CENPES/Divex, Cidade Universitária, 21949-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL. Tel.: +55-21-8656435, fax: 8656792

Cuba: Jorge R. SANCHEZ-ARANGO - Centro de Investigaciones del Petróleo (CEINPET), Washington No. 169, Esquina a Churruca - Cerro, La Habana 1200, 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./fax: +33-493-268843.

Germany: Peter BENGTSON - Geologisch-Paläontologisches Institut der Universität Heidelberg,, D-69120 Heidelberg, GERMANY. Tel.: +49-6221-548293, fax: 548640/545503, 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: Zeli Bruno DIGBEHI - Université de Cocody, UFR des Sciences de la Terre et des Ressources Minières, 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22, CÔTE D’IVOIRE - Tel: 225 44 29 34(office) 225 37 44 09 (home), 225 73 36 96 ( personal cell.), e-mail: digbehz@ci.refer.org

Mexico: Maria Ornelas SANCHEZ - Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo - Exploración, Eje Central Lázaro Cardenas No. 152, Col. San Bartolo Atepehuacan, Mexico D.F. 07730, MEXICO. Tel.: 5 3685911, fax: 3689336.

Niger: Madame Kadi ALZOUMA (Représentante de la section nigérienne du Project PICG No. 381) Département de Géologie, Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey, BP 10662 Niamey, NIGER. Tel.: 227 733072, fax: 733072.

Senegal: Ricardo GOMEZ (National Representative) - Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences and Technics, University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar, BP. Dakar-Fann, SENEGAL. Tel : (221) 825.04.43 poste 1186; fax : (221) 824.63.18. e-mail : ricardo@ucad.sn

Sweden: Joen WIDMARK - Marine Geology, Earth Science Centre, Göteborg University, 41381 Göteborg, SWEDEN. Tel.+46-31-773 44 70, fax: 773 49 03, e-mail: 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, 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 - Mobil Technology Company, Mobil Exploration & Producing Technical Center, P. O. Box 650232, Dallas, TX 75265-0232, USA. E-mail: tom_w_dignes@email.mobil.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.


IGCP Project 381 Thematic Working Groups and Chairmen

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.


South Atlantic Index Fossil Species:

Systematics, Biostratigraphy and Palaeoecology

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) and Ray Bate (Lacustrine Basin Research, London)

Coordinators for South America:    E. Musacchio (Universidad Nacional de La Patagonia, Comodoro Rivadavia) and Marta Cláudia Viviers and Jarbas V. P. Guzzo (PETROBRAS-CENPES)

Mesozoic [benthic] foraminifers

Coordinator for West Africa: Ivan de Klasz (Nice)

Coordinators for South America:     E. A. M. Koutsoukos and M. C. Viviers (PETROBRAS)

Mesozoic [planktic] foraminifers

Coordinator for West Africa:     Jean-Pierre Bellier (Université Pierre et Marie Curie)

Coordinator for Latin America:     José Longoria (Florida International University)

• Ammonites

Coordinators: Peter Bengtson (Heidelberg University) and 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) and Mohamed Ibrahim (Alexandria University)

Coordinators for South America: Rodolfo Dino and Mitsuru Arai (PETROBRAS)


SAMC - THEMATIC AND SYMPOSIUM VOLUMES
 

As a contribution to the aims of SAMC Thematic Volumes and Proceedings of project meetings have been published and are being edited with collections of papers addressing specific issues within the framework of IGCP Project 381:

Proceedings of the Second Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC II), held in conjunction with the 13th Colloquium of African Micropalaeontology  and the 3rd Colloquium on the Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography of the South Atlantic, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 8-13 March 1997.  A collection of papers has been published as a Special Issue of Africa Geoscience Review, Vol. 4, Nos. 3 & 4, 1997.
 

The Oil and Gas Habitats of the South Atlantic  (eds.: N.R. Cameron, R.H. Bate and V.S. Clure), Geological Society Special Publication No. 153, 474 pp., London (July 1999).
Geological Society Publishing House, Unit 7 Brassmill Enterprise Centre, Brassmill Lane, Bath BA1 3JN, UK (Tel: 01225 445046. Fax: 01225 442836)
The book may be ordered from the on-line bookshop:  http://bookshop.geolsoc.org.uk
This Symposium Volume, published as a contribution to  IGCP Project 381, contains the papers presented at the meeting held at the Geological Society, London, 24-26 February 1997.

Contents

Cameron, N. R., Bate, R. H., Clure, V. S. & Benton, J.  Oil and gas habitats of the South Atlantic: Introduction.

The geological and geophysical framework
Karner, G. D. & Driscoll, N. W.  Tectonic and stratigraphic development of the West African and eastern Brazilian Margins: insights from quantitative basin modelling.
Gallagher, K. & Brown, R.  The Mesozoic denudation history of the Atlantic margin of southern Africa and southeast Brazil and the relationship to offshore sedimentation.
Darros de Matos, R. M.  History of the northeast Brazilian rift system: kinetic implications for the break-up between Brazil and West Africa.
Rosendahl, B. R. & Groschell-Becker, H.  Deep seismic structure of the continental margin in the Gulf of Guinea: a summary report.
Crossley, R. & Cripps, D.  Templates from mainland Africa and the Red Sea foor interpreting the early evolution of the South Atlantic.

Oil and gas habitats
Dolan, P.  Western Africa:  an unfinished story of oil and gas exploration
Coward, M. P., Purdy, E. G., Ries, A. C. & Smith, D. G.  The distribution of petroleum reserves in basins of the South Atlantic margins.
Davison, I.  Tectonics and hydrocarbon distribution along the Brazilian South Atlantic margin.
Jungslager, E. H. A.  Petroleum habitats of the Atlantic margin of South Africa.

Organic geochemistry
Schiefellbein, C. F. Zumberge, J. E. Cameron, N. R. & Brown, S. W.  Petroleum systems in the South Atlantic margins.
Burwood, R.  Angola: source rock control for Lower Congo Coastal and Kwanza Basin petroleum systems.

Applications
Holbourn, A., Kuhnt, W., El Albani, A., Pletsch, T. Luderer F. & Wagner, T.  Upper Cretaceous palaeoenvironments and benthonic foraminiferal assemblages of potential source rocks from the western African margin, Central Atlantic.
El Albani, A., Kuhnt, W., Luderer, F., Herbin, J. P. & Caron, M.  Palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Late Cretaceous sequence in the Tarfaya Basin (southwest of Marrocco).
Wagner, T. & Pletsch, T.  Tectono-sedimentary controls on Cretaceous back shale deposition along the opening of the Equatorial Atlantic Gateway (ODP Leg 159).
Preece, R. C., Kaminski, M. A. & Dignes, T. W.  Miocene benthonic foraminiferal morphogroups in an oxygen minimum zone, offshore Cabinda.
Bate, R. H.  Non-marine ostracod assemblages of the Pre-Salt rift basins of  West Africa and their role in sequence stratigraphy.
Dingle, R. V.  Walvis Ridge barrier: its influence on palaeoenvironments and source rock generation deduced from ostracod distributions in the early South Atlantic Ocean.

Exploration studies and issues
Turner, J. P.  Detachment faulting and petroleum prospectivity in the RioMuni Basin, Equatorial Guinea, West Africa.
Bagguley, J. & Prosser, S.  The interpretation of passive margin depositional processes using seismic stratigraphy: examples from offshore Namibia.
Stanistreet, I. G. & Stollhofen, H.  Onshore equivalents of the main Kudu gas reservoir in Namibia
Jerram, D. A., Mountneyy, N & Stollhofen, H.  Facies architecture of the Etjo Sandstone Formation and its interaction with the Basal Etendeka Flood Basalts of northwest Namibia: implications for offshore prospectivity.
Clemson, J., Cartwright, J. & Swart, R.  The Namib Rift: a rift system of possible Karoo age, offshore Namibia.
Barker, P. F.  Falkland Plateau evolution and a mobile southernmost South America.
Lawrence, S. R., Johnson, M., Tubb, S. R. & Marshallsea, S. J.  Tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the North Falkland region.
Bransden, P. J. E., Burges, P., Durham, M. J. & Hall, J. G.  Evidence for multi-phase rifting in the North Falklands Basin
Meadows, N. S.  Basin evolution and sedimentary fill in the Palaeozoic sequences of the Falkland Islands.
 

Mesozoic Biogeographical Patterns in the South Atlantic  (eds.:  Eduardo A. M. Koutsoukos, Peter Bengtson, Ivan de Klasz and David Batten), to be published as a double Special Issue of Cretaceous Research (vol. 21/1-2),  with publication anticipated during March or at the beginning of April 2000.
 

Mesozoic Palaeontology and Stratigraphy of South America and the South Atlantic  (eds.: Eduardo A. M. Koutsoukos and Peter Bengtson), to be published as a thematic issue of the Journal of South American Earth Sciences. Proceedings of the 2nd European Meeting on the Palaeontology and Stratigraphy of South America and the Regional Meeting of IGCP 381 “South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations”, 2-4 September 1997, Heidelberg, Germany.
 

Petroleum Systems of the South Atlantic Margins  (eds.: M.R. Mello and B.J. Katz), 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.
 
 


Forthcoming Meetings
of IGCP Project 381
 
GEOLUANDA 2000
 
14th AFRICAN COLLOQUIUM
 of Micropaleontology
4th COLLOQUIUM
 on the Stratigraphy and the Palaeogeography
 of the South Atlantic
REGIONAL MEETING
 on South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations
 (IGCP Project 381, SAMC)
1st ANNUAL MEETING
 on the Kibaran Orogeny
 (IGCP Project 418)
 
 21-24 May 2000
LUANDA (ANGOLA)
 
 SECOND Circular
and
FINAL Call for Papers
 
 
 HOST:
Department of Geology
University Agostinho Neto
and
The Angolan Association of Geologists (AAG)

www.netangola.com/geoluanda2000
E-mail:  geo.luanda2000@netangola.com
 

THE MEETINGS
 Under the supervision of the Geological Society of Africa, GeoLuanda 2000  International Conference Venue is at “Palácio dos Congressos”, in Luanda, Angola, and embraces two main events: the 14th African Colloquium on Micropalaeontology and the 4th Colloquium on the Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography on the South Atlantic.

   In association with these, two other additional events will take place: the IGCP Project 418 (Evolution of the Kibaran selt) First Annual Meeting, and a Regional Meeting of IGCP Project 381 (South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations). Inaugurated in 1963 at Dakar (Senegal) these meetings have been held every two or three years. They have allowed the presentation and discussion of major geological works and scientific researchs concerning the stratigraphy of Africa and the South Atlantic. After previous meetings organised in Angers (France, 1994) and Yaoundé (Cameroun, 1997), Luanda (Angola) is scheduled to host this set of geoscientific meetings from May 21 to 24, 2000.

   The meetings will be an opportunity for an interaction between research and industry, enabling the exchange of ideas to improve reasearch, development and investment of human and Earth resources in the African continent. It will in particular be an ocasion for African geoscientists to open their scientific perspectives for the next century. The primary focus will be on the Opening of the South Atlantic, supported by different approches such as geology of ocean basins, paleontology, stratigraphy, paleogeography, tectonics, and geophysics.
 

LUANDA
Located in the South-West of Africa, Luanda, the Angolan capital is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. The historic town offers an ageeable tropical climate in May. Its crystal clear sea, white sand beaches and its genuine foods and friendly people will welcome visitors.
   The organizing comitee will prepare an exciting blend of scientific and technical presentations and social events.
 
ABSTRACTS, TALKS AND POSTERS
Submitted contributions will be accepted for oral and poster presentation after revision by the Local Scientific Committee. Indicate your prefered topic and preference for oral or poster presentation.

Abstracts should be typed on a 13 cm x 20 cm size using Times 10 point regular font; ident the first line of each paragraph 0.5 mm, single space and laser printer. The title should be in bold and alignment centered. The manuscript should be no longer than 2 pages, incuding balck and white figures and essential references.

Oral speakers will have 15 minutes for the presentation of the paper, followed by five minutes for questions and answers. The Theme Keynote Speaker will have 50 minutes for presentation of their paper. The audio-visual facilities will inclue two 35 mm (2”x2”) carousel slide projector and one overhead projector.

Poster presentations will take place close to the main lecture hall and refreshment areas. Each display consisting of maps, diagrams, photographs, etc., should be 129 cm x 106 cm in size. delegates should bring their own adhesives/pins.
 The official language of the meetings and presentations will be English.
 

ATTENTION  -  MEETING DEADLINES
December 31, 1999: Deadline for registration.
January 31, 2000: Pre- and Post-Conference field trips acceptance.
February 18, 2000: Deadline for payment of all fees and submission of Abstracts.
March 20, 2000:  Distribution of Final Circular.
 
 
TECHNICAL SESSIONS
THEMES AND TOPICS
 

THEME A:  MACRO AND MICROPALAEONTOLOGY AND CORRELATION.
     (organisms in sedimentation)
     A1.  Carboniferous-Jurassic.
     A2.  Cretaceous.
     A3.  Tertiary.
     A4.  Quaternary.
THEME B:  STRATIGRAPHY AND PALAEONTOLOGY AND SEDIMENTATION.
     B1. Marine Sedimentation: Clastic and Carbonate.
          B1.1.  Siliciclastic depositional system.
               B1.1.1. Shoreline, nearshore and shelf sediments.
               B1.1.2. Deep and turbiditic sediments.
          B.1.2.  Mixed sediment.
          B.1.3.  Carbonate depositional system.
               B.1.3.1. Shelf and platform carbonates and evaporites.
               B.1.3.2. Slope and basin carbonates.
     B2. Non-marine Sedimentation.
          B2.1.  Lacustrine sedimentation.
          B2.2.  Fluvial sedimentation.
     B3. Sedimentary Basins and Geodynamics.
          B3.1.  Continental margins: modern and ancient.
          B3.2.  Basin modeling.
          B3.3.  Geophysics.
          B3.4.  Geochemistry.
     B4. Sedimentary Processes in Relation to Global Change.
          B4.1.  Cyclic sequences: high and low requencies.
          B4.2.  Magnetostratigraphy and sedimentary palaeomagmatism.
          B4.3.  Marine anoxic events.
     B5. Volcanogenic Processes and sediments.
          B5.1.  Subaereal volcaniclastic processes and products.
          B5.2.  Subaqueous volcaniclastic processes and products.
          B5.3.  Facies models of volcaniclastic sedimentation.
          B.5.4.  Tectonic settings of volcaniclastic sediments.
     B.6. Diagenesis and Sedimentary Geochemistry.
          B6.1.  Carbonate diagenesis.
          B6.2.  Diagenesis in sandstone sequences.
          B6.3.  Evaporite diagenesis.
          B6.4.  Physical and chemical processes.
          B6.5.  Chronology of diagenetic events.
THEME C:  SPECIAL TECHNIQUES.*
     C1.  Quaternary Geology.
     C2.  Hydrogeology.
     C3.  Environmental Geology.
     C4.  Geological Education.
     C5.  History of Geosciences.
     C6.   Mathematical Geology and Geoinformatics.
THEME D:  SEDIMENTATION OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC HYDROCARBON PROVINCE AND COMPARISONS.**
     D1.  Reservoir Modelling in Developed Fields.
     D2.  Basin Modelling, Provennce, Fluid Flow and Diagenesis.
THEME E:  PRECAMBRIAN GEOLOGY AND PETROLOGY.
     E1.  Regional Geology.
     E2.  Structural Geology and Geotectonics.
     E3.  Geochemistry and Isotope Geology.
     E4.  Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology.
     E5.  Geology of Mineral Deposits.
*/**  add themes
 
Conference Proceedings.
The Proceedings of the Conference will be published in two issues:
Volume I: Abstract Volume. - This will be provided at registration.
Volume II: This will cover all papers by the Conference participants who submitted their papers by the firt day of the Conference, Monday 22 May, 2000. These papers will be published in special publications of the AFRICA GEOSCIENCE REVIEW.

REGISTRATION FEES
Registration fees are as follows (in US $ dollars)
before/after December 31, 1999:

Participants                                   before             after
GSA* and AAG** members          150                 200
Non-members                                300                 350
Accompanying Member                  200                75
Students                                         50                  75
(* Geological Society of Africa/ ** Angolan Association of Geologists)
All payments must be made by bank draft transfer in US dollars payable to GeoLuanda 2000. Credit cards are not acceptable.
Bank Transfers should be addressed to:  Account Name: GeoLuanda 2000
Account Number: 0965/005859/002  Code:  SWIFT: ”ILBKAOLU”
Bank:  Banco Português do Atlântico  (Sucursal de Luanda - Angola)
Refund of fees can be made until 29 February 2000. No refunds will be made after 31 March 2000, and there will be a non-refundable service fee of US$50.

Hotel Accomodation
 No. Name of Hotel   Single    Double          Extra Bed         Suit       Apartment
                                           (per person)                                            1 Room    2 Rooms
 
    1 Meridien Hotel     180        206                   -                 396              -                   -
    2 Tropico Hotel      130        145                   -                    -               -                    -
    3 Continental Hotel   -          125                   40               170              -                    -
    4 Marinha Hotel       80         90                    45               150               -                   -
    5 Aparthotel Flamingo   -       -                       -                  -             80/100           130/170
    6 Fórum Hotel        145        160                   40                 -                   -                   -
    7 Invicta Hotel           -           -                      -                   -               70/80                -

Note that rooms will only be guaranteed once deposit payment has been received. If you are sharing a Double Room please provide the name of the person with whom you are sharing.

FIELD TRIPS
The excursions have been organized to enable the participants to visit localities of sedimentological, stratigraphic and paleontological importance along the coast of Kwanza Basin, the Proterozoic orogenic belt exposed along most of the southern Angolan Anorthosite complex and Kimberlite geology and siamond mines in Luanda Norte. The field-trip fees includes:  plane, transportation 4 X 4, all meals, hotel accomodation and guide books.
PRE-CONGRESS FIELD TRIPS
A) This field trip will expose the delegates to kimberlites and diamond mining in the east of Angola.  Luanda-Lunda Norte-Luanda  (2 days/ 1 night)
Start: 19 May, 7h30, from Luanda to Luanda Norte.  Transport: Plane and 4 X 4
Climate:  Good  Required field gear:  Boots, long shirt and trousers. Difficult grade:  Low
Cost:  250*/500**  US$  Return: 20 May, 17h00, Luanda
Field leader:  Manuel Watangua  Max. participants:  20

B) This field trip will cover the Mesozoic to Cenozoic geological history of central Kwanzabasin.  Luanda-Cabo Ledo-Sumbe-Luanda  (3 days/ 2 nights)
Start: 18 May, 7h30, from Luanda to Cabo Ledo (overnight)
 African night in Cabo Ledo with “sea gastronomy”
 19 May, 7h30, Cabo Ledo to Sumbe
Transport: 4 X 4  Climate:  Good
Required field gear:  Boots, long shirt and trousers. Difficult grade:  Low
Cost:  300*/600**  US$   Return: 20 May, 17h00, Luanda
Field leaders:  I. Sgrosso, A. Buta Neto, M.L. Putignano and A. Baldiceda             Max. participants:  22
 

POST-CONGRESS FIELD TRIPS
C) During this erxcursion, the southern extreme point of the N-S trending Kibara belt in southern Angola will be visited. Recent unpublished jet, radiometric data suggest that  the Kunene Gabbro-Anorthositic Complex (South Angola) was emplaced during the early Kibaran Cycle. if these data are confirmed, this large igneous body may represent  a major magmatic event with an early Kibaran extensional context. For this reason, a post congress field excursion is scheduled to travel to Kunene with the aim of discussing the petrogenesis and emplacement model(s) of this complex and its significance i the Kibaran cycle. After the end of the field excursion in the Kunene Complex, there will be a half-day field trip to the Chela Group sedimentary rocks which are also thought to be Kibaran in age.

- Luanda-Lubango-Kunene-Luanda  (4 days/3 nights)
Start: 25 May, 7h30, from Luanda to Lubango.
Transport: Plane and 4 X 4  Climate:  Good
Required field gear:  Boots, long shirt and trousers. Difficult grade:  Medium
Cost:  450*/900**  US$   Return: 28 May, 17h00, Luanda
Field leaders:  E. Morais, S. Sinigoi  Max. participants:  22
 

D) This field trip focuses on the facies and tectonic sedimentary evolution of the Cretaceous and Tertiary depositional systems in the Benguela province along with the formation of the continental sedimentary basin (Angola Rift). The trip will visit the spectacular contact of the Upper Cretaceous and Eocene deposits (Kwanza Basin).

- Luanda-Benguela-Luanda  (4 days/3 nights)
Start: 25 May, 7h30, from Luanda to Benguela.
Transport: Plane and 4 X 4  Climate:  Good
Required field gear:  Boots, long shirt and trousers. Difficult grade:  Medium
Cost:  400*/800**  US$   Return: 28 May, 17h00, Luanda
Field leaders:  M.L. Morais, I. Sgrosso  Max. participants:  22
 

OTHER FIELD TRIPS
 E)  The GeoLuanda 2000 Congress will prepare short field trips during the congress. Mussulo is a beautiful peninsula along the south coast of  the Luanda district with different environmental settings.

E1. Theme:  Mussulo Peninsula - Transitional beach and lagoonal facies.    (1 day)
Start:  23 May, 9h00  Transport:  Boat  Climate:  Good
Required field gear:  Light wear, bathing suit.  Difficult grade:  Very low
Cost:  30 US$  Return: 17h00 of  the same day
Field leader:  Cristhian Seyve   Max. participants:  15

E2. Barra do Dande Picnic.    (1 day)
Cost:  30 US$

E3. Sightseeing (Slavery and Anthropology Museums).     (1 day)
Cost:  30 US$
 
 
Contact: Colloquium Secretariat GEOLUANDA 2000
PO Box 56 - Luanda, Republica de Angola
Phone:   244 2 392 950;  Fax: 244 2 393 266
e-mail:  geo.luanda2000@netangola.com
 
 

GEOLUANDA 2000
    21 to 24 May, 2000
REGISTRATION FORM
        Registration No.   ________________
        Received Date    ________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED YET, PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM ALONG WITH YOUR PAYMENT TO:       GEOLUANDA 2000 (P.O. Box 56) - Avenida 4 de Fevereiro, No. 72
    Luanda, Republica de Angola
    Phone:   244 2 392 950;  Fax: 244 2 393 266
    E-mail:  geo.luanda2000@netangola.com
_____________________________________________________________________________
Please type/write this Registration Form in capital letters.
FAMILY NAME: _________________________   GIVEN NAME: _________________________
TITLE:   Prof.  ____   Dr ____   Mr  ____   Mrs  ____  Miss  ____
NATIONALITY: __________________________   DATE OF BIRTH:  __________________
ORGANIZATION: _______________________________________________________________
ADDRESS:  ____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
CITY: _____________________  POSTAL CODE: ________________  COUNTRY: ___________
PHONE: ______________________  FAX: ______________________  E-MAIL: ______________
PASSPORT No. ___________________  CITY TO APPLY VISA (Embassy/Consulate): __________
ACCOMPANYING MEMBER:
FAMILY NAME: _________________________   GIVEN NAME: _________________________
TITLE:   Prof.  ____   Dr ____   Mr  ____   Mrs  ____  Miss  ____
CHILDREN:
FAMILY NAME: _________________________   GIVEN NAME: _________________________
FAMILY NAME: _________________________   GIVEN NAME: _________________________

SCIENTIFIC SECTIONS: No.  ______________________________________________________

I would like to present an oral communication  (approx. 15 minutes),    , and/or a poster,            ,
on the following subject(s) (please give title/s) : _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________-----_________________________
_____________________________________________________-----_________________________
Deadline for submittion of an abstract for either oral or poster presentation is  18 February 2000.

FIELD TRIPS:                                                                                    Number of Persons
 Pre-Congress ______________________________________            __________________
 During-Congress _______________________________                     __________________
 Post-Congress _________________________________                    _____ _____________

TOURS FOR ACCOMPANYING PERSON: No.  _____________________________________

ARRIVAL Date:    _____________       Flight No.    _____________ Time:  _____________
DEPARTURE Date:    _____________ Flight No.    _____________  Time:  _____________

ACCOMODATION:
No.  _____    Hotel:   ____________________    Single  ____    Double  ____
Extra Bed  ____    Suit  ____    Apartment:   1 Room  ____    2 Rooms  ____
 
 



 
FIFTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
OF IGCP PROJECT 381
(SAMC V)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
6-17 August 2000
 
 

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 (31st IGC) - Symposium 1-3,  6-17 August 2000.

Conveners: E.A.M. Koutsoukos  and  P. Bengtson

All Abstracts will be published in a series of Abstract Volumes, and included in a CD-ROM to be distributed to all participants.
 

For further details please contact :

  31st International Geological Congress
  Secretariat Bureau  -  Casa Brazil 2000
  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

  See also the 31st IGC Home-Page at:  http://www.31igc.org
 
 
 



 
REPORTS OF RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
(October 1998-September 1999)
 

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 Section (SEBIPE), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Reported by E. A. M. Koutsoukos

Collaborators:
     Luzia Antonioli
     Mitsuru Arai
     Rodolfo Dino
     Luiz Carlos Veiga de Oliveira
     René Rodrigues

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 lithostratigraphic, geochemic, micro- and macropalaeontologic integrated studies to characterise the sequence of events (stratigraphic, palaeoceanographic and palaeobiologic) across the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K/T) boundary in South America.  On-site field and laboratory work.
A ongoing joint research 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.

Publications:
GRASSI, A. A. & DE ROS, L.F., 1999. Tektites ascribed to the Chicxulub low angle ejecta at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary of the Campos Basin, Brazil. Presented at the 5th Simposium on the Brazilian Cretaceous, Serra Negra, SP, Brazil, August/September 1999.
Summary:  A core from an oil-well drilled in the 70’s in the Campos Basin, offshore southeastern Brazil, recovered a succession apparently continuous across the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary (KTB), including a 2.5 cm thick layer of spherules interpreted as tektites directly ascribed to KTB event itself. This layer occurs within a 90 cm thick, greenish gray interval from which just few calcareous nannofossils were recovered. The rocks below and above this interval are siltites which respectively contain the uppermost Maastrichtian Micula prinsii Zone, and the lowermost Paleocene Thoracosphaera acme and Neobiscutum romeinii Zone, indicating a complete succession, and probably a continuous deposition across the KTB. The lack of nannofossils recovery through the greenish gray interval is due to a strong cementation and replacement of the host rock by pyrite and calcite, which compositional (non-ferroan, non-magnesian), textural (microcrystalline, corroding siliciclastic grains, within horizontal expansion microveins), and isotopic (d13CPDB ? -40‰) aspects suggest a precipitation related to methane oxidation at the sulfate-reduction zone, close to the sea-bottom. The tektites are dark-gray to black, subspherical, with 0.3 to 1.4 mm of diameter. They were also extensively replaced by calcite and pyrite, but several of them display internal features suggesting flow and devitrification textures of the original glass, which is preserved as minor inclusions in only a few tektites, as shown by polarizing microscopy, electronic microscopy and microprobe analyses, what characterize them as the most distant known record of low angle ejecta from the Chicxulub impact structure (? 7.800 km).
 

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 stratigraphic correlation. (ii) Reconstruction of the palaeogeographic, palaeoceanographic and palaeoclimatologic 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:

ALVES, L.S.R. & KOUTSOUKOS, E.A.M., 1998. Fossil woods of the Serraria Formation (Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous),     Sergipe Basin, NE Brazil: morpho-anatomic study and paleoclimatic assessment. XL Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia (Belo Horizonte, 11-16 October 1998), Anais, 448, Belo Horizonte, SBG-MG.
ALVES, L.S.R. & KOUTSOUKOS, E.A.M., 1998. 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), Asociación Paleontológica del Golfo  San Jorge, Boletín 2 (Edición especial),  1.
Antonioli, L., Rodrigues, M. A. C. & Dino, R., 1998. 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., 1999. The mid-Cretaceous marine transgression: Its implication for the paradigm of the Cretaceous paleogeographic reconstruction of Brazil. In: DIAS BRITO, D., CASTRO, J.C. & ROHN, R. (eds), Boletim do V Simpósio sobre o Cretáceo do Brasil & I Simposio sobre el Cretácico de América del Sur (Serra Negra-SP, 29/08-02/09/99),  pp. 577-582.
ARAI, M. & CARVALHO, I.S., 1999. Conchostráceos da Formação Maceió, Cretáceo Inferior da Bacia de Alagoas, Nordeste do Brasil. Boletim de Resumos do 16º Congresso Brasileiro de Paleontologia (Crato, CE), pp. 19-20.
ARAI, M., PEREIRA, M.J. & SHIMABUKURO, S., 1998. Origem dos Chapadões Brasileiros: uma análise à luz da estratigrafia de seqüências. XL Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia (Belo Horizonte, 11-16 October 1998), Anais, Belo Horizonte, SBG-MG.
ARAI, M. & KOUTSOUKOS, E.A.M., 1998. Palynoforaminifera (foraminiferal organic linings and allied material): a new tool for petroleum exploration.  AAPG Int. Conf. (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 8-11/11/98) Pap., AAPG Bull. Vol. 82, No. 10, Oct. 1998 (ISSN 0149-1423).
ARAI, M., BOTELHO NETO, J., LANA, C.C. & PEDRÃO, E., 1998. Biogeographic differentiation and provincialism of Cretaceous dinoflagellates in Brazilian basins and the Atlantic Ocean. Third Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC III) (Comodoro Rivadavia, 17-20 November 1998), Asociación Paleontológica del Golfo  San Jorge, Boletín 2 (Edición especial), 4.
Azambuja Filho, N.C., Azevedo, R.M.L., Rodrigues, R. & Koutsoukos, E.A.M., 1998. An integrated approach using cyclostratigraphy, stable isotopes and paleoecology as a high resolution technique for deep-water reservoirs.  AAPG Int. Conf. (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 8-11/11/98), AAPG Bull. Vol. 82, No. 10, p. 1888, Oct. 1998 (ISSN 0149-1423).
AZEVEDO, R.L.W., 1999. The Albian stage, its stratigraphic units, and age limits on the Brazilian coastal basins. In: DIAS BRITO, D., CASTRO, J.C. & ROHN, R. (eds), Boletim do V Simpósio sobre o Cretáceo do Brasil & I Simposio sobre el Cretácico de América del Sur (Serra Negra-SP, 29/08-02/09/99),  pp. 637-642.
CASTRO, J.C., DIAS-BRITTO, D., MUSACCHIO, E.A., SUAREZ, J., MARANHÃO, M.S.A.S. & RODRIGUES, R., 1999. Stratigraphic framework of Bauru Group in west São Paulo, In: DIAS BRITO, D., CASTRO, J.C. & ROHN, R. (eds), Boletim do V Simpósio sobre o Cretáceo do Brasil & I Simposio sobre el Cretácico de América del Sur (Serra Negra-SP, 29/08-02/09/99),  pp. 509-515.
CUNHA, A. A. S., 1999. Orbital cyclicity in the Turonian succession of the Sergipe basin, NE Brazilian continental margin, In: DIAS BRITO, D., CASTRO, J.C. & ROHN, R. (eds), Boletim do V Simpósio sobre o Cretáceo do Brasil & I Simposio sobre el Cretácico de América del Sur (Serra Negra-SP, 29/08-02/09/99),  pp. 669-673.
DINO, R., 1998. 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.
DINO, R., SILVA, O.B. & ABRAHÃO, D., 1999. Palynological and stratigraphic characterization of the Cretaceous strata from the Alter do Chão Formation, Amazonas Basin. In: DIAS BRITO, D., CASTRO, J.C. & ROHN, R. (eds), Boletim do V Simpósio sobre o Cretáceo do Brasil & I Simposio sobre el Cretácico de América del Sur (Serra Negra-SP, 29/08-02/09/99), pp. 557-565.
GUZZO, J.V.P. & ARIENTI, L.M., 1998. Depositional Significance of Lacustrine Black Shales: Falsifying a Paradigm. AAPG Int. Conf. (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 8-11/11/98), AAPG Bull. Vol. 82, No. 10, Oct. 1998 (ISSN 0149-1423).
Koutsoukos, E.A.M., 1998. An extraterrestrial impact in the early Danian: a secondary K/T boundary event ?  TERRA-Nova. Vol. 10, pp. 68-73.
Koutsoukos, E.A.M., 1998 The Guembelitria-Woodringina-Chiloguembelina lineage (Foraminiferida) in the lower Danian of the Poty section, Pernambuco, NE Brazil: radiation patterns.  XL Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia (Belo Horizonte, 11-16 October 1998), Anais, 453, Belo Horizonte, SBG-MG.
Koutsoukos, E.A.M., 1998. 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), Asociación Paleontológica del Golfo San Jorge, Boletín 2 (Edición especial), 17.
KOUTSOUKOS, E.A.M., 1999. Distribution patterns of morphotypes and pelagic niches of planktonic foraminifers in the cretaceous of NE Brazil. In: DIAS BRITO, D., CASTRO, J.C. & ROHN, R. (eds), Boletim do V Simpósio sobre o Cretáceo do Brasil & I Simposio sobre el Cretácico de América del Sur (Serra Negra-SP, 29/08-02/09/99),  pp. 675-680.
KOUTSOUKOS, E.A.M., 1999. Microbiostratigraphic record and paleoenvironmental evolution of the early marine deposits in the Brazilian margin - a review. In: DIAS BRITO, D., CASTRO, J.C. & ROHN, R. (eds), Boletim do V Simpósio sobre o Cretáceo do Brasil & I Simposio sobre el Cretácico de América del Sur (Serra Negra-SP, 29/08-02/09/99),  pp. 599-603.
LANA, C.C. & Carvalho, I.S., 1998. 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), Asociación Paleontológica del Golfo  San Jorge, Boletín 2 (Edición especial), 17.
Lana, C.C. & Roesner, E.H., 1998. 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.
OLIVEIRA, L.C.V. & RODRIGUES, R., 1999. Biostratigraphy (nannofossils) and chemostratigraphy of the upper Campanian-lower Maastrichtrian in Carapeba Field, Campos Basin, Brazil. In: DIAS BRITO, D., CASTRO, J.C. & ROHN, R. (eds), Boletim do V Simpósio sobre o Cretáceo do Brasil & I Simposio sobre el Cretácico de América del Sur (Serra Negra-SP, 29/08-02/09/99),  pp. 131-135.
SCHLICHT, P., BENGTSON, P., HAMBACH, U., KRUMSIEK, K. & KOUTSOUKOS, E.A.M., 1999. Limestone-marl cycles from the Maastrichtian of the Petrnambuco-Paraíba Basin (NE Brazil) - evidence for orbital forcing?  In: DIAS BRITO, D., CASTRO, J.C. & ROHN, R. (eds), Boletim do V Simpósio sobre o Cretáceo do Brasil & I Simposio sobre el Cretácico de América del Sur (Serra Negra-SP, 29/08-02/09/99),   pp. 121-124.
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. Third Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC III) (Comodoro Rivadavia, 17-20 November 1998), Asociación Paleontológica del Golfo  San Jorge, Boletín 2 (Edición especial),  29-30.
Viviers, M. C., Koutsoukos, E. A. M., Silva-Telles Jr., A. C. & Bengtson, P., 1998. Late Aptian-Maastrichtian ostracodes from the Potiguar and Sergipe Basins (NE Brazil) and biogeographic affinities. Third Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC III) (Comodoro Rivadavia, 17-20 November 1998), Asociación Paleontológica del Golfo  San Jorge, Boletín 2 (Edición especial),  35-37.
WOOD,  G.  D., MILLER,  M. A., POCKNALL, D. T., ALEMAN, A. M., STEIN, J. A. & DINO, R., 1998. 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.

Newsletters of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC News):
Koutsoukos, E.A.M. (Editor),  SAMC News 11 (October 1998). IGCP (UNESCO/IUGS) Project 381, South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations, Newsletter, 42 pp.  (ISSN 1413-6813).
Koutsoukos, E.A.M. (Editor),  SAMC News 12 (December 1998). IGCP (UNESCO/IUGS) Project 381, South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations, Newsletter, 49 pp.  (ISSN 1413-6813).
Koutsoukos, E.A.M. (Editor),  SAMC News 13 (June 1999). IGCP (UNESCO/IUGS) Project 381, South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations, Newsletter, 29 pp.  (ISSN 1413-6813).
Koutsoukos, E.A.M. (Editor),  SAMC News 14 (October 1999). IGCP (UNESCO/IUGS) Project 381, South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations, Newsletter, 48 pp.  (ISSN 1413-6813).

(In Press)
Koutsoukos, E.A.M., "Rhabdammmina-type" foraminiferal assemblages in the Cretaceous of Northeastern Brazil.  Grzybowski Foundation Special Publication, London.
Koutsoukos, E.A.M., Cretaceous foraminifers, environmental gradients and stratigraphic sequences: a case-study of NE Brazil. Cushman Foundation Theme Session “Applied Integrated Stratigraphy in Exploration and Development Geology: New Techniques and Perspectives”, 1999 GSA Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado (October 25-28, 1999).
Koutsoukos, E.A.M. & FAUTH, G., Stratigraphic record and depositional dynamics of an impact-triggered tsunami event in the Early Danian: the K/T boundary sequence at Poty, NE Brazil.  Theme Session, 1999 GSA Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado (October 25-28, 1999).
Koutsoukos, E.A.M. & de KLASZ, I., 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.
VIVIERS, M.C., KOUTSOUKOS, E.A.M., SILVA-TELLES Jr., A.C. & BENGTSON, P., Stratigraphy and biogeographic affinities of the late Aptian-Campanian ostracods of the Potiguar and Sergipe basins in northeastern 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.

Dissertations and thesis:
In Progress:
ANTONIOLI, L.,  Palyno-Chronostratigraphic Study of the Codó Formation, northern Brazilian, Lower Cretaceous. Doctorate Thesis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
This research is being developed with the support of PETROBRAS-CENPES/DIVEX/ SEBIPE.  As an initial contribution, a more refined study in the Codó region  was carried out.  The partial results of this study (Palynoestratigraphic Analysis of Aptian Deposits of the Parnaíba Basin, in the Codó Region - MA)  were presented at the Brazilian Paleontologic Congress held in Crato-Ceará, August 2-6, 1999. Palynostratigraphic analysis were carried out on outcrop and well sections drilled by Fábrica de Cimento Nassau, (Well 22/20 - UTM: 609829,34W / 9.499.391,71S), Itapecuru Agro-Indústria S/A, located near  the Codó town. The studied material corresponds, in lithostratigraphic terms, to deposits of the Codó Formation - Parnaíba Basin, which covers an extensive area with discontinuous outcrops, in the north of the Maranhão and Piauí states. In the studied locality it was possible to characterize, three main units belonging the Codó Formation with distinct sedimentologic features: a) the lower unit - siliciclastics, composite for dark gray to black shales and the fluvial and aeolian, sandstones and dolostones; b) intermediate unit - carbonatic, composite by carbonates, gypsum and anhydrite, interbedded with dark siltstones and shales; c) the upper unit - dominantly sliciclastics carbonatic, arenaceous, interbedded with siltstones, shales and carbonates. Twelve samples had been collected, being four cores and five outcrop representative samples. A rich, diversified and well-preserved palynologica assemblage was recovered, with a very important guide-taxa content as Sergipea variverrucata, associated with attributable dinoflagellates related to the genus Caningia in the uppermost portion of the section. Besides that, there are common reworking of Devonian age material as indicated by the spores and acritarchs species, such as Emphanisporites rotatus, Maranhites brasiliensis, and Tasmanites spp. The Cretaceous assemblage is clearly correlated which the palynozones well recorded in the Brazilian marginal basins, and assigns these deposiots to the Sergipea variverrucata (P-270) palinozone, of late Aptian age. Evidence supplied by the lithology and the palynologic assemblage in the region suggests a fluvial-deltaic-lacustrine continental system environment, for the basal unit, merging to a marine to coastal environment in its intermediate portions, culminating with a shallow marine deposits towards the top of the Codó Formation.
   The  quantitative and qualitative palynologic study has already been carried out on  approximately 30 % of all the selected material.

AZEVEDO, R.L.M., Estratigrafia e paleoceanografia do Cretáceo médio marinho, da margem continental sudeste/leste do Brasil: uma abordagem holística. Doctorate Thesis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS),  Instituto de Geociências, Porto Alegre (RS).
CUNHA, A.A.S., Cicloestratigrafia e Paleoceanografia do Cenomaniano-Turoniano do Atlântico Sul. Doctorate Thesis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS),  Instituto de Geociências, Porto Alegre (RS).
MILHOMEN, P.,  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).
 


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)

In 1999, work has continued on the study of continental breakup tectonics. A paper, based on the talk presented at the AAPG Hedberg conference on the South Atlantic in 1997 (Szatmari, P., 1997, Tectonic habitat of petroleum along the South Atlantic margins. AAPG/ABGP Joint Hedberg Research Symposium "Petroleum Systems of the South Atlantic Margins" Nov. 16-19, 1997, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), has been prepared for the AAPG Memoir on the subject, edited by Marcio Rocha Mello and Barry Katz. The book is in its final stages of preparation. Other publications related to this working group include:
Publications:
Szatmari, P., in press. Continental breakup and early evolution of the South Atlantic. IGC-2000
Smith, P., Evensen, N., York, D., Szatmari, P., Conceição, J.C.J. & Destro, N., 1999. Getting it on track: Ar-Ar geochronology of alkali intrusions of the Serra do Mar province, Brazil. AGU Annual Mtg., 1999.
Lobo, J. T., Valente, S.C., Thomaz Filho, Al. & Szatmari, P., 1999, Modelamento geoquímico quantitativo dos processos evolutivos dos basaltos do Cretáceo Inferior da bacia de Campos, SE do Brasil. V Cong. Geoquim dos paises de lingua portuguesa; VII Cong Bras Geoquim., SBGq Salvador 1999.
Mohriak, W.U. & Peter Szatmari, P., 1999, Deep-water salt tectonics and sedimentation: insights from seismic interpretation and physical models.
ARAGÃO, M.A.N.F. , COSTA, I.P., SILVA, O.B. & SZATMARI, P., 1999, Influência de esforços compressivos na arquitetura do rifte Recôncavo/Tucano/Jatobá e no controle tectônico de algumas acumulações de petróleo. 7. Simp. Nac. Estudos Tectônicos, Lençois, Bahia (11-15 May 1999), Brazil,  Ext.. Abstract.
Demercian, L.S. & Szatmari, P., 1999, Thin-skinned gravitational transfer zone in the southern part of Santos Basin. 6th Int. Cong. of the Brazilian Geophysical Society (SBGF), Rio de Janeiro, Ext. Abs., 4 p.
Szatmari, P., 1999. Role of tectonic and halotectonic processes in shaping the Brazilian continental margin. 7. Simp. Nac. Estudos Tectônicos, Lençois, Bahia (11-15 May 1999), Brazil, Ext. Abstract.
 
 



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.      (e-mail:  gterra@if.ufrgs.br)

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:
Research in progress:
• Estudo estratigráfico integrado de alta resolução do Campaniano-Maastrichtiano da bacia de Pernambuco-Paraíba: evolução paleoceanográfica.
 Francisco Henrique O. Lima  -  M.Sc. Dissertation.      Supervisor:  Eduardo A. Koutsoukos
• Correlação Tectono-Sedimentar entre as Bacias de Camamu e Recôncavo -BA Durante o Tempo Rio da Serra/Jiquiá.
 José Antônio Cupertino  -  Doctorate Thesis.  Supervisors:  Peter Szatmari and Farid Chemale Jr.
• Organofácies e Palinologia Aplicada à Estratigrafia de Seqüências da Fm. Morro do Chaves (Aptiano) da Bacia de Sergipe/Alagoas.
 Gilberto Inácio Henz  -  Doctorate Thesis.
 Supervisors:  Nilo Chagas de Azambuja Filho and Luis Antônio Freitas Trindade
• Estratigrafia de Eventos na Dinâmica Gondwânica Durante o EoCretáceo.
 Gilmar Vital Bueno  -  Doctorate Thesis.
 Supervisors:  Peter Szatmari and Farid Chemale Jr.
• Estratigrafia e paleoceanografia do Cretáceo médio marinho, da margem continental sudeste/leste do Brasil: uma abordagem holística.
 Ricardo Latgé Milward de Azevedo  -  Doctorate Thesis.
 Supervisors:  Renê Rodrigues and Dimas Dias-Brito
• Cicloestratigrafia e Paleoceanografia do Cenomaniano-Turoniano do Atlântico Sul.
 Armando Antônio Scarparo Cunha  -  Doctorate Thesis.
 Supervisors:  Eduardo A. Koutsoukos and Nilo Chagas de Azambuja Filho
• A Aplicação de Métodos Geocronológicos, Geotérmicos e Paragenéticos no Desenvolvimento de Modelos Diagenéticos de Três Reservatórios Clásticos Brasileiros.
 Andréia R. D. Elias   -  Doctorate Thesis.
 Supervisor:  Luiz Fernando De Ros
• O limite Cretáceo-Terciário nas bacias de Pernambuco-Paraíba e Campos: um estudo multidisciplinar.
 Alexandre de Azevedo Grassi  -  M.Sc. Dissertation.
 Supervisor:  Eduardo A. M. Koutsoukos and   Luiz Fernando De Ros
• Petrologia e  Características de Reservatórios dos Arenitos Mucuri (Andar Alagoas – Bacia do Espírito Santo) no Contexto da Estratigrafia de Seqüências.
 Luciana Moreira Félix   -  M.Sc. Dissertation.    Supervisor:  Luis Fernando De Ros
• Modelagem Sedimentar Aplicada a Plataforma Carbonática Mista.
 José Eduardo Faccion  -  M.Sc. Dissertation.
 Supervisors:  Nilo Chagas de Azambuja Filho and Christopher St. G. Kendall
• Análise Estratigráfica do Andar Aratu na Bacia do Recôncavo sob o Enfoque da Estratigrafia de Seqüências.
 Paulo da Silva Milhomem  -  M.Sc. Dissertation.   Supervisor:  Nilo Chagas de Azambuja Filho
• Análise Litofaciológica  e Cronoestratigráfica da Fm. Botucatu na Porção Meridional do Estado de Santa Catarina.
 Fernanda Guilardi da Silva   -  M.Sc. Dissertation.
 Supervisors:  Ênio Soliani Jr. and Claiton Marlon Santos Scherer
 


Working Group on Paleogeographic and paleoclimatic maps
Coordinator: Antonio Jorge Vasconcellos Garcia (e-mail: garcia@euler.unisinos.br)

Main research focus on :
•     Paleogeographical and Provenance analysis
•     Regional Paleoclimatic analsysis
•     Lithofacioplogic architecture and diagenetic processes controls on reservoir/ aquifer porosity
•     Basin Evolution controls on mineral resources and hydrocarbon potential
Paleogeographic and provenance studies associated to paleontological, diagenetic and paleoclimatic analysis are contributing to improve the understanding of the South Atlantic Marginal and Interior Basin evolution during the Mesozoic.
   Regional basin studies conduced by several research groups, participants of the "South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlation Project ˆ SAMC/IGCP 381", will be the main data bases to construct paleomaps containing geological information representing source areas; continental, transitional and marine lithofacies; volcanic events and ancient climate conditions, important to determine the favorable environmental condition to origin of petroleum source rocks and reservoir.

Ongoing Activities :
We are in contact with Dr. Alfred Ziegler, coordinator of the "Paleogeographic Atlas Project" at the University of Chicago, to use the same base paleogeographic maps to plot the data produced by the participants of the SAMC Project.
   At the discussions in Serra Negra and thereafter we decided to propose a Thematic Volume entitled "Paleogeographic and paleoclimatic Evolution of the Mesozoic South atlantic", to be edited within the framework of IGCP Project 381. This will comprise a collection of contributions from the WG participants, and be published through a major journal.
   To make easier the compilation of data from the available literature and ongoing research, the regional studies will be organized provisionally in four main regions: 1. South America Intracontinental basins; 2. Eastern South America and Western Africa Coastal Atlantic basins (Tethyan to Boreal realms); 3. Southeastern South America and South Africa Atlantic basins (Boreal Realm); 4. Northern South America, Caribbean and Northwestern African Atlantic basins (Tethyan Realm).
   Suggested time intervals for the production of the maps, which are of key-importance in the evolutionary history of the Mesozoic Gondwana breakup and South Atlantic development: Ladinian, Carnian, Norian, Rhaetian, Toarcian, Kimmeridgian, Tithonian, Valaginian, Barremian, Aptian, Albian, Cenomanian-Turonian, Coniacian-Santonian, Campanian-Maastrichtian.
   The base paleogeographic maps would be made available accordingly the needs of the contributors of the WG/Thematic Volume.
 



 
Research projects related to IGCP Project 381 on Cretaceous continental ecosystems.
 
 

Federal University of  Paraná - UFPR
Reported by Robson Tadeu Bolzon   (e-mail: olzonrt@setuva.geologia.ufpr.br)

Research Project:
Silicified woods of the Mesozoic of Rio Grande do  Sul State, Brazil.
Participant: Robson Tadeu Bolzon - UFPR
Report.
Silicified woods have been found in fluvial sandstones of Mesozoic age  (Triassic or Jurassic) in the Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Specimens were collected systematically. Analyses on growth rings, morphology and  mineralogy are being made.
 
 

Federal University of  Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS
Collaborators:
     Laureen Sally da Rosa Alves  (e-mail:  laureen@if.ufrgs.br)
     Luiz Fernando De Ros  (e-mail: lfderos@if.ufrgs.br)
     Margot Guerra Sommer
 

Research Project #1:
• Growth rings in fossil woods as a toll for paleoclimatic assessment of Paleozoic  and Mesozoic sequences in the Paraná Basin.
Participants:  Laureen Sally of Rosa Alves and Margot Guerra Sommer

The abundance and excellent preservation of petrified wood in different stratigraphic sequences of the Paraná Basin allows the assessment of paleoclimatic inferences for the depositional setting (Bolzon, 1993, Alves, 1994). The analysis of growth rings of the  morphogenus  Barakaroxylon (Surange and Maithy) Kulkarni, Maithy and Surange, 1970, recovered from deposits of the Irati Formation (Permian), allowed to infer the presence of very marked seasonal cycles with little climatic variations between consecutive years. The structure of the growth rings suggests a hot and relatively dry climate, similar to a present-day Mediterranean type.
Studies of Mesozoic wood woods from southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul State) allow the identification of growth rings in the secondary xylem of Gymnospermae specimens, which are characterized as false growth rings (Bolzon, 1994;  Soares et al., 1998).  Based on the presence of these structures a hot and seasonally humid climate has been inferred for the Triassic sequences of southern Brazil.
Therefore, detailed dendrologic analyses of fossil woods allow to characterize the paleoclimatic evolutionary changes which marked the Permo-Triassic transition in the Paraná Basin helping also to establish the  regional characteristics of the climate in the study areas.
 

Research Project #2 :
• Fossil woods of the Serraria Formation (Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous), Sergipe Basin, NE Brazil: morpho-anatomic study and paleoclimatic assessment.
Participants: Laureen Sally of Rosa Alves, Margot Guerra Sommer and Eduardo A. M. Koutsoukos

Fossil woods are been commonly recovered from the fluvial sandstone deposits of the Serraria Formation, but no morpho-anatomic analyses has been carried out to date. The associated occurrence of non-marine ostracodes assigns a Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous age for the deposits.
   The studied specimens were collected from two different outcrop localities in the vicinities of Malhada dos Bois, in northwestern Sergipe. This work presents the initial results of a detailed morpho-anatomic study and a preliminary paleoclimatic assessment of the environmental setting, also suggesting a fossilization process by petrification or silicification of the woody tissues.
 

Research Project #3:
• Fossil woods  in the Itapecuru Formation (Albian-Cenomanian?), São Luis Basin, Maranhão.
Participants: Laureen Sally of Rosa Alves, Margot Guerra Sommer and Eduardo A. M. Koutsoukos

This work presents a preliminary assement of silicified wood specimens recovered from conglomeratic sandstones of the  Itapecuru Formation (Albian-Cenomanian ?, São Luis Basin), in the Cajual Island, São Luis, Maranhão. Analysis of the specimens reveals a good preservation of the morpho-anatomic structures needed for identification.  The joint occurrence of fossil wood fragments with abundant bone remains of dinosaurs, plesiosaurs and mosasaurs suggest a probable estuarine setting for the deposits. An Albian-Cenomanian(?) age  has been suggested by associated palynomorph assemblages, which are commonly recovered from interbedded siltstone and shale layers.

Publications:
ALVES, L.S.R. & KOUTSOUKOS, E.A.M., 1998. Fossil woods of the Serraria Formation (Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous), Sergipe Basin, NE Brazil: morpho-anatomic study and paleoclimatic assessment. XL Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia (Belo Horizonte, 11-16 October 1998), Anais, 448, Belo Horizonte, SBG-MG.
ALVES, L.S.R. & KOUTSOUKOS, E.A.M., 1998. 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), Asociación Paleontológica del Golfo  San Jorge, Boletín 2 (Edición especial),  1.
ASSIS SILVA, C. M. de, ANJOS, S.M.C. dos & DE ROS, L.F., 1999. Volcanic rock fragments in Upper Cretaceous sandstones of Santos Basin:  evidence for a Paraná Basin provenance. Presented at the First Simposium on Volcanism and Associated Environments, Gramado, RS, Brazil, June 1999.
Marine turbiditic and shelf sandstones of the Itajaí-Açu e Juréia formations (Santonian-Maastrichtian) are the main clastic oil reservoirs of the Santos Basin, offshore eastern Brazil. They are arkoses and lithic arkoses rich in volcanic rock fragments (VRF). Chlorite is the major diagenetic constituent, occurring as pore-lining rims which decrease permeability but help to preserve the porosity of reservoirs. Petrographic analyses were performed over 230 thin sections sampled from 12 oilwells cored throughout the basin. The alteration and dissolution of VRF was identified as the main source of ions for the precipitation of chlorite. In order to understand and predict the distribution of chlorite in the basin, a provenance study was focused in the determination of the origin of the VRF, with the aim to define if they were originated from the Neocretaceous intrabasinal alkaline volcanism or from the Eocretaceous tholeiitic volcanism of the Serra Geral Formation from the Paraná Basin. In the first hypothesis, the distribution of the VRF would be concentrated in the northern portion of Santos Basin. The petrographic analyses have shown, however, a basinwide distribution of VRF and the occurrence of acidic VRF in all samples analysed. Granophyric textures in these VRF are similar to those of acidic volcanics from the top of Serra Geral Formation Geral, showing no relation with the texture and composition of the intrabasinal alkaine volcanics. The texture and composition of the acidic VRF, together with their wide distribution in good correlation with the basic VRF indicate that the provenance of Santos Basin VRF was the erosion of the volcanic plateau of the Paraná Basin during the Late Cretaceous.
 

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  -  Sedimentary Geology Program-PPGeo-UNISINOS University, Av. UNISINOS, 950, CEP 93.022.000, São Leopoldo, RS, Brazil. Tel.: +55 51 5903333/extension 1765/1768/1743/1732; fax:+55 051 5908177;  e-mail: garcia@euler.unisinos.br, garcia@cpovo.net

Research Program: "PALEOGEOGRAPHICAL, PALEOCLIMATIC AND BURIAL HISTORY CONTROLS ON THE DIAGENETIC EVOLUTION AND POROSITY DISTRIBUTION IN SANDSTONE RESERVOIRS/ AQUIFERS"
Main focus on:
     Lithofaciologic architecture
     Provenance analysis
     Diagenetic processes
     *Paleogeographical and paleoclimatic analsysis
     *Reservoir/aquifer analysis

Research focus to 1999-2001:
1. 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;
2. PHEATIC AND PEDOGENIC CALCRETE  RECORDS IN THE SOUTH AMERICA MESOZOIC BASINS: paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic implications to paleogeographic and paleoclimatic Mesozoic reconstructions;
(New!) 3. PROVENANCE AND DIAGENESIS OF CONTINENTAL MESOZOIC SANDSTONE: a petrologic tool to basin evolution analysis;
4. LITHOFACIOLOGIC ARCHITECTURE, BASIN EVOLUTION AND POROSITY DISTRIBUTION IN SANDSTONE RESERVOIRS /AQUIFERS: pathways to fluids in sedimentary basins

Main focus: 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, paleogeographical, paleoclimatic and burial-history imprints on diagenetic processes. Lithofaciologic and diagenetic controls on permeability heterogeneity within hydrocarbon reservoirs and aquifers. Sedimentary and diagenetic aspects as ore forming processes. Clay compositions analysis towards the characterization of the diagenetic evolution and geochronology studies of sedimentary sequences. Vulnerability potential analysis of contamination in sedimentary porous aquifers from petrologic studies and geometry, architecture and heterogeneity analysis of sedimentary sequences. Studies applied to understanding: (1) Tectonic imprints on basin  evolution and fluid migration in sedimentary sequences; (2) Sequence  stratigraphy and depositional systems aspects of reservoir/aquifer  rocks geometry, lithofacies architecture and heterogeneity  distribution; (3) Geochemistry of the diagenetic processes related to  paleoclimatic imprints and ore-forming fluid evolution; (4)  Provenance and diagenetic evolution of siliciclastic rocks related to  paleogeographical and paleoclimatic aspects, basin burial history and  porosity distribution; (5) Paleobiogeographic, paleoclimatic and  diagenetic aspects on fossil records in sedimentary sequences.

Ongoing Research (Related to IGCP 381-SAMC Project):
Paleogeographic and paleoclimatic reconstructions of three important  non-marine Mesozoic sequences in Brazil have been  the resulted of field informations including the characterization of the external and  internal geometry of lithofacies and paleocurrent data, and  laboratory studies including provenance and diagenetic/geochemistry analysis: (1) Pre-rift sequence in Sergipe-Alagoas Basin and northeastern Brazil interior basins; (2) Bauru Group in northeastern margin of the Paraná Basin, in Minas Gerais State, and (3) Triassic to Cretaceous continental sequences in Rio Grande do Sul State. These studies are going to be base for applied research projects, involving diagenetic evolution and porosity distribution in sandstone related to reservoir/aquifer architecture and basin evolution. Mesozoic continental, transitional and marine sequences from Lusitania and Algarve-Cadiz basins in Portugal are going investigated with the same approach, involving paleogeographic, paleoclimatic, provenance and diagenetic analysis. Studies of  depositional systems and paleogeographic evolution of the Camaquã, Santa Barbara and Itajaí basins, in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina states,  are going the base for petrologic and geoeconomic/ applied (ore deposits/aquifer potential) investigations in southern Brazilian Cambrian molassic sequences (research included in the GEOARQ PROJECT).

Research aims:
1. Paleogeography and paleoclimatology of Mesozoic sequences in Brazil and Portugal: basin evolution related to Gondwana breackup and lithofaciologic and paleoclimatic imprints on diagenetic processes and porosity distribution; 2. Pheatic and pedogenic calcrete  records in the South America Mesozoic basins: paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic implications to paleogeographic and paleoclimatic Mesozoic reconstructions; 3. Provenance and diagenesis of continental Mesozoic sandstone: a petrologic tool to basin evolution analysis; 4. Lithofaciologic architecture, basin evolution and porosity distribution of sandstone reservoirs /aquifers: pathways to  fluids in sedimentary basins; 5. Origin, migration and fluid-rock interaction in sedimentary basins: an integrated approach towards a diagenetic model to exploration of the ore deposits in Cambrian volcano-sedimentary sequences in southern Brazilian molassic basins and aquifer potential analysis. In conclusion, the main applied focus of the research projets is to understanding about the diagenetic processes and porosity evolution, involving fluid migration and  compositional changes in sedimentary rocks, related to ore-forming fluids and to characterization of reservoir/aquifer, towards the definition of exploration models.

1. FACIOLOGIC AND PALEOCLIMATIC CONTROLS ON DIAGENETIC PROCESSES AND  POROSITY EVOLUTION IN SANDSTONES - CNPq Proc. 300504/85-3 (BPC 97-99)
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 , 1998-2000), CNPq/ICCTI(International Cooperation Brazil-Portugal) Proc. 910174/97-0 e CNPq Proc. 300504/85-3 (BPC 99-01)
3. 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)
4. GEOMETRIA, ARQUITETURA E HETEROGENEIDADES DE CORPOS SEDIMENTARES Projeto PADCT III/1998-2000) (GEOARQ RESEARCH GROUP/UNISINOS)

RESEARCH #01 - PALEOGEOGRAPHY AND PALEOCLIMATOLOGY OF MESOZOIC SEQUENCES IN BRAZIL AND PORTUGAL: BASIN EVOLUTION RELATED TO GONDWANA BREAKUP AND LITHOFACIOLOGYC AND PALEOCLIMATIC IMPRINTS ON DIAGENETIC PROCESSES AND POROSITY DISTRIBUTION (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.)

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 Geológico e Mineiro-IGM, Portugal).

Sources of external funding: CNPq; CNPq-ICCTI(Portugal) International Cooperation; CAPES; UNISINOS University; Lisboa University.
 
Short Report:   Main focus on paleogeographic, paleoclimatic and paleobiogeographic aspects in Brazilian and Portuguese Mesozoic sequences; Basin evolution related to Gondwana breackup and lithofaciologic and paleoclimatic imprints on diagenetic processes; aspects of the Mesozoic continental and marine sequences related to Gondwana evolution and to Atlantic Ocean  opening.
(Activities and main results) - Paleocurrent and provenance analysis of the Brazilian Cretaceous continental sandstone to improve the characterization of the highlands during the Gondwana evolution - Paleocurrent and provenance analysis towards the characterization of source areas to Cretaceous fluvial sandstone deposited at the before and after the Gondwana breakup involving the South America and African continents. Were studied the Early Cretaceous (Berriasian) pre-rift fluvial and eolian deposits of the Serraria, Sergi and Missão Velha formations, in the coastal and interior northeastern Brazilian basins (Garcia, 1992; Goldberg, 1995 and da Rosa 1996), and the Late Cretaceous (Coniacian to Maastrichtian) post-rift sandstone of the Baurú Group,  in the present  northeastern margin of the Paraná Basin, at Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The same methodological approach is applied today to analysis of the Triassic deposits in the  Paraná Basin, present at the outcrop area at the Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. These sequences offer a good opportunity to analysis of provenance involving different stages of the Gondwana evolution and breakup. These studies have been applied  to understanding the Mesozoic paleobiogeographic aspects related to dinosaur records of these sequences, largely controlled by the sequential breakup of Gondwana (Garcia et al., in press). Locally, the migration and preferential distribution of dinosaurian living sites were controlled  by paleoclimatic conditions, paleogeographic features and eventually by volcanic activities. The paleogeographic re-constructions resulted of the present  on going research will be important to understanding the preferential regions to marine invasions on the South American continent  during the Mesozoic time (the South American Mesozoic Seaways).

Publications:
GARCIA, A.J.V., DA ROSA, A A S. & GOLDBERG, K., 1998. 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); Abstracts, ISSN 15140784, p. 14-15.
GARCIA, A.J.V., DA ROSA, A.A.S & GOLDBERG, K., 1999. Paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic controls on early diagenetic processes and fossil records in continental Cretaceous sandstones in Brazil: A petrologic approach. Boletin do 5º Simpósio sobre o Cretáceo do Brasil. 1º Simposio sobre el Cretácico de América del Sur. Fourth Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC IV). p. 491-495. UNESP-Campus de Rio Claro,SP. Serra Negra,SP. (ISSN 1516-8239)
GARCIA, A.J.V., DA ROSA, A.A.S & GOLDBERG, K., in press. Paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic controls on early diagenetic processes and fossil records in continental Cretaceous sandstones in Brazil: A taphonomic approach. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, Special Issue, IAS 18th Regional Meeting of Sedimentology. Heidelberg, Germany,
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 Issue  on Mesozoic Biogheographical 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 Issue on Mesozoic Biogeographical Patterns in the South Atlantic.

RESEARCH #02 - PROVENANCE AND DIAGENESIS OF CONTINENTAL MESOZOIC SANDSTONE: A PETROLOGIC TOOL TO BASIN EVOLUTION ANALYSIS (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);

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); Ana Maria P. Mitsusaki (UFRGS).
Sources of external funding: FAPERGS; São Pedro do Sul District Office; Candelária District Office; UNISINOS University; UFSM University.

Short Report: (main focus) -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. The major objective on the petrological approach is to identify major hiatus correspondents to regional unconformities that leads to delimitated mappable allostratigraphic units. (activities and main results) - Provenance of the Triassic fluvial sequences in the Rio Grande do Sul State, Southern Brazil: A contribution to Gondwana paleogeography - The Gondwanic sedimentary sequences of the Paraná Basin at the Rio Grande do Sul State include the Late Permian to Early Cretaceous sedimentary records. The main  focus of the integrated stratigraphic and petrologic studies until the present was concentrated in the Middle to Late Triassic Santa Maria Formation. The fluvial, floodplain and lacustre lithologies of the Santa Maria Formation occur in an unconformity over aeolian and fluvial deposits (paleocurrents to the N) of the Sanga do Cabral Formation (Late Permian to Early Triassic). Recovering the Santa Maria deposits occur Botucatu Formation eolian sandstones (Early Cretaceous). The Santa Maria Formation is characterized at the lower part by coarse sand stone and conglomerate sandstone related to a braided fluvial system from S-SW (Passo das Tropas Sandstone, Anisian to Ladinian ages). Toward to the top of the unit, the fluvial sandstone with paleocurrents from the S-SW to N-NE, occur interlayed to floodplain and lacustrine claystone and siltstone of the Alemoa Member, Ladinian to Carnian/Norian ages. Coarse  to conglomerated  fluvial sandstone, with paleocurrents mainly to NE-E,  including large siliffied  woods at the uppermost part of the unit in the area, were  informally called "Mata Sandstone" (Rhaetic age). All the sandstone intervals reveal an origin related to an interior craton, with a slithery towards the basement uplift condition when plotted in Dickinson et al. (1983) provenance diagram. At the time of Sanga do Cabral Formation deposition (Schytian) were dominants by sedimentary reworked processes in the basin, associated at a stable intracontinental cratonic condition. At the Upper Anisian/Lower Ladinian the stability was broken with a uplift of a S-SW source area, resulting at the sedimentation of the Lower interval of the Santa Maria fluvial deposits (Passo das Tropas Member). In continuity, the basin returned to a relative stable condition (during the Carnian and probably part of the Norian) with a slow subsidence history (deposition of the Alemoa Member). The large amount of  fossil woods in the Mata Sandstone indicated the presence of a forest at SW-W of the studied region. This forest was eroded during a new unstable phase (Rhaetic-Lower Jurassic?), when the basin subsidence history was fast again. The paleogeographic and paleoclimatic reconstruction models will be integrated at the next step of our Sedimentary Geology Research Group to conclude the focus on the Gondwana paleogeography at the Mesozoic time. Petrological approach to recognization of internal unconformities in continental Triassic deposits in southern Paraná Basin, Brazil - Petrological evidences characterized in the Triassic continental sandstone of the Paraná Basin in Southern Brazil, indicated important internal unconformity in fossiliferous sequences of Santa Maria and Caturrita (?) Formations in Rio Grande do Sul State. Supported by the petrologic aspects it is possible suggest two different sedimentary phases for the upper part of the Santa Maria Formation and the uppermost sandstone interval (Caturrita Formation) during the basin evolution, separated by an important internal unconformity. In the field the unconformity was recognized by an irregular surface characterized by a concretional carbonate cemented sandstone with fragments of the lowed siltstone, bone fragments and roots evidences, indicating subaereal exposition and pedogenetic processes. Diagenetic features and porosity distribution in Triassic sandstone aquifers in Southern Paraná Basin, Brazil - The petrologic approach developed to analyze of the  Triassic Gondwanic sedimentary sequences of the Paraná Basin, in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, following the same methodological schedule used before to investigation of the Early and Late Cretaceous continental sandstones  in Northeastern of Brazil and Minas Gerais State, respectively (Garcia et al., 1998; Goldberg & Garcia, 1996). The diagenetic history of the different Triassic sandstone  intervals analyzed permitted
characterize the permo-porosity aspects and their aquifer potential. The porosity of these sandstone is conditioned to three main controls: 1. Intensity of clay mineral infiltration during the eodiagenesis; 2. Intensity and distribution of early cementation, related to the packing index definition, and 3. Participation of solvent telodiagenetic fluids promoting the total or partial dissolution of cements and detrital grains and, consequently, increasing the secondary porosity. In this way, the coarse sandstones of the Passo das Tropas present the best permo-porosity condition (non-significant presence of clay infiltration processes, important eodiagenetic cementation supporting the loose packing characteristics and a significant telodiagenetic dissolution phase). The relative large presence of infiltrated clays in the Mata Sandstone and the absence of significant early cementation processes indicate a small aquifer potential to this interval.

Publications:
FACCINI, U.F., ZERFASS, H. & GARCIA, A.J.V., 1998. The Upper  Permian-Triassic stratigraphy and petrologic approach of the  continental sandstone in SE Paraná Basin, Southern Barzil:   depositional styles versus base level changes. In : Bachamann, G. 1998. Epicontinental Triassic International Symposium, Halle/S.,   Germany; p. 11.
FACCINI, U.F., LAVINA,E.L.C., ZERFAZ, H. & GARCIA, A J.V., 1998. Stratigraphic framework of the Permian-Triassic sequences in the southern 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); Abstracts, ISSN 15140784, p. 16-18.
ZERFAZ, H., SUSZCZYSNKI, A.M., LAVINA, E.L.C., FACCINI, U.F. & GARCIA, A.J.V., 1998. 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); Abstracts, ISSN 15140784, p. 19-21.
ZERFAZ, H., GARCIA, A . J.V., SUSZCZYSNKI, A.M., FACCINI, U.F. & LAVINA, E.L.C., 1998. Diagenetic evolution and porosity distribution in Triassic sandstone reservoirs in southern 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); Abstracts, ISSN 15140784,  p. 22-24.
VIANA, S., ZERFAZ, H. & GARCIA, A.J.V., 1998. 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); Abstracts, ISSN 15140784, p. 25-27.

RESEARCH #03 - LITHOFACIOLOGIC ARCHITECTURE, BASIN EVOLUTION AND POROSITY DISTRIBUTION IN SANDSTONE RESERVOIRS /AQUIFERS: pathways to fluids in sedimentary basins (Sub-project #  3.1. Faciologic and paleoclimatic control on diagenetic processes and porosity evolution in sandstone; Sub-project 3.2. Geometry, architecture and heterogeneity  characterization in sedimentary sequences)

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 (Instituto Geológico e Mineiro-IGM, Portugal); C. E. de Souza Cruz (CENPES/PETROBRAS); C. J. Appi (CENPES/PETROBRAS); G.Schwedersky Neto (CENPES/PETROBRAS); J. E. Faccion (CENPES/PETROBRAS); M. das G.F. da Costa (CENPES/PETROBRAS); M.R. Becker (CENPES/PETROBRAS); N.C. de Azambuja Filho (CENPES/PETROBRAS); T. M. de Oliveira (CENPES / PETROBRAS);  E. Camozzato (CPRM - Geological Survey of Brazil); J.L.F. Machado (CPRM - Geological Survey of Brazil); R. da C. Lopes (CPRM - Geological Survey of Brazil); C.M.S. Scherer (UFRGS, Brazil); F. Chemale Jr. (UFRGS, Brazil); F.L. Wankler (UFRr, Brazil).
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 and paleoclimatic controls on the fluid composition and early diagenetic processes; Exposure imprints on diagenetic evolution and porosity distribution in sandstone; Origin and geochemical evolution of diagenetic fluids in diferent diagenetic settings/burial history.. (activities and main results) - The two sub-projects related to the research  programme include continental, transitional and marine sequences in Paleozoic and Mesozoic Brazilian and Portuguese sedimentary basins. Paleogeographic and paleoclimatic reconstruction of three continental Mesozoic sequences in Brazil have been doing, considering field information (including external and internal geometry characterization of lithofacies and paleocurrent data) and petrologic studies (provenance and diagenetic analysis): (1). Late-Jurassic to Early-Cretaceous pre-rift sequence in coastal and interior northeastern Brazilian basins; (2) Late-Cretaceous post-rift Bauru Group in northeastern margin of the Parana Basin, in Minas Gerais State, and (3) Triassic to Cretaceous fluvial, lacustrine and eolian deposits in Rio Grande do Sul State. Geometry, architecture and porosity distribution in Mesozoic sandstone in the Southern Paraná Basin, Brazil: Porous aquifers potential in Mercosul context - The study of aquifers potential of the  Permian-Triassic to Cretaceous Gondwanic sedimentary sequences (part of the "Guarani Aquifer") of the Paraná Basin, RS, Southern Brazil,  is based on the descriptions of selected outcrops (characterization of the sequence boundaries represented by abrupt changes in depositional styles observed in regional sections and alluvial/eolian deposits architecture) and diagenetic features observed in rock thin sections. Our study register that the complexity of internal heterogeneity of the Mesozoic Guarany Aquifer in the MERCOSUL context will be better understanding by detailed stratigraphic and petrological analysis.

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. ; p. 107-140.
Faccini, U.F., Garcia, A.J.V., Lavina, E.L.C., Suszczysnki, A . M. & Zerfass, H., 1999. Geometry, architecture and porosity distribution in Triasic sandstone, in Southern Paraná Basin, Brazil: Porous aquifers potential in the Mercosul context. 51ª Reunião Anual da SBPC (Sociedade Brasileira para o Progresso da Ciência), Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. P.97 (Seção Poster).
GARCIA, A.J.V., FACCINI, U.F., LAVINA, E.L.C., ZERFASS, H. & SUSZCZYSNKI, A. M., in press. Geometry, architecture and porosity distribution in Mesozoic sandstone in Southern Paraná Basin, Brazil: Porous aquifers potential in the Mercosul context. GSA Annual Meeting & Exposition, Denver, Colorado, USA. (Poster Session).

TEACHING PROGRAMS:
Continuing Education Program in Sedimentary Geology (CEPSG), related to the development of research projects.
Focus on: 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 processes.

Under-graduation level:
1. Brazilian sedimentary basins and the petroleum exploration (CEPSP).
2. Geometry, architecture and porosity distribution in sandstone: reservoir/aquifer characterization from outcrop, core sample, and thin section studies (CEPSP).
3. Provenance and diagenesis of sandstone: textural and compositional analysis  (CEPSP).
4. Carbonate rock petrology (CEPSP).
5. Diagenetic analysis: an important tool in sedimentary ore deposits studies. (CEPSP).

Post-graduation level:
1. Tectonic imprints on basin evolution and fluid migration in sedimentary sequences.
2. Sequence stratigraphy and depositional systems.
3. Characterization of reservoir rocks: geometry, architecture and heterogeneity distribution.
4. Sampling, preparation and analytic methods in sedimentary petrology (CEPSP).
5. Provenance and diagenesis of siliciclastic rocks: A paleogeographic and petrologic approach on diagenetic processes and porosity evolution(CEPSP).
6. Diagenetic evolution and porosity distribution in sedimentary reservoir/ aquifer(CEPSP).
7. Geochemistry of the diagenetic processes: Paleoclimatic imprints and ore-forming fluid evolution(CEPSP). 8.Applied isotope analysis in geology: geochronology of clay mineral and stable isotope in sedimentary geology.

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.
 
 

Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay
Reported by Daniel  (e-mail:  perea@fcien.edu.uy)

Title of Research Project: "Tetrapodos mesozoicos del Uruguay"
a) List of collaborators:
Dr. Daniel Perea (paleontologist) - Coordinator
M.Sc. Cesar Goso (geologist)
Dr. Martin Ubilla (paleontologist)
b) Source of external money: Comision Sectorial de Investigacion Cientifica (CSIC), Universidad de la República (1996-97)

Publications :
GOSO, C., PEREA, D. & PERINOTTO, J.A.J.,. 1999. Estratigrafia de la Fm. Guichon (Cretacico Inferior) en la cuenca del litoral, Uruguay. Boletim do 5º Simposio do Cretaceo do Brasil,  I Simposio sobre sobre el Cretacico de America del Sur: 321-326 - Rio Claro (SP).
MARSICANO, C., PEREA, D. & UBILLA, M., in press. The first occurrence of a temnospondyl amphibian from Uruguay, and the South American temnospondyl record. Alcheringa. Australia.

Short report on activities and main results:  Since September 1998 we are working with fossils from bone beds included in sediments of Tacuarembo Fm. The first results are the finding  of new  taxa for S.A. and Uruguay that probably reflect an Late Jurasic-Early Cretaceous Age.  That results could be comunicated in the Congreso Americano de Herpetología (Uruguay) and the Meeting of the SAMC 381 project in Luanda, Angola.
 

Research projects at the National university of Rosario, Argentina.
Reported by Horacio Parent - Laboratorio de Paleontología y Biocronologia, Instituto de Fisiografía y Geología, FCEIA, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Pellegrini 250, 2000 Rosario, Argentina. (fax: +54  341  480 2654, e-mail: parent@fceia.unr.edu.ar)

Programm of Research PLPB 001: “EL JURASICO MEDIO-SUPERIOR ANDINO” [THE ANDEAN MIDDLE-UPPER JURASSIC]
Director: H. Parent, Laboratorio of Paleontología, IFG, FCEIA, Universidad Nacional de Rosario.
This programm was designed to allocate different research projects in a coherent body of a new line of research at the National University of Rosario.
  Colleagues around the world are cordially invited to join their activities and to propose research projects, short or long in scope and duration- to be developed in collaboration with the Laboratorio de Paleontología (IFG, FCEIA, UNR).

Research Projects included up to 18/04/99:
• The Oxfordian ammonite fauna and biostratigraphy of the Neuquén-Mendoza basin (Upper Jurassic, Argentina).
Director: H. Parent. Collaborators: O. D. Capello y Leonardo Filippi (Lab. de Paleontología, IFG, UNR).
Publications:
Parent, H., 1998. Upper Callovian to Upper Oxfordian Ammonite Biostratigraphy of the Transect Chacay Melehue-Sierra de Reyes, Argentina. Actas del 4to Congreso de Jurásico de España. Cuadernos de Geología Ibérica 24: 261-275.

• The Kimmeridgian-Tithonian ammonite fauna and biostratigraphy of the Neuquén-Mendoza basin (Upper Jurassic, Argentina).
Director: H. Parent. Collaborators: O. D. Capello y Leonardo Filippi (Lab. de Paleontología, IFG, UNR).
Publications:
Parent, H. & O. D. Capello, O.D., 1999. Amonites del Tithoniano Inferior de Casa Pincheira, Mendoza (Argentina). In: 1er Simposio Jurásico de América del Sur. Revue de Paleobiologie 18(1).
Parent, H., 1999. The Succession of Faunal Horizons in the Tithonian of the Neuquen-Mendoza basin (Upper Jurassic, Argentina). Report still unpublished.
Abstract.- From the analysis of the ammonite succession of 4 selected sections of Neuquén and Mendoza (Casa Pinchiera, Mallín Redondo, Arroyo del Yeso y Cerro Lotena), 24 faunal horizons are defined through the Andean Tithonian of the Neuquén-Mendoza basin. The recognition of faunal horizons could be the start point to the refinement of the standing biozonation. The succession of faunal horizons here proposed is a system open to the introduction of other ones, recongnized at the same or other sections, simply by insertion.

Parent, H., submitted. The Ataxioceratid Ammonite Fauna of the Tithonian of Casa Pincheira, Mendoza (Argentina). In: H. Parent (ed.): Symposium on the Jurassic of South America. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, Sp. Issue.
 
 

UNPSJB (Patagonia University), Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina.
Reported by Eduardo A. Musachio  (e-mail:  aldo@unpbib.edu.ar)

From the Regional Coordinators of Argentina  (E. Musachio & E. Olivero) :
The Argentine Coordinators wishes to thank the Colleagues visiting Patagonia at  the SAMC 381 4th Annual Conference in Comodoro Rivadavia and Ushuaia (November 1998). Details of the Annual Conference, including the field trips to Chubut River Medium Valley and Tierra del Fuego, where previously reported in the SAMC News 13: 9-15. The Abstracts of the Conference where published in the Boletín of the Asociación Paleontológica del Golfo San Jorge; 2 (Special Issue) 38 pages; 1998; Comodoro Rivadavia  (ISSN 15140784).

The activity of the Paleovertebrates Laboratory (Prof. Rubén Martínez,  Marcelo Luna and Gabriel Casal) was mainly devoted to the dinosaurians remains in the Bajo Barreal Formation (Upper Cretaceous),  Chubut Province, Central Patagonia. The last findings are remains of a tetanuran Theropoda with hiperstrophic claws in the posterior member as in Megaraptor (Novas, 1998).
 
Abstracts:
Martínez, R. “Notohypsilophodon comodorensis”, un Hipsylophodontidae (Ornitischia: Ornithopoda) del Cretácico Superior de Chubut Patagonia Central, Argentina”. XV Congreso Brasileiro de Paleontologia - São Pedro 1998, Brasil.
Martínez, R. & Novas, F. “Un nuevo tetanuro (Dinosauria: Theropoda) de la Formación Bajo Barrial (Cretácico Superior), Patagonia”. XIII Jornadas Argentinas de Paleontología de Vertebrados. 1997.
Martínez, R. “An articulated skull and neck of Sauropoda (Dinosauria: Saurischia) from the Upper cretaceous of central Patagonia”. Abstract of papers P 616, 58th. Annual Meeting-Snowbird-Utah, 1998
Martínez, R. “The occurrence of dinosaur lineages with Pangeic distribution in Upper Cretaceous of Chubut, Central Patagonia” Bol. Asoc. Paleont. GSJ (3th. Annual Conference, SAMC 381) 2: 20-21. Comodoro Rivadavia.
Papers:
Martínez, R., in press. “Notohypsilophodon comodorensis”, un Hipsylophodontidae (Ornitischia: Ornithopoda) del Cretácico Superior de Chubut Patagonia Central, Argentina”. Acta Geologica Leopoldensia, Brazil.
Martínez, R. Lamanna, M., Smith, J., Casal, & G. Luna, M., in press.  “New theropod remains from the Bajo Barreal Fm. Central Patagonia” 59th. Annual Meeting, Abstracts of Papers; Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Denver, USA.
Lamanna, M., Martínez, R., & Smith, J. “A definitive abelisaurid theropod dinosaur from the Early Late Cretaceous of Patagonia” (submitted, 1999) .

The team of geologists-micropalaeontologists of the Laboratorio de Bioestratigrafia develops a  program devoted to different topics of the SAMC 381, including the following projects:

A. Palynology of middle and upper Cretaceous deposits in Central and Northern Patagonia (Argentine), reported by Patricia Vallati (e-mail: rsandoval@sinectis.com.ar):

1. Palynological studies  of the “dinosaurian beds” (middle-upper Cretaceous of the Neuquén Basin).
These are postorogenic deposits that yield few paleontological evidences to suggest the age of the deposits. Palynological fertile samples were recovered from Huincul Formation, a basal unit of the group in the El Zampal Locality (South of Mendoza Province).
   The Huincul microflora includes angiosperm pollen grains of the monosulcate, tricolpate, tricolporoidate and tricolporate types. These are the dominant forms in the assemblage (over 60%). This angiosperm pollen association is characterized by the presence of Retimonocolpites cf. peroreticulatus, Peninsulapollis sp.,  Tricolpites cf. variabilis, Tricolpites cf. sagax, Dryadopollis sp., Fraxinoipollenites fragilis, Gemmatricolpites sp., Tricolporoidites sp., Rousea sp., Psilatricolporites sp. and  verrucate tricolpate grains with triangular amb (gen. et sp. indetermined).
   Besides, miospores and gymnosperm pollen grains are also present in this assemblage. Among others, the following taxa are recognized: Foraminisporis assymmetricus, Concavissimisporites punctatus, Leptolepidites cf. proxigranulatus, Triporoletes reticulatus, Polycingulatisporites cf. reduncus, Taurocusporites segmentatus, Cyclusphaera psilata, Balmeiopsis limbatus, Callialasporites dampieri, Microcachryidites antarcticus  and Equisetosporites spp.
   The Huincul assemblage is undoubtedly younger than the underlying Aptian Ranquiles association with primitive angiosperm pollen grains (Vallati, 1995). On turn, it seems to be prior to the appearance of triporate grains that takes place in the middle/upper Cenomanian of Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

2. Distribution of Afropollis assemblage
Afropollis, a common genus for the Aptian-Cenomanian of low palaeolatitudes Microfloral Provinces, is well represented in the Neuquén Basin, Septentrional Patagonia (Vallati, 1995, in Actas VI Congr. Argent. Paleont. y Bioestrst.: 277-290, Trelew). This is, up to now, the southernmost appearance of the genus. Additional studies are being carried out in order to  precise the systematic and the distribution of Afropollis in Patagonian basins.

Papers:
Vallati, P., 1998. Palynology of the Huincul Formation (middle Cretaceous) in the Neuquén Basin, Patagonia, Argentina. Abstracts of the SAMC 381 Third Annual Conference in: Bol. Asoc. Paleont. GSJ (Special Issue), 2: 30-32.  Comodoro Rivadavia.
Vallati, P., submitted: Middle Cretaceous Microflora from the Huincul Formation (“Dinosaurian Beds”) in the Neuquén Basin, Patagonia, Argentina.
 
 

B. Dealing with biostratigraphy and paleobiogeography based on calcareous microfossils M. Simeoni & E. A. Musacchio (both: aldo@unpbib.edu.ar) have published the paper: “Cretaceous calcareous microfossils from Southern South America” in Zentralblatt für Geologie und Paläontologie, 1998,  I (11/12): 1403-1420,  reporting the following conclusions:
1. Lacustrine Early Cretaceous non-marine assemblages of calcareous microfossils from Patagonia show endemism. 2. Marine Early Cretaceous benthonic calcareous microfossils from west central Argentina resemble similar faunas from South Africa. 3. The Schyzocytheridae (marine Ostracoda) originated during the Jurassic in the Southern Hemisphere. They migrated during the Early Cretaceous to the Tethyan domain, via the Indian Ocean seaway. 4. In the Aptian the isolation of continental environment was broken when a phase of regional uplift occurred.  5. Tethyan ostracods have been recovered in Cenomanian beds from Bolivia. 6. During Late Cretaceous times, non-marine assemblages from Northern Patagonia exhibit high taxonomic diversification. Interchanges with basins of east Brazil, Africa and southern Europe are well documented.

C. Dealing with non marine calcareous microfossils,  E. A. Musacchio has now in press (Cretaceous Research) the paper:  “Biostratigraphy and biogeography of Cretaceous charophytes from South America”. The main results of the contribution are listed as follows:
1. The Early Cretaceous (pre Upper Barremian) charophytes microfloras are characterized by the Genus Mesochara and clavatoracean forms. Several species are presumably endemic. The extra-Andean basins are related to rifting processes. The isolation of the basins accentuates the endemism of the lacustrine biota. 2. The most conspicuous Aptian taxa are widely distributed. The interchange of microfossils with other continents seems to have been facilitated by geological conditions related to an Early Aptian phase of uplift. In different geological provinces of the continent non-marine Aptian facies are widely distributed, overlying the substratum disconformably.
3. The Late Cretaceous floras display the highest diversity and abundance of the South American fossil record of the group. Two biogeographic units are differentiated: the South American Andean province (showing North American affinities) and the South American Atlantic province (exhibiting Meridional European affinities). 4. The K/T boundary is not marked by a significant replacement of taxa but there is a decrease in floral diversity across the boundary interval. However, some markers in the Early Tertiary units of different countries (North America, Europe and Asia) can be recognized.
 


CENTRO AUSTRAL DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS (CADIC-CONICET)
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
Reported by Eduardo B. Olivero (Regional Coordinator)  -  CADIC, Av. Malvinas Argentinas s/no., 9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.   (e-mail: eolivero@ satlink.com)

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.
Lic. Matías Ghiglione, structural geology and tectonics

b) Source of external money: 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 1998:
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 1998/1999, we have produced new studies in the area including a schematic geological map covering the Argentinean part of the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego and a review of the Mesozoic-Paleogene geology of the Andes Fueguinos. Previous studies on the Cretaceous-Paleogene stratigraphy of Tierra del Fuego figured as submitted or in press in the last report are now published and full citations are quoted at the end of the report.
We continue to study the marine phospates anomalies in the Paleogene succession of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego.
 

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, Argentina.

c) Short report on activities and main results since September 1998:
The main objective of the study is the integration of geodetic (GPS), gravimetric, magnetic, and seismologic measurements and results with geological studies for geotectonic modeling of the Andes Fueguinos. The results of a five year period of geodetic (GPS) measurement across the Magallanes-Fagnano fault system are in good agreement with geological mapping of the area, suggesting a general left-lateral strike-slip motion in the order of a 5 mm per year.
 

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 1998:
As a result of previous fieldwork in the basin we have published several papers including a new stratigraphic framework for the sequences, a detailed study of the complex sedimentary geometry of Maastrichtian beds in the lower López de Bertodano Formation in Seymour and Snow Hill islands, and a preliminary study concerning the diversity patterns of the Santonian - Maastrichtian molluscan faunas.

2) List of publications since September 1998:
artinioni, D.R., Olivero, E.B. and Palamarczuk, S., 1998. Conglomerados del Paleógeno en Tierra del Fuego: Evidencias de discordancia entre el Cretácico Superior-(Paleoceno) y el Eoceno de Cuenca Austral. Asociación Paleontológica Argentina. Publicación Especial 5. Paleógeno de América del Sur y de la Península Antártica: 129-136.
Martinioni, D.R., Linares, E. and Acevedo, R.D., 1999. 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, 54 (1): 88-91.
Olivero, E.B., 1998. Mesozoic-Paleogene geology of the Marginal-Austral Basin of Tierra del Fuego. Field Trip Guide No. 3: 22-24 de Noviembre. IGCP Project No 381. South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations. Third Annual Conference, Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut Argentina. November 1998.
Olivero, E.B., 1998. Biodiversity changes and Paleobiogeography of Late Cretaceous Antarctic marine faunas. Segundo Simposio Internacional Artico-Antártico. ISAA 98 International Symposium on Artic and Antarctic Issues. Punta Arenas Chile. 1-5 November 1998.
Olivero, E.B., 1998. Large mud-filled channels in the Maastrichtian of the López de Bertodano Formation (Seymour Island, Antarctica): Stratigraphical implications. Revista de la Asociación Geológica Argentina (53 (4):553-556.
Olivero, E.B. and Malumián, N., 1999. Eocene Stratigraphy of Southeastern Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Bulletin of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) 83 (2): 295-313.
Olivero, E.B. and Martinioni, D.R., 1998. A review of the Mesozoic-Paleogene geology of the Andes Fueguinos. Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. Field Trip Guide No. 3: 22-24 de Noviembre. IGCP Project No 381. South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations. Third Annual Conference, C. Rivadavia, Chubut Argentina. November 1998.
Olivero, E.B., Barreda, V., Marenssi, S., Santillana, S. and Martinioni, D.R., 1998. Estratigrafía, sedimentología y palinología de la Formación Sloggett (Paleogeno continental), Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Revista de la Asociación Geológica Argentina, 53 (4): 504-516.
Olivero, E. B., Martinioni, D. R., Malumián, N. and Palamarczuk, S., 1999.  Bosquejo Geológico de la Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. XIV Congreso Geológico Argentino, Actas I: 291-294, Salta, 1999.
Olivero, E.B., Martinioni, D.M., Mussel, F.A. and Robles, G.M., 1999. Estratigrafía del Santoniano-Maastrichtiano, Grupo Marambio, Cuenca James Ross, Antártida. Actas Cuartas Jornadas de Comunicaciones sobre Investigaciones Antárticas. Instituto Antártico Argentino.
In press :
Olivero, E.B. and Martinioni, D.R.,, A review of the geology of the Argentinean Fuegian Andes. In: Mesozoic Paleontology and Stratigraphy of South America and the South Atlantic (P. Bengtson and E. A. M. Koutsoukos, eds.) Special Issue of the Journal of South American Earth Sciences.
 


IGCP PROJECT 381 RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN  IVORY COAST
Reported by Dr. DIGBEHI Zeli Bruno  (coordinator for IGCP Project 381 of the National University of Côte d'Ivoire)  -  Université de Cocody, UFR des Sciences de la Terre et des Ressources Minières, 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22, Côte d'Ivoire - Tel: 225 44 29 34(office) 225 37 44 09 (home), 225 73 36 96( personal cell.), e-mail: digbehz@ci.refer.org

1. Report of main results:
The mains activities of stratigraphical studies in Côte d'Ivoire are based on studies of foraminifera and palynomohs(palynology). The last three years, with the intensification of prospective surveys realized by foreign petroleum societies, numerous data are avaible in hese two disciplines. But the amounts of data stay confidential.
Nethertheless, some data of public field have been published in journals:

N'DA L.V & St-MARC P., 1995. Données micropaléontologiques du bassin ivoirien sur le passage Crétacé-Tertiaire. Revista espagnola de microplaeontologia XXVII,3, pp 137-152.
DIGBEHIZ.B., YAO K.R., TEA Y.J, BOBLAI G., 1996. Contribution à l'étude palynologique et paléoenvironnementale du Campanien et du Maastrichtien du bassin offshore de Côte d'Ivoire. Géologie Méditerranéenne Tome XXIII, n° 2, pp 115-171.
DGBEHI Z.B., N'DA L.V., YAO, K.R,  ATTEBA A., 1997. Principaux foraminifères et palynomorphes du bassin offshore de Côte d'Ivoire, golfe de Guinée septentrional. (Propositions pour une biozonation locale)  African Geoscience Review, vol. 4, 1997 671-685.
St-MARC P. et N'DA L.V., 1997. Biostratigraphie et paléoenvironnements des dépôts crétacés au large d'Abidjan, golfe de Guinée. Cretaceous Research, 18, pp 545-565.
TEA, DIGBEHI, YAO, BOBLAI, ATTEBA, in press. Etude de quelques panomorphes du Crétacé supérieur de Côte d'Ivoire. (Implications biostratigraphiques et paléoenvironnementales) Journal of African Earth Sciences.


IGCP PROJECT 381 RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN CUBA
Centro de Investigaciones del Petroleo ( CEINPET)
Washington No. 169, Cerro, La Habana 12000,  Cuba.
Reported by Jorge R. Sánchez (Regional Coordinator) (e-mail: jsanchez@ceinpet.inf.cu)

 l) RESEARCH PROJECTS:
---SYN-RIFT AND EARLY DRIFT JURASSIC CORRELATION EVENTS IN SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO AND WESTERN CARIBBEAN
Jorge R. Sánchez & Rafael Tenreyro
Short Report:
A comparison of the Lower to Middle Jurassic floras of Mexico, Cuba and Honduras, and the lithological characteristics of the deposits in which they occur, suggests a continuous progradation from inland to shallow marine within a single Jurassic basin on the continental margin.
Elsewhere in the southern Gulf of Mexico Basin the salt has only be reached in diapiric structures as the same in northern Cuba.
Comparisons among the basin sites of the DSDP Leg 77 in southeastern Gulf of Mexico and the northern basinal sequences in Cuba, are in favour the assumption that the first 0.4 sec. of the sequence below the earliest Cretaceous, consists of deep water carbonates similar to those already penetrated at the site 535.
Two flooding events during the Upper Jurassic are recorded on Cuba continental margin: 1) during the Middle to Late Oxfordian, which is considered to be equivalent to the establishment of the Smackover and Zuloaga (Novillo) ramps in the Florida Panhandle and central/ northeast Mexico respectively; 2) during the Late Tithonian, related to the drowning out of Kimmeridgian platforms and major transgressive episode.

---MID-CRETACEOUS BIOCHRONOLOGY FROM CUBA BASED ON PLANKTONIC MICROFOSSILS
Silvia Blanco
Short Report:
The deposits of Aptian-Cenomanian age in Cuba exhibit a rich fossil assemblage in Cayo Coco 2 and Gloria 1 wells, both located in the northern part of central Cuba. The assemblage was mainly composed of planktonic foraminifers, subordinated benthonic foraminifers,  Nannoconus
Colomiellidae, Pithonelloideae  and Microcalamoids among others.
The fauna has a dominantly Tethyan character and shows close paleobiogeographic relationship with the Gulf of Mexico, West Carpathians and Brazilian Atlantic Margin notably through the common occurrence of Colomiellids and Pithonelloids.
As a result of the study of microfaunal succession, ten biozones of planktonic foraminifers for the Aptian-Cenomanian interval were differentiated.
The high resolution biostratigraphy allowed to precise some geologic events such as the Aptian age for the main transgression in the Cretaceous of the southern edge of the Bahamas Platform. The Mesozoic biota typical for that event are also present in north-central part of Cuba where the transgression is recognized. This fact in association with a tectonic subsidence gave rise to the development of the Cayo Coco paleochannel.
The study of the distribution, diversity and quality of the faunal association made possible to differentiated the depletion in oxygen of the water column as well as an estimation in the extension of the oxygen minimum zone.

---APTIAN TRANSGRESSIVE EVENT IN THE CONTINENTAL MARGIN OF CUBA: REGIONAL COMPARISONS / A REVIEW
Jorge R. Sánchez, Silvia Blanco, Rafael Tenreyro, Maritza Rodríguez  & Silvia
Valladares.
Short Report:
The Aptian represents a period of an important regional marine transgression, which can be recognized in western and mainly central parts of the Cuban continental margin, in platforms areas as well as in basin sites.
As a result of the relative sea-level rise (eustasy) and a gradually tectonic subsidence a backstepping of the platform took place. The flooding event gave the channel facies of the Guaney Formation (Aptian-Maestrichtian) with deposition of pelagic sediments. The backstepping is clearly seen on offshore seismic to the north of central Cuba and in deep wells located near the coast in the Remedios Platform.
The marine event can also be observed in the well logging of the holes drilled on the platform. In all cases an increase in the values of neutron, gamma ray, resistivity and SP at the top of the Barremian-base of the Aptian is clearly seen, which indicates a deposition of fine-grain rocks.
The scarceness of benthonic foraminifers both calcareous and agglutinated forms suggests a development of anoxic or quasi-anoxic conditions at bottom.
In deeper settings the Neocomian carbonates rich in radiolarians, coccoliths, nannoconids and ammonites are replaced by more oceanic facies with reddish cherts and black shales.
Regional comparisons with coeval events in Southeastern Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas Bank and Northern South Atlantic were reviewed. The facies changes and consequently the different paleoenvironmental settings occurring during the Aptian transgression were responsible for the composition of the biota.
The organic-rich black shales ranging from 2.20 to 14.90 TOC are proven source rocks in the basin sites.

---BIOCONSTRUCTIONS IN CRETACEOUS DEPOSITS OF CUBA
Rolando García, Silvia Blanco, Rafael Segura, Evelio Linares & Reinaldo Rojas.
Short Report:
Several formations related to bioconstructions in some Cretaceous deposits of Cuba are found. These bodies represent marginal reefs of irregular form whose debris are intercalated or transitional with other rocks.
The bioconstructions have been found in two particular settings: in the northern carbonate platform(Remedios-Bahamas) and to the south in the higher sites of the basins developed over the extinct Cretaceous volcanic arc.
On the deposits of the platform sequence, the rudist-bearing and the fossiliferous associations represented by algae and benthic foraminifers are recorded at three levels: Lower Aptian, Cenomanian and Maestrichtian.

---FIRST REPORT ON CALCAREOUS CALPIONELLIDS FROM THE LOWER CRETACEOUS (BERRIASIAN) OF THE TETHYAN PROVINCE IN ARGENTINE. PACIFIC-TETHYS CONNECTION
José Fernández (1) & Alberto Riccardi (2)
l) Centro de Investigaciones del Petróleo, La Habana, Cuba.
2) Museo La Plata, Argentine.
Short Report:
The studied area is located at the Neuquen Basin, in Alta Cordillera Mendocina, Argentine.
Previously, the calcareous calpionellids have been found in black mudstones of the Vaca Muerta Formation associated to the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary.
Recently, the following fossil assemblage has been described in radiolarian wackestone-fossiliferous mudstone: Calpionella alpina (small forms), Tintinnopsella carpathica
(large forms), Nannoconus spp. and Cadosina fusca  and abundant  radiolarian casts. The sequence corresponds to bathyal deposits based on the radiolarians, other pelagic microfossils and dark pelites in euxinic conditions.
The finding of Tethyan planktonic microfossils during the Berriasian in Argentine allows to consider a broader biogeographic distribution. The event is an indication of a marine communication that links distant paleogeographic regions.

---UPPER CRETACEOUS OSTRACODES ASSEMBLAGES OF CENTRAL CUBA
(CEINPET-SEBIPE joint research project)
Coordinated by María Lizette Díaz-Collell (1), Marta Claudia Viviers (2) & Jorge R. Sánchez(1)
1) Centro de Investigaciones del Petróleo, La Habana, Cuba.
2) Petrobras-Cenpes/ Divex/ Sebipe, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Short Report:
Taxonomic and biostratigraphic studies of the ostracodes assemblages recovered from Upper Cretaceous carbonate deposits (Via Blanca, Eloisa, Cantabria and Jimaguayu Formations ) of central Cuba are in progress. More specific differentiations on the ostracodes assemblages mainly in terms of generic diversity and taxonomic correlation with the representants in the Gulf Coast have been reached.
Several specimens of the genera Schuleridea, Cytherella, Cythereis, Limburgina and Paijenborchellina will probably be established as new species. Several plates with excellent SEM microphotos will be published.

OTHER RESEARCHES IN PROGRESS:
--- PALYNOLOGY OF THE UPPER JURASSIC IN CENTRAL CUBA
Marleny Blanco.

--- SEDIMENTARY MODELS OF DRIFTING TERRANES IN CENTRAL CUBA DURING THE KIMMERIDGIAN-TURONIAN INTERVAL
Rafael Segura, Dania Brey & José Hernández.

---JURASSIC CARBONATE RESERVOIRS IN CUBA  AND THEIR COMPARISONS WITH THOSE IN SOUTHEASTERN MEXICO
Rafael Segura & Maritza Rodríguez.

2- Publications:
SANCHEZ, J.R. & TENREYRO, R.  1998. Syn-rift and early drift Jurassic correlation events in southeastern Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean. Asoc. Pal.Golfo de San Jorge, Museo del Petroleo, Boletin 2, ed. Especial, I, 29-32.
BLANCO, S. 1999. Mid-Cretaceous biochronology from Cuba based on planktonic microfossils. 5th Brazilian Cretaceous Symp. / 1st South American Cretaceous Symp., Sierra Negra, SP, August 29-Sept. 2, Extended Abstract.
FERNANDEZ, J. & RICCARDI, A. 1999. First report on calcareous calpionellids from the Lower Cretaceous (Berriasian) of the Tethyan Province in Argentine. Pacific-Tethys connection. 5th  Bra-zilian Cretaceous Symp./ 1st South American Cretaceous Symp., Sierra Negra, SP, August 29- Sept. 2, Extended Abstract.
GARCIA, R., BLANCO, S., SEGURA, R. & LINARES, E. 1999. Bioconstructions in Cretaceous sediments of Cuba. 5th Brazilian Cretaceous Symp. / 1st South American Cretaceous Symp., Sierra Negra, SP, August 29 – Sept. 2, Extended Abstract.
SANCHEZ, J.R., BLANCO, S., TENREYRO, R., RODRIGUEZ, M. & VALLADARES, S. 1999.Aptian transgressive event in the continental margin of Cuba: Regional Comparisons – A Review. 5th Brazilian Cretaceous Symp. / 1st South American Cretaceous Symp., Sierra Negra, SP, August 29 – Sept. 2, Extended Abstract.

3- MEETINGS
---SAMC III Annual Conference, Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentine, November 17-20, 1998.
---SAMC IV Annual Conference, Sierra Negra, Sao Paulo, Brazil, August 29 – Sept. 2, 1999.
 


IGCP Project 381 RESEACH ACTIVITIES IN THE U.K.
Reported by Ray H. Bate   (Ray_Bate@compuserve.com)

The volume, entitled "The Oil and Gas Habitats of the South Atlantic" - edited N. R. Cameron, R. H. Bate & V. S. Clure,  Geological Society Special Publication No. 153, 474 pp., London,  carries the IGCP 381 logo.

Ray Bate is working jointly with J E Whittaker of The Natural History Museum, London, on a monograph of new Pre-Salt ostracods obtained from the lacustrine deposits of West Africa.
 


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)

The following 30 workers based in Germany are registered as participants of IGCP 381:
Baecker-Fauth, Simone (Universität Heidelberg)
Bandel, Klaus (Universität Hamburg)
Bebiolka, Anke (Technische Universität Berlin)
Bengtson, Peter (Universität Heidelberg; Project Co-Leader)
Bengtson, Suzana (Universität Heidelberg)
Boeger, Horst (Universität Kiel)
Carvalho, Marcelo de Araujo (Universität Heidelberg)
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; Project Co-Leader)
Kowalczyk, Gotthard (Universität Frankfurt)
Kuhnt, Wolfgang (Universität Kiel)
Luther, Axel (Universität Heidelberg)
Mutterlose, Joerg (Universität Bochum)
Pletsch, Thomas (Universität Köln)
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.

Project administration
During the past year most of the manuscripts for the proceedings of the 1977 joint Regional Meeting of IGCP 381 and the Second European Meeting on the Palaeontology and Stratigraphy of South America in Heidelberg were received by the editors P. Bengtson and E.A.M. Koutsoukos and sent out for review. At the time of writing (September 1999), 3 manuscripts are ready for publication, one is being reviewed, 7 are being revised after reviewing and 6 are still to be submitted (of which 3 are uncertain). The volume will be published as a thematic issue of the Journal of South American Earth Sciences under the title "Mesozoic Palaeontology and Stratigraphy of South America and the South Atlantic" and is expected to appear in mid 2000. The 17 contributions were listed in last year's annual report.
Editing of the manuscripts for the thematic volume “Mesozoic Biogeographical Patterns in the South Atlantic”, to be published as a special issue of Cretaceous Research, was concluded during the year and the volume is expected to appear within the next few months.
Since last year's report, two annual project meetings have been held, SAMC III in Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina (November 1998), and SAMC IV in Serra Negra, SP, Brazil (August-September 1999).
The Web site of IGCP 381, the SAMC Pages (http://www.rzuser.uni-heidelberg.de/~dc8/ samc/index.html), is managed by the project leaders from Heidelberg. An electronic mailing list (SAMC-Net) is available for information and on-line discussions among project participants.

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 September 1999. A number of projects are being carried out in collaboration with workers outside Germany.

Berlin
- Integrated biostratigraphy, palaeoecology and palaeobiogeography of the Nkalagu Formation (Cenomanian to Coniacian, southern Nigeria): foraminifera, ostracods, inoceramids, ammonites and calcareous nannofossils (H. Gebhardt; Habilitation-Thesis). - Project funded by DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service.
The project stems from German-Nigerian co-operation (the former VW-Foundation-sponsored project "Thermal and burial history of Cretaceous and Tertiary deposits in the Benue Trough (middle and upper regions), Nigeria" and a DAAD long-term lectureship of Gebhardt at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria).
Micro- and macrofossil assemblages of three sections of the Nkalagu Formation (Cenomanian to Coniacian, southern Nigeria, Lower Benue Trough), including the type-section of the formation, have been investigated qualitatively and quantitatively. Depositional models have been developed from sedimentological and palaeontological datasets. Biostratigraphic zonation schemes for several fossil groups have been erected, integrated and correlated with international  standard zonations (high resolution biostratigraphy).
The following biozones have been identified: Planktonic foraminifers: Praeglobotruncana cf. stephani Zone (?middle Turonian), Marginotruncana sigali Zone (upper Turonian), Dicarinella primitiva Zone (uppermost Turonian), Dicarinella concavata Zone (Coniacian). Benthic foraminifers: Planulina beadnelli (=Gavelinella dakotaensis)-Ammoastuta nigeriana Zone (Cenomanian to lower Santonian). Calcareous nannofossils: Eiffellithus eximius Zone (middle Turonian to basal upper Turonian), Marthasterites furcatus Zone (upper Turonian to Coniacian). Ostracods: Cytherella spp. Zone (uppermost Cenomanian), Cythereis vitiliginosa reticulata Zone (?middle to upper Turonian), Cythereis sp. 2 Zone (uppermost Turonian to Coniacian). Inoceramids and ammonites confirm the age assignments of the zones. Integration of fossil groups allows separation of six preliminary integrated zones (IZ-A  to IZ-F), with an average duration of about 0.4 Ma.  IZ-A: uppermost Cenomanian, IZ-B: ?middle Turonian, IZ-C: (?basal) upper Turonian, IZ-D: middle upper Turonian, IZ-E: uppermost Turon, IZ-F: Coniacian. The Turonian-Coniacian boundary is dicussed in detail on the basis of biological events. As an easily identifiable marker for the base of the Coniacian, the first occurrence of Dicarinella concavata is proposed.
The sections studied represent a deepening sequence, coincident with an increase in oxygen content of the bottom waters. During the latest Cenomanian sediments were deposited in a dysoxic to maximally suboxic, normal marine environment of an inner shelf area near the coastline. The middle(?) Turonian to Coniacian sediments were deposited in the upper bathyal zone under normal marine salinity and low oxic conditions of the bottom waters. Fluctuations of the epifauna/infauna ratio among benthic foraminifers indicate unstable oxygen contents of the bottom waters. Positive peaks of epifaunal elements and calcareous species are interpreted as ventilation events. The rarity of keeled planktonic foraminifers and the dominance of unkeeled opportunistic species with early reproductive maturity are explained by (1) very high surface productivity through (possible) eutrophication of surface waters and (2) possible fluctuations of surface salinity and/or changes of depth of an oxygen-minimum zone. The varying degrees of oxygenation in the sections studied are caused by different processes. Cenomanian shallow-marine deposits were loaded with high amounts of organic matter via river systems and suffered oxygen deficiency, possibly in connection with density stratification. Middle(?) Turonian to Coniacian deposits are characterized by high surface productivity and a high organic flux into the sediment as the cause for low oxygen contents within the sediment and high bottom productivity.
Palaeobiogeographic links of the area investigated have revealed that planktonic foraminifers and calcareous nannofossils show a clear tethyan influence, thus indicating warm waters. Agglutinated foraminifers show endemic tendencies at species level, which is related to the Benue Trough. Calcareous smaller benthic foraminifers are generally pandemic and restricted in their distribution only by facies differences. Marine ostracods are generally endemic (West African Province).
The data and interpretations provide a basis for basinwide correlation in the Lower Benue Trough and in parts also for its middle and upper regions. They allow a direct correlation with other West African basins and with worldwide biostratigraphic zonal schemes. This study demonstrates the applicability of the morphotype/microhabitat-model of benthonic foraminifers also for Cretaceous times.
Publications:
Gebhardt, H., 1999. Occurrence and palaeoecology of Cenomanian to Turonian ostracods from Ashaka (NE Nigeria). Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Palaeontologie, Abhandlungen 211(1), 133-149.
Gebhardt, H. , 1999. Cenomanian to Coniacian biogeography and migration of North and West African ostracods. Cretaceous Research 20(1), 215-229.
Gebhardt, H.  & Reinhold, C., 1999. Carbon and oxygen isotope data from the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary in the Upper Benue Trough (Ashaka, Nigeria): stratigraphic and paleoclimatological significance. Newsletters on Stratigraphy 37(1/2), 63-74.
Gebhardt, H.,1999. Cenomanian to Coniacian ostracodes from the Nkalagu Area (SE Nigeria): biostratigraphy and palaeoecology. Paläontologische Zeitschrift 73(1/2), 77-98.
Gebhardt, H., 1999. Biogeographie und Ausbreitungswege West- und Nordafrikanischer Ostracoden. In: Treffen deutschsprachiger Ostracodologen 1999 [22.-23.05.1999], Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin.
Gebhardt, H., 1999.  Integrierte Biostratigraphie und Palaeooekologie der Nkalagu Formation (Suednigeria, Cenoman - Coniac): Foraminiferen, Ostracoden, Inoceramen, Ammoniten und kalkiges Nannoplankton. Terra Nostra 99(4), 78-79.
Gebhardt, H., 1999. Cenomanian to Coniacian biogeography and migration of North and West African ostracods. Afrikagruppe deutscher Geowissenschaftler (AdG), Jahrestreffen 1999, Würzburg, Abstracts.

Braunschweig
- Middle Cretaceous of Mexico (E. Seibertz).
Publication:
Seibertz, E. & Spaeth, C., 1999. Range and distribution of belemnites in the Jurassic and Cretaceous of Mexico - a progress report. In: V International Symposium "Cephalopods – Present and Past", Abstracts volume, p. 102.

Bremen
- Development of South Atlantic calcareous dinoflagellates since the Late Cretaceous (T. Hildebrand-Habel, H. Willems).
Calcareous dinoflagellates dominate the dinoflagellate cyst assemblage in many Cretaceous to Recent oceanic deposits. However, their temporal and spatial distribution patterns in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic South Atlantic have been little studied. We therefore investigated the calcareous dinoflagellate content of three South Atlantic DSDP/ODP cores (Sites 356, 357, and 689B). Distinct stratigraphic and lateral differences were identified in the time-interval from early Maastrichtian to late Miocene.
The associations and characteristic wall types fluctuate quantitatively and qualitatively in stratigraphic patterns. The associations exhibit significant shifts at certain stratigraphic boundaries, particularly at the K-T boundary, the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, and the Oligocene-Miocene boundary. The distribution of calcareous dinoflagellates is evidently controlled by external factors, most likely related to climatic changes. Only minor latitudinal differences are observed prior to the late Paleocene. Radially structured taxa are possibly better adapted to conditions of higher latitudes, i.e. lower temperatures, less insolation, and higher nutrient contents.
Our study illustrates the sensitive reaction of calcareous dinoflagellates to changing environmental conditions. The organisms thus represent a proxy for palaeoecological and palaeoceanographic reconstructions.

Erlangen
Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Radiolaria from Antarctica as a key to understanding mid Mesozoic palaeoceanography (W. Kiessling). For project description, see last year's report.

Hamburg
- Reevaluation of the Maastrichtian Quiriquina fauna of Central Chile, especially the gastropods (K. Bandel, W. Stinnesbeck, in collaboration with A. Quinzio). For project description, see last year's report.

- 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 Delgado, J. Sanchez-Arancho, J. Smit). For project description, see last year's report.

- Evidence for a synchronous circum-Iberian subsidence event and its relation to African-Iberian collision in the Upper Cretaceous (K. Reicherter, T. Pletsch).
Sedimentary facies, clay minerals, and benthic foraminiferal assemblages in deep-water formations of the Subbetic Zone (Spain) display significant changes in the Late Cretaceous. Calculated subsidence curves for the Subbetic Mesozoic sedimentary sequences point either to a pronounced uplift or to a drowning event around 85 Ma. Data from other localities around the Iberian microplate and from adjacent areas in the eastern Atlantic (off Morocco, Gulf of Guinea) with settings on different types of lithosphere, revealed the same general pattern of a major break or uplift in, or strongly enhanced rates of, subsidence around this time (e.g. variations depending on stratigraphic resolution, the time-scale applied, porosity and paleo-waterdepth estimates).
At most localities, the subsidence events correlate with changes in the bulk sedimentary and clay mineral composition. Notably, where uplift is indicated, the relatively monotonous, smectite-dominated clay mineral assemblages are replaced by assemblages indicating either massive erosion of residual deposits or first-cycle weathering of crystalline rocks, i.e. kaolinite, chlorite, and illite. The opposite trend was observed at localities characterized by increased subsidence.
Subduction or collision-related high-pressure metamorphism occured at about 90-80 Ma in the western Mediterranean region (i.e., the Internal Zone of the Betic Cordillera, the Moroccan Rif and the Kabylies) and preceded the regional Alpine metamorphism. A Late Cretaceous metamorphic event is also known from the Benue Trough (central Africa). Literature on the timing of these metamorphic events suggests a synchroneity of high-pressure metamorphism with the subsidence changes.
We assume that the subsidence history of the circum-Iberian basins was largely controlled by the convergence of the northern West African plate margin and the Iberian microplate, however, with certain impact on the opening of the Atlantic. Plate tectonic reconstructions suggest that the northward movement of Africa was largely controlled by the opening of the South Atlantic during the mid-Cretaceous. However, a change in the plate motion vector of Africa at 85 Ma, with a faster eastward movement afterwards may indicate that Africa became locked towards the North. Collision of Iberia and Africa is thought to be responsible for the uplift events in basins lying in the direction of movement of Africa.
Aside from plate tectonic implications, the closure of the seaway connecting the Tethys with the Central Atlantic probably had dramatic effects on oceanic circulation. The almost continuous tropical to subtropical circulation along the Tethys and the Central Atlantic is considered an influential precondition of mid-Cretaceous greenhouse climate. Blocking or deviation of the warm, westward-flowing Tethyan surface waters may have engendered a significant change in the global circulation pattern, thus potentially leading to climatic cooling from 80 Ma on.

Publication:
Reicherter, K. & Pletsch, T. , 1999. Evidence for the synchroneity of a circum-Iberian subsidence event and the beginning African-Iberian continental collision in the Upper Cretaceous. Terra Abstracts, J. Conf. Abs., 4, 1, 63; Cambridge, U.K.

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 bivalves and echinoids has been completed and manuscripts have been submitted or are in draft stage. Taxonomic work on the ammonites is in progress. A PhD thesis by J.S. to be submitted in December 1999 includes (1) taxonomy of bivalves and echinoids; (2) a new inoceramid zonation and a refined ammonite zonation, which are correlated with other regions and the proposed GSSP in Colorado, USA; (3) interpretation of the palaeoecology and palaeobiogeographic affinities of the macroinvertebrate faunas.
Publication:
Seeling, J. & Bengtson, P., in press. Cenomanian oysters from the Sergipe Basin, northeastern Brazil. Cretaceous Research 20(6).

(b) Environmental and facies analysis of the Cenomanian-Turonian transition in the Sergipe Basin (S. Walter, P. Bengtson).
On the basis of sections studied in the outcrop areas of Japaratuba, Laranjeiras and Itaporanga a facies model has been established. The limestone succession was subdivided in a mid-ramp and an outer-ramp depositional environment. Bioclastic material was brought in by currents as evidenced by coquinoid layers in the Japaratuba and Laranjeiras area. Both areas represent a carbonate mid-ramp area. The succession exposed in the Itaporanga area was deposited in an outer ramp environment as evidenced by fine-grained laminated limestones and a scarcity of benthic organisms, which indicate low oxygen conditions.
In addition to microfacies analysis stable carbon and oxygen isotopes are being analyzed in collaboration with M. Arthur and A. Herrmann (Penn State University). The carbon curve for the three outcrop areas will be intercalibrated and correlated with the curve tied to the international stratigraphic scale in order to aid in recognizing the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary in Sergipe.
Publication:
WALTER, S., HERRMANN, A. & BENGTSON, P., in press. Stratigraphy and facies analysis of the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary succession in the Japaratuba area, Sergipe Basin, Brazil. Journal of South American Earth Sciences.

- Aptian-Maastrichtian ammonites and integrated biostratigraphy of northeastern Brazil (P. Bengtson, E.A.M. Koutsoukos). - Subprojects:
(a) Biostratigraphic correlation of the upper Aptian-Albian succession of northeastern Brazil on the basis of ammonites and foraminifers (P. Bengtson, E.A.M. Koutsoukos).
Results of this subproject will be published in the volume of proceedings of the 1997 Regional Meeting of IGCP Project 381, in Heidelberg.
(b) 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).
Publications:
Souza-Lima, W. & Bengtson, P., 1999. Evidence for cold-water currents and upwelling in the late Campanian of the Sergipe Basin, Brazil. In: XVI Con-gresso Brasileiro de Paleontologia [Crato, August 1999], Resumo das comunicações.
(c) Ammonite taxonomy and biostratigraphy of northeastern Brazil (P. Bengtson, S. Bengtson). - Long-term project. For project description, see last years's report.
Publications:
Bengtson, P., 1999. Research on Cretaceous ammonites of Brazil in the 20th century and the state of the art. In D. Dias-Brito, J.C. de Castro & R. Rohn: Boletim do 5° Simpósio sobre o Cretáceo do Brasil, 1er Simpósio sobre el Cretácico de América del Sur, 591–598. UNESP, Rio Claro, SP.
Souza-Lima, W. & Bengtson, P. 1999. O amonóide Cleoniceras no Albiano inferior da Bacia de Sergipe, Brasil. In D. Dias-Brito, J.C. de Castro & R. Rohn: Boletim do 5° Simpósio sobre o Cretáceo do Brasil, 1er Simpósio sobre el Cretácico de América del Sur, 583–589. UNESP, Rio Claro, SP.

- Marine ostracodes of northeastern Brazil: systematics, biostratigraphy and biogeography (P. Bengtson, G. Fauth, E.A.M. Koutsoukos, in collaboration with M.C. Viviers). Subprojects:
(1) Ostracode assemblages across the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in the Pernambuco-Paraiba Basin, northeastern Brazil: systematics, biostratigraphy and palaeo-environ-ments (G. Fauth, P. Bengtson, E.A.M. Koutsoukos). - Project funded by DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service.
For project description, see last year's report. The project is expected to be concluded in early 2000.
Publication:
Koutsoukos, E.A.M. & Fauth, G., in press. Stratigraphic record and depositional dynamics of an impact-triggered tsunami event in the early Danian: the K/T boundary section at Poty, NE Brazil. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting [Denver, October 25–28, 1999].

(2) Stratigraphy and biogeography of mid and late Cretaceous ostracodes of northeastern Brazil (E.A.M. Koutsoukos, P. Bengtson, in collaboration with M.C. Viviers, A.C. Silva-Telles, Jr.).
Publication:
Viviers, M.C., Koutsoukos, E.A.M., Silva-Telles Jr., A.C. & Bengtson, P., in press.  Late Aptian-Campanian ostracodes from the Potiguar and Sergipe basins, northeastern Brazil: stratigraphy and biogeographic affinities. Cretaceous Research.

- 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. For project description, see last year's report.
 

- 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.
In this project geophysical and geochemical data sets are utilized to establish stratigraphic timescales for the Upper Cretaceous marine successions of the northeastern Brazilian basins. The data will be correlated with existing biostratigraphic data and finally with global timescales. Magnetostratigraphy and the analysis of sedimentary cycles by using rock magnetic and geochemical parameters provide ages and time contents of the investigated strata. Geological ages are determined through analyses of directional data, i.e. declination and inclination, and their subsequent correlation with the geomagnetic polarity time scale (GPTS). Time durations and sedimentation rates will be analysed using modern methods of cyclostratigraphy. Investigations of the frequency content of sedimentary cycles are carried out in order to find frequency bands that correlate with the astronomical frequencies, i.e. the Milankovitch periods. Together with high-resolution sampling we attempt to establish high-resolution timescales which are of a much higher precision than that which can be obtained by the use of magneto- or biostratigraphic methods alone. Knowing the time content of the marine Cretaceous successions exposed in the northeastern Brazilian basins, the evolution of the South Atlantic Ocean can be reconstructed more precisely. In addition we expect information about climatic variations affecting the paleogeography and paleoceanography of the investigated time interval.
Publication:
Schlicht, P., Bengtson, P., Hambach, U., Krumsiek, K. & Koutsoukos, E., 1999. Limestone–marl cycles from the Maastrichtian of the Pernambuco–Paraíba Basin (NE Brazil) - evidence for orbital forcing? In D. Dias-Brito, J.C. de Castro & R. Rohn: Boletim do 5° Simpósio sobre o Cretáceo do Brasil, 1er Simpósio sobre el Cretácico de América del Sur, 121–124. UNESP, Rio Claro, SP.

- Late Cretaceous radiolarian palaeoceanography and biostratigraphy in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean (S. Baecker Fauth, P. Bengtson, in collaboration with V. Brasil-Lemos). For project description, see last year's report.

- 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).
This subproject concerns palaeoecological, palaeontological and biostratigraphical investigations in the Upper Cretaceous of the Admiralty Sound area, James Ross Basin, Antarctica and was concluded in early 1999 with a PhD thesis by A.L. A number of papers are now being prepared for publication containing the main results of the project as follows:
Thirty-five taxa of ichnofossils, macrofossils and microfossils are described from the mid-Campanian Rabot Member and the upper Campanian Hamilton Point Member (Santa Marta Formation) of southeastern James Ross Island. Seven species and one genus are new.
The last inoceramid bivalves in are represented by an unusual giant form, Antarcticeramus rabotensis Crame and Luther, 1997, which is extremely abundant at certain levels within the Rabot Member. The majority of specimens are in life position and show a preferred orientation with respect to a horizontal substrate (longitudinal axis parallel to the current). This is taken as evidence of a positive response to prevailing water currents. Associated macrofossils and trace fossils indicate well oxygenated bottom conditions at mid-shelf depths. It is postulated that the evolution of giant size was primarily an antipredatory device.
Specimens of A. rabotensis are hosts of a rich and diverse ichnofossil assemblage which occur on the surfaces of the internal moulds and within the shell. Some of the borings in the shell were produced by parasitic and/or commensalic organisms. Although the negative influence of these organisms was not lethal, it must have deteriorated the living conditions of the host. The traces on the mould surfaces resemble members of the Nereites ichnofacies. However, owing to the poor preservation and the unusual occurrence within a shell cavity in a mid to outer shelf environment, these traces are described as problematica.
The traces in the host sediment of A. rabotensis represent a typical shallow-marine ichnofauna, which can be subdivided into a pre- and post-storm event assemblage. The Rabot Member contains a shallow-water occurrence of Zoophycos. Ichnofossil diversity is low throughout the section. The majority of ichnotaxa are concentrated in two horizons, whereas the remaining section is mainly dominated by Chondrites.
The Hamilton Point Member contains a benthic community which exhibits a notably low taxonomic diversity and (for most taxa) abundance. The ichnofossil assemblage shows a similarly low diversity with five genera dominated by Chondrites and Planolites. The systematic and biostratigraphic potential of the serpulid Rotularia in the James Ross Basin is re-evaluated and the stratigraphic ranges of the bivalve Thyasira townsendi and the crinoid Isselicrinus antarcticus are extended down to the mid Campanian. Rotularia proved to be a powerful tool for intrabasinal correlation, allowing subdivision of the Hamilton Point Member into a dorsolaevis Zone and a callosa Zone.
It is suggested that the low diversity and partly low abundance of the Hamilton Point Member is the result of short-term dysaerobic conditions caused by either episodic eutrophic conditions or storm-influenced, short-term oxygenation of dysaerobic stagnant bottom water. It could also be demonstrated that the frequency distribution of Rotularia and the grain size distribution of the substrate are not correlated, as postulated by Macellari (1984), but that there is a correlation between frequency and body size of Rotularia within the Hamilton Point Member.
Massive calcareous peduncles and capitular plates are described and referred to the new cirripede species Euscalpellum lanceolatum Luther and Bengtson in prep. They represent the only definite, Cretaceous occurrence of capitular plates of Euscalpellum in the southern hemisphere. It is unlikely that these cirripedes lived on or in the soft substrate of the Hamilton Point Member, and an alternative lifestyle attached to floating driftwood is suggested.
Eleven species (of which four are new) belonging to nine genera of ostracods are described from the Hamilton Point Member (Fauth & Luther, in prep.). This is the first taxonomic work on ostracods from the James Ross Basin. The assemblage shows similarities with those of ichnofossils and benthic macrofossils, i.e. low diversity and low abundance. Two of the species are known from the upper Campanian-lower Maastrichtian of South America and South Africa.
Publication:
Luther, A., 1999:. Palaeoecological, taxonomical, biostratigraphical and sedimentological investigations in the Upper Cretaceous of southeastern James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica. 170 pp., 54 figs. Ph.D. dissertation, Universität Heidelberg.

(b) Upper Cretaceous Ostracodes of the James Ross Basin, Antarctic Peninsula (A. Luther). – Application for DFG funding under review.
This subproject is planned to start by the end of the year and will comprise the first comprehensive taxonomic study and paleoecologic analysis of Cretaceous ostracodes of Western Antarctica.

(c) Ammonites of the genus Spiticeras from Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica (S. Bengtson, in collaboration with M.R.A. Thomson).

Kiel
- 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). For project description, see last year's report.

Köln
- The opening of the Equatorial Atlantic Gateway and its impact on Cretaceous-Paleogene climate, circulation, biogeography, and organic carbon accumulation (T. Pletsch, in collaboration with J. Erbacher, A. Holbourn, W. Kuhnt, M. Moullade, F. Oboh-Ikuenobe, E. Soeding, T. Wagner). - Project funded until mid 1997 by DFG, German Research Council.
The sedimentology, clay mineralogy, organic geochemistry, and the palaeoecology of microfossil groups (benthic foraminfers, radiolarians, palynomorphs) of Cretaceous deposits from the Côte d´Ivoire-Ghana Transform Margin (ODP Leg 159) have been studied. Laboratory work is completed. Publications of results are under way focusing on the subsidence history and thermal maturity.
Publications:
Wagner, T. & Pletsch, T., 1999. 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 153.
Holbourn, A., Kuhnt, W., El Albani, A., Pletsch, T., Luderer, F. & Wagner, T., 1999. 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 153.
Pletsch, T., Erbacher, J., Holbourn, A., Kuhnt, W., Moullade, M., Oboh-Ikuenobe, F., & Wagner, T., in review. Cretaceous separation of Africa and South America: The view from the West African margin (ODP Leg 159). Journal of South American Earth Science.

- Ocean-continent coupling in sedimentary cycles of mid-Cretaceous organic-rich deposits of the Central and Equatorial Atlantic (P. Hofmann, T. Pletsch, and W. Ricken, in collaboration with J. Erbacher, W. Kuhnt, R. Norris, E. Soeding, T. Wagner, H. Weissert, P. Wilson). – Submission of a grant proposal will depend on decision to drill the Demerara Rise.
The Demerara Rise off Surinam provides favourable conditions for drilling a transect that includes mid-Cretaceous deposits at shallow burial depth. Should this transect be drilled by ODP, we plan to study the sedimentology, mineralogy, organic geochemistry, and the micropalaeontology of selected cyclic intervals. The results will be compared with existing studies on coeval deposits from the Central and Equatorial Atlantic. Current work consists of compilation of results from adjacent DSDP and ODP sites.
 
 
 



 
NEW PARTICIPANTS
(In addition to the lists of participants appended to SAMC News 14).
Bulot, Luc G.   -  Chairman of the Valanginian WG (SCS - IUGS), ESA CNRS 6019, Centre de Sédimentologie - Paléontologie, Université de Provence, F-13331 Marseille cedex 04 - FRANCE.  Tel.:  +33-(0)490-592892;  fax:  +33-(0)491-649964;  e-mail:  Lgbulot@aol.com         Research interests:  Late Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous ammonite biochronology and palaeobiogeography of South America with special reference to Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela.
 
 
Changes of address and amendments

HATHWAY, Benjamin  -  School of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Greenwich, Medway Campus, Pembroke, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK  Tel.:  +44 0181 331 9800;  fax:  +44 0181 331 9805;  e-mail:  B.Hathway@greenwich.ac.uk            Research interests:  Cenomanian sequence stratigraphy of NE Brazil and SE India, and Cretaceous of the Antarctic Peninsula.

NOUBHANI, Abdelmajid  -  CHOUAÏB DOUKKALI University, Sciences Faculty, Dept.of Geology, B.P. 20 El Jadida, MOROCCO.  Tel.: (03) 34 23 25 / (03) 34 30 03; fax : (03) 34 21 87; e-mail: anoubhani@hotmail.com          Research interests:  The Cretaceous and Tertiary Sélacians (sharks and rays); systematics, evolution and implications in the examination of the biological crisis impact at the K-T boundary.

PLETSCH, Thomas Pletsch  -  Geologisches Institut, Universitaet Koeln, Zuelpicher Str. 49a,  50674 Koeln, GERMANY.
 Tel.: +49-(0)221-470 6694; fax: +49-(0)221-470 5149; e-mail: thomas.pletsch@uni-koeln.de

TISI, Antonio Luis  -  e-mail:  antonio.l.tisi@shell.com.br
 


Acknowledgements :

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 15.
 



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