The Fourth Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC IV) was held at the Radio Hotel in Serra Negra, São Paulo, as a joint event with the 5th Symposium on the Brazilian Cretaceous and First Symposium on the Cretaceous of South America, 29 August-2 September 1999. A Plenary Session for IGCP Project 381 was held on 1st of September. One field-trip (2-5 September) took place to study Cretaceous sequences of the Paraná and Sanfranciscan basins.
The SAMC IV meeting aimed on interdisciplinary oral and poster presentations of key topics of research and progress reports of geological correlations for the South Atlantic Mesozoic, involving discussions on the South American Cretaceous, state-of-art of the main topics of its geology, as well as the research priorities to be developed in the next millennium. It was attended by fifty-six (56) participants from seven (7) countries (Argentina, Cuba, Brazil, Germany, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela). Twenty-nine (29) oral contributions and six (6) posters were presented, covering nearly the whole spectrum of research activities on the Cretaceous successions of marginal and continental basins bordering the western part of the South Atlantic. There was no parallel sessions with the joint symposia, so as to enable maximum participation of geoscientists attending the meetings.
The Organizing Committee is praised for their efforts in organizing the technical sessions, field-trip and social events, which resulted in a very profitable and enjoyable meeting.
The Plenary Session held on 1st of September focused on the following agenda:
• Summarize the main project achievements since the inaugural meeting held in Uberaba (24-25 July 1995);
• adequately review the problems that have been faced by individual working-groups on successfully accomplishing the primary objectives as stated during the implementation work
• evaluate the perspectives of ongoing and new research carried out within the framework of the project
• determine what key research objectives could be realistically achieved during the final year of the project (i.e., until the SAMC V meeting to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in conjuntion with the XXXIst International Geological Congress, 6-17 August 2000)
• discuss the need for the formulation of a proposal to IGCP for an extension of the project.
The following contributions were presented during the four-day sessions (page references are to the published Proceedings, In: Dias Brito, D., Castro, J.C. & Rohn, R., Editors, Boletim do V Simpósio sobre o Cretáceo do Brasil e I Simposio sobre el Cretácico de América del Sur (Serra Negra-SP, 29/08-02/09/99), Fourth Annual Conference of IGCP Project 381 (SAMC IV), 712 pp. (ISSN 1516-8239).
ARAI, M. - The mid-Cretaceous marine transgression: Its implication for the paradigm of the Cretaceous paleogeographic reconstruction of Brazil, pp. 577-582.
AZEVEDO, R.L.W. - The Albian stage, its stratigraphic units, and age limits on the Brazilian coastal basins, pp. 637-642.
BENGTSON, P. - Research on Cretaceous ammonites of Brazil in the 20th century and state of the art, pp. 591-598.
BERTINI, R.J. and CARVALHO, I.S. - Chronological distribution of the notosuchians rocodyliforms and occurrences in the Brazilian Cretaceous basins, pp. 517-523.
CAMPOS, C. C. and VEROSLAVSKY, G. - Albian phytogeography and environment in Santa Lúcia Basin, Uruguay: A study based on palynomorphs, pp. 551-555.
CARMO, D.A., SANGUINETTI, Y.T., COIMBRA, J.C. and GUIMARÃES - Paleoecology of Early Cretaceous non marine ostracods from the Potiguar Basin, Brazil, pp. 383-391.0.
CARVALHO, I. S., CARVALHO, M. A., LOUREIRO, M. R. B., and NÓBREGA, J. C. - Amber Distribution in the Brazilian Cretaceous basins, pp. 479-483.
CARVALHO, M.A. - Preliminary results of palynofacies analysis of the upper Aptian succession of the Sergipe Basin, Brazil, pp. 545-549.
CARVALHO, M.D., DIAS-BRITO, D. and FERRÉ, B. - New evidences of Tethyan waters in the South Atlantic from Jequitinhonha Basin, eastern Brazil, pp. 643-649.
CASTRO, J.C., DIAS-BRITTO, D., MUSACCHIO, E.A., SUAREZ, J., MARANHÃO, M.S.A.S. and RODRIGUES, R. - Stratigraphic framework of Bauru Group in west São Paulo, pp. 509-515.
CUNHA, A. A. S. - Orbital cyclicity in the Turonian succession of the Sergipe basin, NE Brazilian continental margin, pp. 669-673.
DIAS-BRITO, D. - Using colomiellids and pithonellids to divide the Albian: A study from the southeastern Brazil, pp. 627-635.
DIAS-BRITO, D., PESSAGNO JR. E. A. and CASTRO J. C. - New chronostratigraphic data on the radiolarian chert from the Sanfranciscan Basin, Brazil, and the presence of planktonic foraminifera in these deposits, pp. 567-575.
DINO, R., SILVA, O. B. and ABRAHÃO, D. - Palynological and stratigraphic characterization of the Cretaceous strata from Alter do Chão formation Amazonas Basin, pp. 557-565.
FERRÉ, B. and DIAS-BRITO, D. - Reconnaissance des microfacies a rovéacrinides lombardia, eothrix, globochaete et autres variétés, pp. 651-659.
FERRÉ, B., FERNÁNDEZ-GONZÁLES, M. and DIAS-BRITO D. - New insight into microcalamoides Bonet, 1956 - Révision systématique et conséquences, pp. 661-668.
GARCÍA-SÁNCHEZ, R., BLANCO, S., SEGURA, R., LINARES, E. & ROJAS, R. - Bioconstructions in Cretaceous sediments of Cuba, pp. 29-30.
GARCIA, A.J.V., da ROSA, A.A.S. and GOLDBERG, K. - Palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic controls on early diagenetic processes and fossil records in continental Cretaceous sandstones in Brazil: A petrologic approach, pp. 491-495.
GRASSI. A.A. and DE ROS L.F. - Tektites ascribed to the Chicxulub low angle ejecta at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary of the Campos basin, Brazil, pp. 681-686.
KOUTSOUKOS, E.A.M. - Distribution patterns of morphotypes and pelagic niches of planktonic foraminifers in the Cretaceous of NE Brazil, pp. 675-680.
KOUTSOUKOS, E.A.M. - Microbiostratigraphic record and paleoenvironmental evolution of the early marine deposits in the Brazilian margin - a review, pp. 599-603.
LIMA FILHO, M.F., MABESOONE, J.M. and VIANNA, M. S. - Late Mesozoic history of sedimentary basins in NE Brazilian Borborema province before the fial separation of South America and Africa 1: Tectonic-sedimentary evolution, pp. 605-611.
MABESOONE, J.M., VIANA, M.S.S. and LIMA FILHO, M.F. - Late Mesozoic history of sedimentary basins in NE Brazilian Borborema province before the final separation of South America and Africa 3: Paleogeography, pp. 621-626.
MAGALHÃES RIBEIRO, C.M. and SOUTO, P.R.F. - Eggshells and corpolites of Bauru Basin (KS): Application in palaeoenvironmental interpretation, pp. 501-507.
MARTINS-NETO, R.G. - New genus and new species of lepidoptera (insecta, eolepidopterigidae) from Santana Formation (Lower Cretaceous, northeast Brazil), pp. 531-535.
MARTINS-NETO, R.G. and GODOY, V.M. - About the diversity and morphological variability of the Auchenorrhyncha fauna (insecta) from Santana Formation (Lower Cretaceous, northeast Brazil), pp. 537-538.
MARTINS-NETO, R.G., POPOV, Y. and ZAMBONI, J.C. - First south hemisphere Cretaceous record of coreoidea (insecta, heteroptera) from Santana Formation (Lower Cretaceous, northeast Brazil), representing a new genus and species, pp. 525-530.
OLIVEIRA, L.C.V. and RODRIGUES, R. - Biostratigraphy (nannofossils) and chemostratigraphy of the upper Campanian-lower Maastrichtrian in Carapeba Field, Campos Basin, Brazil, pp. 131-135.
PRÁMPARO, M.B. - Primitive angiosperms pollen grains in the Lower Cretaceous, San Luis Basin, and their distribution in other Cretaceous basins of Argentina, pp. 539-543.
ROSSETI, D.F. and TRUCKENBRODT - Stratigraphic nomenclature of Cretaceous deposits exposed in the São Luis Basin (MA), pp. 485-490.
SÁNCHEZ-ARANGO, J.R., BLANCO, S., TENREYRO, R., RODRÍGUEZ, M. & VALLADARES - Aptian transgressive event in the continental margin of Cuba and regional comparisons - a review, pp. 11-17.
SCHLICHT, P., BENGTSON, P., HAMBACH, U., KRUMSIEK, K. and KOUTSOUKOS, E.A.M. - Limestone-marl cycles from the Maastrichtian of the Pernambuco-Paraíba Basin (NE Brazil) - evidence for orbital forcing?, pp. 121-124.
SENRA, M.C.E. and SILVA E SILVA, L.H. - Freshwater molluscs and associated plant microfossils from Marília formation, Bauru Basin (Upper Cretaceous), Minas Gerais State, Brazil, pp. 497-500.
SOUZA-LIMA, W. and BENGTSON, P. - The lower Albian ammonite Cheloniceras from the Sergipe Basin, Brazil, pp. 583-589.
VIANA, M.S.S., LIMA FILHO, M.F. and MABESOONE, J.M. - Late Mesozoic history of sedimentary basins in NE Brazilian Borborema province before the final separation of South America and Africa 2: Fossil assemblages and their significance, pp. 613-619.
Field Trip: A fieldtrip took place from 2-5 September to the Cretaceous outcrops of the Sanfranciscana and Paraná basins, in western Minas Gerais State (Patos and Uberaba regions). Continentalsiliciclasticand caliche deposits, as well as magmatic rocks, were visited.
Outcome of Meeting: The four-day sessions allowed the the presentation and discussion of key-geological data pertinent to the Cretaceous successions of the South Atlantic, which covered the following main topics:
• Cretaceous tectono-sedimentary evolution and paleogeographic reconstructions of South America.
• Cretaceous stratigraphic framework, biochronostratigraphy, biogeographic patterns, paleoecology and paleoclimatic assessment of continental basins of South America.
• Aptian stratigraphic record and biostratigraphy of NE Brazil and Cuba.
• biochronostratigraphy and biogeographic patterns of the Albian in South America.
• Turonian and Maastrichtian cyclostratigraphy of NE Brazil.
• biostratigraphy (nannofossils) and chemostratigraphy of the upper Campanian-lower Maastrichtrian in SE Brazil.
• stratigraphic record of the K-T boundary in SE Brazil.
• update of research on Cretaceous ammonites in Brazil.
• paleoecology of Cretaceous planktonic foraminifera of NE Brazil.
The plenary session on the morning of the 1st of September, focused on the discussion of the structure and progreess of the three following Working Groups which are considered to be essential on successfully accomplishing with major research objectives for SAMC:
• "South Atlantic Index Fossil Species: Systematics, Biostratigraphy and Palaeoecology"
To maximize application, the biostratigraphic frameworks, to be included as part of the Taxonomic Iconographic and Biostratigraphic Atlases of Index Fossil Species, have to be presented per study basin, thus reflecting differences in regional tectono-sedimentary characteristics and biogeographic differentiation. The publication of a Taxonomic and Biostratigraphic Atlas (illustrating the index microfossil species), to be compiled and edited by WG chairmen, should be considered as a priority for the present activities of the participants and coordinators of this WG. In that purpose publications of the atlases are foreseen through major paleontological and stratigraphic journals.
• "Paleogeographic and Paleoclimatic Maps", coordinated by Antonio J. Garcia (UNISINOS).
The data base for the paleogeographic maps, sourced from the published literature, ongoing research, and from still unpublished M.Sc./Doctorate research results (recently concluded and ongoing programmes), will be collected and plotted on base paleogeographic maps. The base maps will be made available to SAMC by Dr. Alfred Zigler, coordinator of the "Paleogeographic Atlas Project" of the University of Chicago.
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.
• "Cretaceous Continental Ecosystems", coordinated by Ismar Carvalho (UFRJ).
The undertaking of comprehensive studies of the Mesozoic continental ecosystems, tying the biostratigraphy, event sequence and paleogeographic evolution of the coeval non-marine and marine Cretaceous South Atlantic, has been of foremost importance to enhance interbasinal and intercontinental stratigraphical correlation, and is one of the kee-research objectives for IGCP Project 381. Further discussions will be carried out during the IGCP Project 381 Thematic Meeting of the Cretaceous Continental Ecosystems Working Group, to be held in conjunction with the VII International Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The meeting was held at the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" (MACN), Buenos Aires, Argentina, under the auspices of the Organizing Committee of the VII International Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems, 26 September- 1 October 1999.
The SAMC Working Group meeting focused on the presentation and discussion of research data and progress reports of geological correlations for the South Atlantic Mesozoic continental successions. It was attended by nine (9) participants from two (2) countries (Argentina and Brazil).
The papers listed below presented themes related to South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations:
MONDAY, September 27th, Plenary lecture 16:00 hr
Dr. Heidi Anderson (National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa): "An overview of Triassic Southern African floras"
TUESDAY, September 28th, Oral session (morning)
08:30hr. Anderson, J. & Anderson, H. The paleoecological perplexities of the Late Triassic Molteno biome, Southern Africa.
08:50hr. Smith, R. & R. Swart. Arid zone terrestrial environments of the Mid-Late Triassic Omingonde Formation of Namibia.
09:10hr. Rosenfeld, U. Sedimentology and ecosystems: the continental Triassic in Argentina.
10:30hr. Quattrocchio, M., García, Martínez, & Zavala. An hypothetical scenario for the Middle Jurassic in the Southern part of the Neuquén Basin, Argentina.
Poster session
* Morel, E., Artabe, A. & Zamuner, A. Triassic flora in Argentina.
* Artabe, A., Spalletti, L. & Morel, E. Palaeocology of the Argentinean Triassic flora.
* Melchor R., Genise, J. & Verde, M. Invertebrate trace fossils from Triassic continental sequences of San Juan Province, Argentina.
* Martínez, R. Massospondylus (Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha) in Northwestern Argentina.
* Abdala, F., A. Ribeiro & C. Schultz. The fauna of Santa Cruz do Sul, Santa Maria Formation (Middle-Upper Triassic), in southern Brazil.
* Contreras, V. Rhynchosaurs from the Ischigualasto Formation (Upper Triassic, Late Carnian), San Juan, Argentina.
* Barredo, S., Ottone, E., Marsicano, C. & Rodriguez, A. Continental biotic association of the Triassic Rincón Subasin, Argentina.
Oral session (afternoon)
14:30 hr. Archangelsky, S. Evidences of an Early Cretaceous floristic change in Patagonia, Argentina.
14:50 hr. Wilson, G. The evolutionary impact of an epeiric seaway on Late Cretaceous and Paleocene South American palynofloras.
15:10 hr. Arai, M. & P. Coelho. Statistical analysis of palynological assemblages from the Albo-Aptian of the Araripe Basin, North East Brazil: a case study of paleoenvironmental significance of Cretaceous terrestrial palynomorphs.
15:30 hr. Bamford, M. The Cretaceous flora from coastal deposits in Southern Africa and paleoclimatic implications.
WEDNESDAY, September 29th , Oral session (morning)
08:50hr. Cantrill, D. Cretaceous high-latitude terrestrial ecosystems: an example from Alexander Island, Antarctica.
10:10hr. Arai, M. & I. Souza Carvalho. Cretaceous conchostracans from Alagoas Basin (Northeastern Brazil).
10:30hr. Curry, K. & Foster, C. New evidence of titanosaurian sauropods in the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar.
10:50hr. Bonaparte, J. New Dryolestida (Theria) from the Late Cretaceous of Los Alamitos (Argentina) and paleobiogeographical comments.
Poster session
* Cabaleri, N., Salani, F. & C. Armella. Siliceous stromatolites in the Jurassic Cañadón Asfalto Basin, Chubut, Argentina.
* Cesari, S., Remesal, C. & Parica, C. Ferns: a significant component of the Cretaceous flora from Livingston Island, Antartica.
* Lana, C. & I. Souza Carvalho. Brackish water Cretaceous Conchostraca from Northeastern Brazil.
* Genise, J., Sciutto, J., Laza, J., Gonzlez, M. & Bellosi, E. Fossil bee nest and coleopteran pupal chambers from Laguna Palacios Formation (Late Campanian-Maastrichtian) of Central Patagonia.
* Cilla, G. Morphological diversity in the ichnogenus Uruguay Roselli and its behavioral implications.
Oral session (afternoon)
14:30 hr. Meyer, C. & M. Lockley. The Late Cretaceous vertebrates ichonofacies of Bolivia. Facts and implications.
15:10 hr. Chinsamy, A., W. de Klerk, S. Sampson, C. Forster & C. Ross. Bone microstructure of dinosaurs from the Kirkwood Formation, Algoa Basin, South Africa.
THURSDAY, September 30th, Oral session (morning)
09:50hr. Gasparini, Z., de la Fuente, M., Fernndez, M. & Bona, P. Herpetofauna from littoral environment of the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia.
Poster session
* Ricqlés, A. De, Pereda Suberbiola, X., Gasparini, Z. & Olivero, E. Histology of dermal ossifications in an ankylosaurian dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Antarctica.
* Magalhaes Ribeiro, C. Occurrence of pathological eggshells in the Allen Formation, Late Cretaceous, Argentina.
* Pascual, R., M. Balarino & D. Udrizar Sauthier. The K-T and T-Pleistocene South American mammalian turnovers: similar phenomena?
* Cladera, G., Andreis, R. & Archangelsky, S. Baqueró Group: a new stratigraphic proposal for the Lower Cretaceous of Santa Cruz Province, Argentine Republic.
* Veiga, G. & L. Spalletti. Architecture of fluvial/aeolian deposits in the Avilé Member (Hauterivian), Northern Neuquén Province, Argentina.
* Gonzlez Riga, B. & I. Calvo. Dinosaurs, taphonomy and paleoenvironment of the Late Cretaceous in the Río Colorado Formation, border between Neuquén and Mendoza Provinces, Argentina.
* Forasiepi, A. & M.F.L. Armegol. Potamolithus windhauseni (Parodiz, 1961) (Gastropoda - Hidrobiidae) in Los Alamitos Formation (Campanian - Maastrichtian) from Rio Negro Province, Argentina.
* Pramparo, M. & J. Milana. Palynological and sedimentological data of the continental Lower Cretaceous Lagarcito Formation, San Juan, Argentina.
Oral session (afternoon)
14:50 hr. Marquillas, R., del Papa C. & I. Sabino. Environmental variation during the Cretaceous-Paleogene: Salta Group Basin, Northwest Argentina.
15:30 hr. Bugdaeva, E., V. Markevich, Y. Bolotsky & A. Sorokin. Changes of terrestrial floras and fauna in the Maastrichtian of Amur-Zeya Basin (Russian Far West).
Plenary lecture 16:10 hr
Dr. Mary Dettmann (University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia): "Patterns of vegetational change through the Late Mesozoic in southern Gondwana"
FRIDAY, October 1st, Oral session (morning)
08:30hr. Leanza, H. & C. Hugo. Cretaceous red beds from southern Neuquén Basin (Argentina): distribution, stratigraphic discontinuities and fossil records.
09:30hr. Welman, J. Brain case morphology of the theropod dinosaur Syntarsus from South Africa.
10:30hr. Figuereido Souto, P. Coprolites and biotic interactions of the Mesozoic from Parana Basin in Brazil.
Poster session
* Ferigolo, J. South American first record of a sphenodontian (Lepidosauria, Rhyncocephalia) from Late Triassic - Early Jurassic of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil.
* Cladera, G. & R. Cúneo. Early Cretaceous paleoclimatic changes in the Deseado Massif Basin, Patagonia, Argentina.
Plenary lecture 16:30 hr
Dr. Renato Andreis (University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).
"Paleoecology and environments of the Cretaceous sedimentary basins of Patagonia (Southern Argentina)"