Geomorfologia e arquitetura interna do vale inciso do rio açu na bacia potiguar imersa (NE Brasil)

Abstract

The tectonic-sedimentary framework of a marginal basin contains traces of the marine and continental history of certain portion of planet Earth. The evolution of passive margins, specifically on continental shelves, has been intensively studied over the last century, because of the economic and scientific interests. Moreover, the recent methodological and technical advances in field data collection and analysis have transformed shallow marine studies from descriptive to quantitative and based on integration of different datasets. This Thesis presents the integration of multidisciplinary data (Landsat images, gravimetry, altimetry, singlebeam bathymetry, sonography, shallow seismic, sedimentology, current measurements and observations by SCUBA diving) which allowed the analysis of geomorphological expression of the northern Continental Shelf of the Rio Grande Norte state (NE-Brazil) and its correlation with their last phases of sedimentation in the context of the submerged Potiguar Basin, including sea-level fluctuations in the Quaternary, pre-Holocene subaerial exposure, the establishment of the Holocene currents on continental shelf, and pre-Cenozoic tectonic fault reactivation. This shelf is shallow, narrow and can be divided into inner, middle and outer shelf, and displays several geomorphological features. Its geometry and morphology is controlled by neotectonics. On it, there is an incised valley of the Rio Acu, a key element in the last stratigraphic record of Holocene transgression. The morphology of the Açu incised valley aligns with the central axis of Potiguar Basin and is strongly influenced by neotectonics in the context of the Domain Equatorial Atlantic Margin. The incised valley-fill was controlled by the morphology during transgression, as well as the morphology constraints the hydrodynamic processes and dispersal of siliciclastic and carbonate sediments during periods of highstand. Patch reefs, with coraline algae colonies were found between 20 and 40 m water depth. It allowed inferences about the mixed sedimentation in the Pleistocene and Holocene. These results contribute to the study of paleo-environmental conditions of the Quaternary, analogues reservoirs, shallow marine depositional models of high-energy tropical shelf, hydrocarbon exploration, geotechnical, environmental matters, navigation and others.