Geological and isotopic characteristics of granites from the western pernambuco-alagoas domain: Implications for the crustal evolution of the neoproterozoic borborema province

Abstract

The Western Pernambuco-Alagoas Domain is a complex tectonic domain of the Southern part of the Neoproterozoic Borborema Province. It borders the Northern margin of São Francisco Craton. U-Pb and Sm-Nd data discussed in this work show that, in the Western Pernambuco-Alagoas Domain, large volumes of granitic rocks of various ages related to different tectonic events are recognized. The Cariris Velhos Event is represented by Lobo (974 ± 8 Ma) and Rocinha (956 ± 2 Ma) orthogneisses; whereas Paleoproterozoic and Archean basement rocks are represented by Fulgêncio Orthogneiss (1,996 ± 8 Ma), Riacho Seco Gneissic-migmatitic Complex (1,992 ± 27 Ma), and orthogneisses of Entremontes Complex (2,734 ± 11 Ma). Six groups of granitoids are recognized: Brasiliano granitoids (Ediacaran-Cryogenian), with Meso- to Paleoproterozoic model ages; Cariris Velhos granitoids (Tonian) yielding Mesoproterozoic model ages; Paleoproterozoic granitoids from Pernambuco-Alagoas Domain, with Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic Nd model ages; Paleoproterozoic granitoids from Riacho Seco Nucleus, represented by Riacho Seco Gneissic-migmatitic Complex, with Archean model ages; Archean granitoids represented by the rocks of Entremontes Complex; and granitoids emplaced in the São Francisco Craton displaying Paleoproterozoic to Archean model ages. Prominent among the new data obtained is the Paleoproterozoic age of Riacho Seco Gneissic-migmatitic Complex, which is formed by Archean basement reworking. The new data reveal the presence of Paleoproterozoic and Archean basement inliers and a large volume of Cariris Velhos granitoids in the Western Pernambuco-Alagoas Domain. The orogen, therefore, involved extensive reworking of older blocks, possibly including parts of São Francisco-Congo Craton.