Neotectonic-related landforms in the Campos do Jordão Plateau, Southeast Brazil

Silvio Takashi Hiruma,May Christine Modenesi-Gauttieri,Claudio Riccomini

doi:10.14295/derb.v42.752

Abstract

The Campos do Jordão Plateau, situated in the Serra da Mantiqueira – western flank of the Continental Rift of Southeastern Brazil, presents several morphological features that are indicative of neotectonic activity. This paper presents a morphotectonic map of the southeastern front of the plateau (scale 1:25,000), based on detailed photointerpretation, with structural data obtained during field surveys and also supported by morphometric analysis. The map illustrates morphotectonic features (triangular and trapezoidal facets, rectilinear escarpments, low drainage divides, shutter ridges and drainage captures) and their relationship with brittle structures and lithotypes. Triangular and trapezoidal facets and rectilinear escarpments are commonly associated with normal faults, whereas low divides and shutter ridges are associated with strike-slip ones. The map provides insights into the neotectonic activity and its influence on the landforms in southeast Brazil.

Highlights

Southeast Brazil is a classic example of a passive continental margin with Great Escarpments (OLLIER 1985, THOMAS 1994)
The Campos do Jordão Plateau (Figure 1), situated at the Serra da Mantiqueira, on the western flank of the Continental Rift of Southeastern Brazil, presents evidence of landforms associated with Neotectonics
The morphotectonic map here presented at the scale 1:25,000 integrates geomorphological, lithological and structural data, using a morphotectonic approach

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Southeast Brazil is a classic example of a passive continental margin with Great Escarpments (OLLIER 1985, THOMAS 1994). The Campos do Jordão Plateau (Figure 1), situated at the Serra da Mantiqueira, on the western flank of the Continental Rift of Southeastern Brazil, presents evidence of landforms associated with Neotectonics. A morphotectonic map of the southeastern front of the Campos do Jordão Plateau, scale 1:25,000, here presented, was made based on detailed photointerpretation, structural data obtained from field surveys and morphometric analysis. The map compiled information obtained from previous studies in the Campos do Jordão Plateau (HIRUMA 1999, HIRUMA et al 2001, MODENESI-GAUTTIERI et al 2002)

THE CAMPOS DO JORDÃO PLATEAU

METHODS

NEOTECTONIC-RELATED LANDFORMS

CONCLUSIONS