Abstract
The Tapajos mineral province (TMP), in the Brazilian Amazon Craton, comprises NW-SE Paleoproterozoic insular magmatic arcs accreted to the Carajas Archean Province (CAP). We present new geological and geophysical data pointing toward a different evolutionary model for the TMP. Results obtained from magnetic data indicate that NNW-SSE trending structures occur at shallow crustal levels. Furthermore, an E-W structural framework shows up at 15.4 km depth, in disagreement with the accreted island arc orientation. These E-W structures are associated with north-dipping blocks, reflecting ductile compressive tectonics, similar to the tectonic setting found in the CAP. We interpret these E-W structures of the TMP as the continuity westwards of similar structures from the CAP, under the Paleoproterozoic volcanic rocks of the Uatuma Supergroup. Based on this evidence, we propose that Paleoproterozoic arcs have been formed in an Archean active continental margin, instead of in island arcs. This novel tectonic setting for the TMP has significant implications for the tectonic evolution and the metallogenic potential of the southern portion of the Amazon craton, particularly for Paleoproterozoic magmatic-hydrothermal (epithermal and porphyry) precious and base metal systems.
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