Stratigraphy and palaeoenvironments of the Tanque Basin, southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Stratigraphic and paleopalynological studies in Cenozoic deposits of the eastern region of the state of Sao Paulo led to the identification of two sedimentary episodes during the Paleogene and Neogene times. The analyses also permitted the reconstruction of the predominant climatic and paleoenvironmental conditions during the time of deposition. The first sedimentation phase developed during the Late Eocene, under humid and subtropical climatic conditions, with cold and dry winters. The second episode occurred during the Late Miocene – Pliocene probably under a subtropical to temperate climate, with well-defined seasons. The findings of this study permit us to suggest that these sediments as well as their ages are strongly correlated to the adjacent deposits of the Sao Paulo and Taubate sedimentary basins belonging to the continental rift system of southeastern Brazil.