Revista Brasileira de Geociências 30(3):470-473, setembro de 2000

STRATIGRAPHIC SIGNIFICANCE OF HEAVY MINERALS IN SEDIMENTS OF THE

NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

DEBORA DO CARMO SOUSA, HELENICE VITAL AND VANILDO PEREIRA DA FONSECA

ABSTRACT Sediments from the Upper Cretaceous post-rift section of Potiguar Basin and their Cenozoic continental covers show that their
heavy mineral associations can distinguish stratigraphic units. The Açu River flows along the axis of the basin trough, and its deltaic plain is
developed in the coastal region of Macau within the main axis of the basin. The oldest outcropping units are the siliciclastic rocks of the Açu
Formation (Albian-Cenomanian) and carbonates from the Jandaira Formation (Turonian-Early Campanian). Oligocene to Miocene volcanism
constitutes the Macau Formation. Miocene fluvial and alluvial fan deposits of the Barreiras Formation and Quaternary fluvial and marine
deposits synthesize the continental sedimentation in the basin. Different assemblages have been observed for each siliciclastic unit, with the
heavy mineral suites become increasingly complex from the oldest (AÇU Formation) to the youngest one, probably reflecting the tectonic events
and the erosion history of the source terranes: i) the assemblage from Açu Formation shows almost no transparent minerals (average of 10%)
and the texture of opaque grains is intensely corroded; ii) Barreiras Formation are rich in zircon (up to 40%), both prismatic and rounded, and
small amounts of epidote, rutile, tourmaline and garnet; iii) gravel deposits are rich in epidote with subordinate amounts of zircon, tourmaline
and hornblende; iv) recent alluvial deposits show an increase in the amount of unstable heavy minerals, chiefly amphibole, reflecting a continues
sediment transport from the basement source. The difference in heavy mineral suites from Barreiras Formation and the gravel deposits provides
a mean to separate one unit from the other.
Keywords: Heavy minerals, Gravel deposits, Barreiras Formation, Potiguar Basin.

INTRODUCTION Lithostratigraphic units are commonly Gravel deposits are constituted of conglomerates with dispersed
associated with a particular heavy mineral assemblage. Depositional pebbles in a coarse sand to clay matrix. The pebbles are essentially
breaks or unconformities are often characterized by marked changes in composed by quartz, silex and rock fragments; they show wide
the heavy mineral suites. Many studies have applied heavy mineral variation in roundness, sphericity, and grain-size (millimetric to
analyses to define stratigraphic units, as well as stratigraphic decimetric).
correlation (e.g. Tieh 1973; Stattegger 1976; Weissbroad and The alluvial sediments occur throughout the area along the Agu
Nachmias 1986). River. They form a wide flood plain of muddy composition, as well as
The Potiguar basin contains reserves of 324 million barrels of fine to coarse sands.
recoverable oil and 370 billion cubic feet of gas in place. Many studies
have been done because of the economic importance of this find. METHODS Samples were taken from cross profiles along the Agu
However, little attention has been given to their sedimentary covers. River, in abandoned meanders, outcrops of the Agu and Barreiras
For example, gravel deposits occurring mainly along Agu River and Formation and from gravel deposits.
other important rivers of the region (e.g. Ceara Mirim and Potengi The samples were washed, dried and sieved at 1 φ intervals down to
rivers) are thought to be related (e.g. CPRM 1978) or not related (e.g. 4 φ (0,062 mm) for calculation of grain size parameters. Heavy mine-
DNPM 1998) with the Barreiras Formation for no really consistent ral separations were carried out on the very fine (3-4 φ) fraction
reason. In order to fill this gap we try to characterize the following (which we will refer to as "ideal fraction") of each sample. A total of
units: gravel deposits, Barreiras Formation, through Açu Formation 45 samples were analyzed.
and recent alluvial deposits (active channels and abandoned meanders) This "ideal fraction" was obtained based on the analysis of the
through heavy mineral analyses. following grain-size fractions: 0,50-0,250; 0,250-0,125 and 0,125-
0,062 mm in representative samples. The very fine sand fraction
STUDY AREA The study area is located in the center-south (0,125-0,062mm) was chosen because it showed the greatest
portion of the Potiguar Basin, on the lowermost Açu River (Figure 1). abundance and diversity of heavy minerals.
The Potiguar Basin is located in Northeastern Brazil. The terrestrial Bromoform (CHBr3) was used as heavy liquid for mineral
portion of the basin is trough-shaped, limited by NE-SW faults. The separation. Optical analyses of the very fine fractions were undertaken,
offshore portion is limited by E-W and NW-SE faults that form the with mineral proportions estimated by counting a minimum of 300
boundaries of a homocline dipping toward the ocean. The Agu River non-opaque grains, using the ribbon method (Galehouse 1971). Data
flows along the axis of the basin trough, and its deltaic plain is were tabulated, integrated and analyzed using Excel and Stratgraphics
developed in the coastal region of Macau within the main axis of the plus software.
basin. The oldest outcropping units are siliciclastic locks of the Agu
Formation (Albian-Cenomanian) and carbonates from the Jandaira RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Heavy mineral
Formation (Turonian-Early Campanian). Oligocene to Miocene characterization Heavy minerals in the very fine sand fraction
volcanism constitutes the Macau Formation. Miocene fluvial and range from a maximum of 30% to a minimum of 0.5%. Figure 2 shows
alluvial fan deposits of the Barreiras Formation and Quaternary fluvial the percent averages for each heavy mineral for the 5 units analyzed:
and marine deposits synthesize the continental sedimentation in the Agu Formation, Barreiras Formation, gravel deposits, alluvial
basin (Figure 1). sediments and abandoned meanders.
Fonseca (1996) investigated the morpho-sculpture and morpho- The most abundant heavy minerals in the sandstones of the Agu
structure in the lowermost Agu River (RN), establishing five Formation are opaques (97 %), some of which appear to be strongly
morphotectonic blocks. In some cases, these compartments provide corroded (figure 3a). The translucent minerals (3%) comprise zircon
useful markers of the neotectonic activity of the region. The (37%), generally prismatic; epidote (38%), mostly irregular with
characterization of the gravel deposits studied in this work contributes pleochroism varying in shades of yellow; rutile (8%) showing intense
to the temporal placement of the observed structures. red color; green and brown hornblende (6%); yellowish staurolite
The siliciclastic units analyzed in this study are briefly described as (6%); and accessory proportions of garnet and tourmaline. The ZTR
follows: (zircon + tourmaline + rutile) index for this unit is 45%.
The Agu Formation comprises a basal section, formed by a thick The Barreiras Formation is characterized by the following
interval of alluvial sandstones, conglomerates and claystones. The assemblage of heavy minerals: opaque (49 %). The translucent
uppermost part, is a thin layer of fluvial to shallow-marine sandstones minerals (51%) comprise zircon (77%), epidote (20%) and rutile
and claystones. (accessory) (Figure 3b). The ZTR index for this group is 80%.
The siliciclastic rocks correlated to Barreiras Formation are sands, The gravel deposits contain opaques (70 %). The translucent
muddy-sands or conglomerate deposits of variable color (yellow, red, minerals (30%) comprises epidote (68%), zircon (20%), hornblende
and white). They may be massive, or show cross- or plane-parallel (4%); tourmaline, rutile and sillimanite (accessory), the ZTR index for
bedding. Cliffs of the Barreiras Formation crop out on the coast. this unit is 45%. (Figure 3c).

Departamento de Geologia/ PPGG-UFRN, Caixa Postal 1639, Natal-RN, 59078-970. E-mails: debora@[Link], helenice@[Link]
 Revista Brasileira de Geociências, Volume 30, 2000 471

Figure 1 - Geographical and geological map.

Discriminant Analysis Although visual inspection of the

diagrams, showed the more obvious trends, the less marked differences
could have been easily overlooked. Therefore, employment of
advanced numeral techniques was considerably important if the
assessment of data was to be objective. Of the large number of
statistical methods available, discriminatory analysis was used here.
A total of 45 samples from all five units (Açu, Barreiras, gravel
deposits, alluvial sediments, abandoned meanders) were used in the
statistical evaluation. Twelve heavy-mineral variables were determined
for each sample: 1) prismatic zircon, 2) rounded zircon, 3) prismatic
tourmaline, 4) rounded tourmaline, 5) epidote, 6) green hornblende, 7)
brown hornblende, 8) rutile, 9) sillimanite, 10) garnet, 11) staurolite
and 12) andalusite.
The Stepwise Regression Method (forward selection, F-to-enter)
shows that the epidote and rounded zircon are the most effective
variables for the separation in groups. The variables sillimanite, ruti-
le, staurolite, prismatic tourmaline, green hornblende, garnet and round
tourmaline are partially useful discriminators and contribute to ideal
group separation, which account for 100% of the correctly classified
samples. The model does not use prismatic zircon, brown hornblende
Figure 2 - Bar diagram showing the average of the heavy minerals by group and andalusite.
(data in %). 1 = Alluvial sediments (n=26), 2 = Abandoned meanders (n=6), High canonical correlation and low Wilk's 1 values suggest that, of
3 = Gravel deposits (n-7), 4 = Barreiras Formation (n-2), Açu Formation the four discriminant functions, the first two are potentially useful
(n-4), n = numbers of analyses. PZr = prismatic zircon, RZr = round zircon, discriminators. They also account for 90% of the variance. A plot of
PTm - prismatic tourmaline, RTm = round tourmaline, Ep - epidote, GHb - the first two discriminant functions yields excellent grouping within
green hornblende, BHb = brown hornblende, Rt - rutile, SI - sillimanite, Gr
= garnet, St = staurolite, Ad = andalusite. and among the five units (Figure 4).
Figure 4 shows that the samples of the abandoned meanders are
plotted in the same alignment of the alluvium sediment samples; the
samples of gravel deposits and Barreiras Formation are plotted in
opposite positions with the Açu Formation clearly in the middle,
A greater diversity of translucent (80%) heavy minerals was implying differences in and among these units. These results indicate
identified on the alluvium sediments (Figure 03d): hornblende (65%), that the Barreiras and gravel deposit units cannot be considered a
epidote (20%), zircon (6%); garnet, tourmaline, staurolite and single unit. Moreover, the high ZTR index for the Barreiras Formation
andalusite (accessory). ZTR index is 8% and opaques amounts 20 %. shows a more mature caricature of these sediments.
In the abandoned meanders the mineralogy is similar to that in the
alluvium, although with a larger proportion of hornblende (73%) and SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Heavy minerals have been
smaller proportion of epidote (9%); ZTR index for this unit is 11%. used in this study for characterization and distinction of stratigraphic
 472 Revista Brasileira de Geociências, Volume 30, 2000

Figure 3 - (a) Corroded opaque from the sandstones correlated to the Açu Formation; (b) Opaque, prismatic (PZr) and rounded (RZr) zircon, and epidote (Ep)
of Barreiras Formation sediments; (c) Hornblende (Hb) and epidote (Ep) found in the matrix of the gravel deposits; and (d) Hornblende (Hb), prismatic zircon
(PZr) and opaque of the sands found in the profiles of the alluvial sediments. All thefotomicwgraphs were made with parallel nicols and of 100x magnification.

units. Our results show that the sediments of the upper Cretaceous
section of the Potiguar Basin and its cover (continental Cenozoic) can
be clearly classified by its particular heavy minerals associations.
For each unit, different suites were observed. The youngest units
have more complex suites when compared to the older ones, probably
reflecting tectonic events and the erosional history of the source areas:
(1) Açu Formation is characterized by nearly total absence of
translucent minerals (average of 10%) and intensely corroded
texture of the opaque grains;
(2) The Barreiras Formation is clearly enriched in zircon, both
prismatic and rounded, as well as small amounts of epidote. Ru-
tile, tourmaline and garnet are also present;
(3) the gravel deposits are rich in epidote and contain small amounts
of zircon (dominantly prismatics), tourmaline, andalusite and
hornblende.
(4) the recent alluvium deposits, as well as the
(5) abandoned meanders show an increase in the amount of unstable
heavy minerals, mainly amphibole, reflecting a continuous
sediment transport from the shield.
These data demonstrate the value of heavy mineral analysis, as a
sensitive indicator of different lithostratigraphic units. The presence of
very stable minerals in sediments from Barreiras Formation contrasts
strongly with the unstable minerals found in the heavy mineral suite of
the gravel deposits. This observation allows their characterization as
distinct units. Moreover, this increase in the amount of unstable heavy
Figure 4 - Discriminant function graphic. () = Alluvial sediments (n=26), (O) minerals in the gravel deposits suggests that the gravel deposits are
= Abandoned meanders (n=6), (X) Formation Barreiras (n-2), (◊) Gravel younger than the deposits from the Barreiras Formation.
deposits (n=7), (∆) Açu Formation (n=4), (+) center, n - numbers of analyses.
Revista Brasileira de Geociências, Volume 30, 2000 473

The distinction between the Barreiras Formation and gravel in the Açu Formation, while the unstable minerals dominate in the
deposits is reinforced by discriminant analysis, which plots these units alluvium sediments. The absence of significant compositional
in opposite positions. Sediments from abandoned meanders plotted in differences resulting from selective chemical dissolution in the
the same alignment could indicate a possible migration from west to sandstones from Açu Formation probably reflects uniform weathering
east of the alluvium sediments. conditions.
The heavy mineral assemblage from Açu Formation and alluvium
sediments from Agu River is essentially the same. The difference is Acknowledgments To two anonymous referees of RBG for the
mainly in the relative proportions: stable minerals are more abundant critical review of the originals.
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