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A U-Pb SHRIMP zircon geochronological study was carried out in the Nico Pérez Terrane in the central-eastern portion of Uruguay with the aim of constraining its geological evolution and its cratonic affinity. Nico Pérez Terrane is made up by a mosaic of tectonic blocks with diferente lithologies and sizes. This terrane is limited to the west by the Piedra Alta Terrane through the Sarandí del Yí shear zone, and to the east, is in tectonic contact through the Retamosa thrust with the Dom Feliciano Belt (Brasiliano orogenic cycle). Lithologically, the Nico Pérez Terrane is composed by medium to high grade metamorphic rock contained in three tectonic blocks (Pavas, Valentines and Rivera blocks) represented mainly by granitoids, as well as ortho and parametamorphic rocks, such as amphibolites, metapyroxenites, BIFs, schists, quartzites with fuchsite, among others. Archean inheritance, Rhyacian, Statherian, and Neoproterozoic magmatic ages are reported here. Similar ages, which show Archaean inheritance and Neoproterozoic imprint, reported in units of the Piedra Alta Terrane modify the idea that the Río de La Plata Craton only corresponds to a juvenile Paleoproterozoic tectonic unit. This, together with recently published geophysical information, supports the cratonic affinity of the Nico Pérez Terrane with the Río de La Plata Craton.

Small to medium-sized intrusive bodies with ages between 2.1 and 2.0 Ga characterize Piedra Alta terrane and represent the final stabilization of Río de la Plata Craton. A reconnaissance study of petro- and magnetic fabrics based on microscopic observations, anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and anhysteretic remanent magnetization, was carried out on 41 sites from 14 intrusive bodies, in order to obtain preliminary information on kinematics of their emplacement, degree of deformation, and regional stress regime during this magmatic event. The magnetic fabrics coupled with the microstructural analysis are interpreted as generally reflecting magma kinematics near solidus temperature, although few cases of tectonically modified fabrics at local levels have been interpreted. Field evidence and magnetic fabrics in most plutons show subvertical to high angle E-W to NE-SW trending foliations and subvertical lineations. These data suggest that plutons were probably intruded under a regional extensional to transtensional regime, which controlled the magma ascent and distribution of the intrusions. Lack of metamorphism and low to null deformation shown by the study plutons suggest a late-orogenic character for this magmatism, which has been associated with crustal stabilization after accretionary processes that led to the formation of Río de la Plata Craton in the Orosirian. Fil: Franceschinis, Pablo Reinaldo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: Rapalini, Augusto Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: Sánchez Bettuchi, Leda. Universidad de la República. Instituto de Ciencias Geológicas; Uruguay Fil: Martínez Dopico, Carmen Irene. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotópica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotópica; Argentina Fil: Milanese, Florencia Nidia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; Argentina

Approximately 18 million people live around the Rio de la Plata estuary. Being far away from the zones of major plate boundary-related earthquakes in South America, this region is conventionally regarded as being seismically stable. Nevertheless, during the last 2 centuries of recorded history, there have been several earthquakes of low to moderate magnitude in the region and there is no reason to suppose that it will not continue to be seismically active, albeit at low to moderate levels. This paper examines the evidence and reviews the seismic hazard for the areas bordering the Rio de la Plata, and, taking into account the lack of preparedness in terms of construction codes, specifically in Uruguay, concludes that the exposure risk needs review. Until further investigation is carried out, we recommend that consideration be given to raising the seismic hazard rating for the zone around the Rio de la Plata estuary to a PGA level of 0.1 g for 10 % probability of exceedance in a 50 year period.

The Brasfield rift and South Shetland trench are part of the active margin of the Antarctic continent. From the records of a seismic station at the King George Island installed by the Observatorio Geofisico del Uruguay, 3186 seismic events during August 26 and September 11, 2020 were retrieved with an average of 187 earthquakes per day and a maximum of 359 on August 30. 217 events with a local magnitude of ≥4 were well recognized and located by a single-station method. The events show that an earthquake swarm close to the South Shetland Islands and at a short hypocentral distance (~25 km) to the station occurred in August of 2020. The earthquakes in the swarm are near Orca seamount and the listric normal faults, with a ENE-WSW trend of the Bransfield Basin, suggesting their volcano and volcanotectonic origin. In addition to the swarm, several earthquakes in the same time period related to the Artigas Fault with NW-SE trend are also located, which indicates the reactivation of this structure. From all the earthquakes, a relatively high b-value (1.22) is estimated, which might suggest variable resistance for stress accumulation in the Bransfield rift.

The integrated observation of geology, gammaspectrometry and magnetometry of southern Uruguay was made possible by the high-resolution aerogeophysical survey carried out during 2014 and 2015. This survey covers nearly the outcropping area of the Uruguayan basement. Previous studies focused on the Proterozoic and Mesozoic dike swarms present in the Uruguayan basement. In this work we address features previously undescribed and unstudied in the Uruguayan basement. Structures previously grouped with the dike swarm are separated (subcircular structures and a lava river) and the basement general patterns were studied. Distinctive magnetic and radiometric features characterize each structural block in the Uruguayan basement, supporting the main tectonic units previously described, but improving the location of their limits.

"A combined rock-magnetic and pa - leomagnetic researches were carried out on some pyroclastic rocks and pre-Columbianpotteryfragments associated to the Colima Volcanic Complex. A full battery of magnet - ic measurements was performed in order to estimate magnetic mineral - ogy and to determine both the direc - tions and absolute intensities of the characteristic remanent magnetiza - tion. In this paper we report absolute age determination using magneticdating for two volcanic eruptionsassociated to the Colima volcano(Volcán de Fuego). The geomag - netic field prediction model SHA. DIF.14K, based on full vector (dec - lination, inclination and absolute pa - leointensity), was used for first time in pyroclastic flows deposits and interca - lated potteries. The results obtained agree reasonably well with available radiometric (C 14 ) data, them provide a more accurate age determination of the cooling moment for the lava flows."

The aim of this work is to propose a new stratigraphic scheme of the Barriga Negra Formation, in order to solve the controversies in one of the most discussed units of Uruguay. Here, we introduce a new map (unmodified since 1984) and amend the stratigraphic profile for the Barriga Negra Formation, establishing the correct sequence, order and thickness, dividing it in four members (Volcaniclastic, Arkosic Conglomerate, Calcareous Conglomerate and Petromictic Conglomerate Member). We describe by first time the presence of basal volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks that implies a tectonic active environment. Volcaniclastic rock dating yield an U-Pb concordia age of 633 ± 3.4 Ma. Moreover, we show that this unit has no stratigraphic continuity with other units that previously were used to constrain its stratigraphic position, age and paleoenvironment. We confirm unequivocally that the unit is as a continental conglomeratic sequence deposited in arid and active tectonic conditions, and not transitional passive margin deposits as some works claim. ­Finally, we revisit the metamorphism, deformation, stratigraphy, structural relationships of this unit and identify new basement units. As consequence of this new evidence, we reexamine its correlation with other regional units. This work is also a key to understand the chaotic stratigraphic proposals of Uruguay..

The archaeological record of pottery in Uruguay has a wide spatial and chronological distribution. It extends along coastal areas from the west (Uruguay River) to southeast (Atlantic Ocean), and stretches from the mid-Holocene period until the arrival of the Europeans. The chronologies mark a continuity in pottery production from Prehistory (~3000 14C yr BP) to historical times. The wide spatial and temporal distribution of ceramics has promoted the debate on its origin and dispersion, still under discussion. In this instance, it was the intention to contribute, from the first application of archaeomagnetism on ceramic materials of prehistoric contexts in Uruguay, with direct data on ceramics chronology. Likewise, it is aimed at evaluating the reliability of the method by comparing it with other numerical age estimation techniques (14C and TL). The results achieved for the fragments from La Esmeralda, Craneo Marcado, and Guayacas sites provided highly reliable dating for pottery, between ~1400 years BC and ~1500 years BC. These ages are consistent with 14C and TL datings. Likewise, the results show that archaeomagnetism is a useful technique in obtaining ceramics chronologies and contributes to the chronological discussion of its origin and dispersion in the coastal territory of Uruguay.

International audience; New high-resolution airborne magnetic data of Uruguay allowed constructing new maps concerning the spatial distribution of dyke swarms, main faults and other magnetic bodies, which compose the Uruguayan Shield. We combined geophysical analyses (vertical derivatives, upward continuation, Euler deconvolution), structural analyses of the magnetic maps and previous geological data in order to discriminate the main structural features of the Uruguayan Shield and contribute to a better understanding of its tectonic evolution. The magnetic maps revealed several outstanding features in the Uruguayan Shield. The Paleoproterozoic dyke swarm is larger, denser, more widespread and complex than originally thought, suggesting a possible plume origin. In addition, a new Mesozoic dyke swarm, as complex as the previous one, was identified crosscutting the Paleoproterozoic dyke swarm and the Neoproterozoic orogenic structures. Moreover, this swarm is connected to volcanic calderas in the Merín basin, and shows displacements along Neoproterozoic shear zones, in the magnetic maps, revealing its brittle reactivation during Mesozoic times. The new observations clarify how Proterozoic basement structures controlled the development of the Mesozoic rift. Paleoproterozoic dyke swarms were reactivated as normal faults and Neoproterozoic structures hindered the rift growth, deflecting the deformation in transcurrent movements. Meanwhile, the Mesozoic dyke swarm was developed in a perpendicular direction to the Neoproterozoic structures. Moreover, these findings contradict the current rift model for Uruguay and rise a new model in which the Mesozoic rift developed as two rift basins connected by a central transfer zone, generated by the reactivation of Dom Feliciano Belt structures, between the Sierra Ballena and Sarandí del Yí Shear Zones.

New geologic and geochronologic data of Paso del Dragon Complex (PDC) located at Northeastern Uruguay is analyzed. Two lithodemic units are described and characterized, La Micaela Schists and Cerro La Tuna Serpentinites. La Micaela Schists represent 80% of PDC and it comprises a meta-volcano-sedimentary succession poly-deformed, composed by muscovite-quartz-feldspathic schists, quartzites, and felsic meta-volcanic rocks. Cerro La Tuna Serpentinites represents 20% of PDC and it comprises mafic-ultramafic rocks, also deformed and metamorphosed, composed by serpentinites, varied magnesian schists, hosted by La Micaela Schists. The complex is hosted to the north and west by the Granitic belt of the Dom Feliciano Belt that includes poly-intrusive plutons known from south to north as Aigua, Cuchilla Dionisio and Sierra de los Rios batholiths classified as high-K calc-alkaline pre-to post-collisional granitoids. Relevant U–Pb LA-ICP-MS analyses of metamorphic/detrital zircon grains from migmatitic-gneissic basement suggest an age of ca. 668 Ma for the metamorphic event associated with the migmatization process. The deposition and metamorphism age for La Micaela Schists lithodeme are ca. 590 Ma and 570 Ma respectively. The Complex is interpreted as remains of sedimentary and magmatic units generated in an arc-related environment tectonically emplaced within the granites. Their generation, deformation and metamorphism, mainly of Ediacaran age, are associated to the Western Gondwana assembly. This thrust sheet could be regarded as a dismembered ophiolite as previously suggested by other authors. Finally, it is proposed the correlation between Cerro Olivo Complex of Punta del Este Terrane and the migmatitic-gneissic basement of Paso del Dragon Complex based on their similar zircon U-Pb age patterns. Also, it is suggested that Cerro Olivo Complex of Punta del Este Terrane and the Granitic belt might be the main detrital sources for La Micaela Schist.

The first successful paleomagnetic study on middle Paleoproterozoic rocks from the Rio de la Plata craton is reported. Samples collected from the Soca and Isla Mala granitic bodies, located in southern Uruguay, provided characteristic remanences that were used to compute the first paleomagnetic poles for the craton for ca. 2.05-2.02. Ga. The poles were complemented by a virtual geomagnetic pole from the slightly older Marincho and Mahoma complexes. The paleomagnetic results suggest fast apparent polar wander at high paleolatitudes for the Rio de la Plata craton. Comparison with coeval poles from the Guiana, Congo-São Francisco and West African cratons indicates that a configuration of Atlantica that resembles their Western Gondwana fit is not supported by paleomagnetic data. The geologic similarities in these four cratons are supportive of a major crustal forming event between 2.2-2.0. Ga. A modified configuration for Atlantica is proposed that is consistent with our new (and older) paleomagnetic data. Atlantica was assembled at 2.1-2.05. Ga at polar latitudes and drifted towards the equator soon afterwards. Fil: Rapalini, Augusto Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: Bettucci Sanchez, Leda. Universidad de la República; Uruguay Fil: Badgen, Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: Vasquez, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; Argentina

A new paleomagnetic study was carried out on 15 sites of the Sierra de las Ánimas complex, exposed in SE Uruguay. A paleomagnetic remanence was isolated at six sites, and this direction is likely to be pre-tectonic and primary. Mean directions from five of these sites are consistent with the SA2 paleomagnetic pole, which is based on a previous paleomagnetic study of the complex. A new paleomagnetic pole was computed for compiled results from the Sierra de las Ánimas complex (SAn, 12.2° S, 258.9° E, A95: 14.9°). A geochronological study based on U/Pb (SHRIMP) dating of magmatic zircons was also carried out on three samples of the Sierra de las Animas Complex, yielding a grand mean age of 578 ± 4 Ma. The new SAn paleomagnetic pole anchors the Early Ediacaran segment of the Apparent Polar Wander Path for the Río de la Plata craton. Consistency of the new pole with other Ediacaran poles from the Congo-São Francisco craton suggests a coherent Central Gondwana by this time. These data also support a wide Clymene Ocean between the conjoined Río de la Plata–Congo-São Francisco blocks and Western Gondwana, i.e., Amazonia–West Africa. Additional sampling (sixteen samples) was carried out on the basal levels of the glaciogenic Playa Hermosa Formation, exposed in the same area. These samples retain a paleomagnetic component consistent with the previously reported data, confirming the original pole position. U–Pb (SHRIMP) dating of detrital zircons reveal a bimodal distribution of Paleoproterozoic (around 2.1 Ga) and late Neoproterozoic ages. The youngest zircons are interpreted as pre-dating to penecontemporaneous with deposition and points to a ≤594 Ma age for deposition of the older levels of the Playa Hermosa Formation. A minimum age of deposition is set by the 578 ± 4 Ma age of the Sierra de las Ánimas magmatism. The low inclination of magnetization indicates that low-latitude (13.0° + 9.5°/−5.5°), Gaskiers-aged glacial deposits are preserved atop the Rio de la Plata craton. Fil: Rapalini, Augusto Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Basicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Basicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: Tohver, Eric. University of Western Australia; Australia Fil: Sanchez Bettucci, Leda. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; Uruguay Fil: Lossada, Ana Clara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Basicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Basicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina Fil: Barcelona, Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotopica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotópica; Argentina Fil: Pérez, Cecilia. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; Uruguay

This work is the result of a multiyear effort to use field geology to describe lithologies, to establish contact relationships and to create a sketch of the tectonic evolution of the Meso- to Neoproterozoic metasedimentary successions within the Schist Belt of the Dom Feliciano Belt. This low-grade metamorphic cover rests on the high-grade metamorphic basement of the La China and Las Tetas complexes. This basement is Archean-Paleoproterozoic in age. The Schist Belt is overlapped unconformably by the Barriga Negra formation. The Lavalleja complex and the Barriga Negra formation both deformed together during the D2 deformation event (~ 570 -540 Ma), but the Barriga Negra only partially recorded the D2 transpressive event, whereas the Lavalleja complex was affected by both the D1 tangential event and the D2 event. Event D1 would have developed a fold nappe with vergence to the south. This hypothesis is supported by different structures: (i) recumbent and upright folds oriented E-W, (ii) subhorizontal mylonitic foliation in marbles (calc-schists), (iii) stretching lineations plunging towards the SW in metaconglomerates of the Las Tetas Complex, and (iv) a reworking of the subhorizontal foliation parallel to the Sarandí del Yí strike-slip shear zone. RESUMO: Este trabalho resulta de um esforço de vários anos tentando usar a geologia de campo para descrever litologias, estabelecer relações de contato e perfazer a evolução tectônica das sucessões metassedimentares, de idades meso a neoproterozoicas, que foram deformadas dentro da Faixa de Xistos do Cinturão Dom Feliciano. Essas rochas constituem uma cobertura de baixo grau que repousa em cima do embasamento de alto grau metamórfico dos complexos La China e Las Tetas. Esse embasamento é de idade paleoproterozoica-arqueana. A Faixa de Xistos é sotoposta em discordância angular pela formação Barriga Negra. O Complexo Lavalleja e a formação Barriga Negra se deformaram junto durante o evento D2 (~ 570 - 540 Ma), mas a formação Barriga Negra registrou apenas parcialmente o evento transpressivo D2, enquanto o Complexo Lavalleja foi afetado pelos dois eventos (D1 e D2). O evento D1 teria desenvolvido uma dobra - nappe com vergencia para o sul. Essa hipótese é sustentada por diferentes estruturas: (i) dobras recumbentes e dobras retas orientadas E-W, (ii) Foliação subhorizontal milonítica em mármores (calco-xistos); (iii) lineações de estiramento mergulhando para SW em metaconglomerados do Complexo Las Tetas, e (iv) retrabalhamento da foliação subhorizontal, paralelamente à zona de cisalhamento transcorrente Sarandí del Yí.

The paleogeographic evolution of the Río de la Plata Craton during the Precambrian poses important questions regarding its participation in the Atlantica continent and Columbia supercontinent. With the aim of contributing to the paleogeographic evolution of the craton in mid-Paleoproterozoic times, systematic paleomagnetic studies were carried out in late- to post-tectonic plutons of the Piedra Alta terrane (Uruguay). These yielded six new paleomagnetic poles with ages between 2.1 and 2.0 Ga that can be interpreted as integrating a single apparent polar wander path together with three previous poles from the same terrane and similar ages. The positions of the poles along the proposed path are compatible with the known ages of the intrusives from which they were computed and show a smooth distribution of magnetic polarities. Comparison of this path with those coeval from other South American and African cratons confirms previous interpretations that if the Atlantica continent ever existed, had a significantly different configuration than the originally proposed. Based on the new apparent polar wander path proposed for this different continental configuration a model of its paleogeographic evolution that suggests fast displacements in (probably southern) polar latitudes during the study time lapse is presented. Fil: Franceschinis, Pablo Reinaldo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: Rapalini, Augusto Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: Sánchez Bettucci, Leda. Universidad de la República. Instituto de Ciencias Geológicas; Uruguay Fil: Martínez Dopico, Carmen Irene. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotópica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotópica; Argentina Fil: Milanese, Florencia Nidia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; Argentina

This article presents the first palaeomagnetic results from 13 independent cooling units in the Chiapanecan Volcanic Arc (ChVA). Six sites were directly dated by Ar–Ar or K–Ar methods: their dates range from 2.14 to 0.23 Ma. We isolated the characteristic palaeodirections for all 13 lavas. Eleven non-transitional directions yield a mean direction with inclination, I = 30.7°, declination, D = 4.1°, and precision parameters k = 63 and α95 = 5.8°. The corresponding mean palaeopole position is Plat = 83.3°, Plong = 203.8°, K = 227, A 95 = 5.1°. The mean inclination is in good agreement with the expected value for the last 5 million years, as derived from the synthetic North American polar wander path [Besse and Courtillot 2002, Apparent and true polar wander and the geometry of the magnetic field in the last 200 million years: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 107, no. B11, p. 2300], but a measured rotation of the palaeodeclination of about 8° with respect to the expected direction suggests the possibility ...

The paleosecular variation (PSV) and polarity transitions are two major features of the Earth’s magnetic field. Both PSV and reversal studies are limited when age of studied units is poorly constrained. This is a case of Central and western Mexico volcanics. Although many studies have been devoted to these crucial problems and more than 200 paleomagnetic directions are available for the last 5 Ma, only few sites were dated directly. This paper presents new paleomagnetic results from seventeen independent cooling units in the Michoacan-Guanajuato Volcanic Field (MGVF) in western Mexico. Twelve sites are directly dated by 40Ar/39Ar or K-Ar methods and span from 2.78 to 0.56 Ma. The characteristic paleodirections are successfully isolated for 15 lava flows. The mean paleodirection (inclination I and declination D) obtained in this study is I = 28.8°, D = 354.9°, and Fisherian statistical parameters are k = 28, α95 = 7.3°, N=15, which corresponds to the mean paleomagnetic pole position Plat = 83.9°, Plong = 321.6°, K = 34, A95 = 6.6°. The paleodirections obtained in present study compiled with those, previously reported from the MGVF, are practically undistinguishable from the expected Plio-Quaternary paleodirections. The paleosecular variation is estimated through the study of the scatter of the virtual geomagnetic poles giving SF = 15.9 with SU =21.0 and SL = 12.7 (upper and lower limits respectively). These values agree reasonably well with the recent statistical Models. The oldest sites analyzed (the Santa Teresa and Cerro Alto) yield normal polarity magnetizations as expected for the cooling units belonging to the Gauss geomagnetic Chron. The interesting feature of the record comes from lava flows dated at about 2.35 Ma with clearly defined normal directions. This may point out the possible existence of a normal polarity magnetization in the Matuyama reversed Chron older than the Reunion and may be correlated to Halawa event interpreted as the Cryptochron C2r.2r-1. Another important feature of the geomagnetic record obtained from the MGVF is the evidence of fully reversed geomagnetic field within Bruhnes Chron, at about 0.56 Ma corresponding to the relative paleointensity minimum of global extent found in marine sediments at about 590 ka.

We report detailed rock-magnetic and paleomagnetic directional data from 35 lava flows (302 standard paleomagnetic cores) sampled in the Central-Northern region of Uruguay in order to contribute to the study of the paleosecular variation of the Earth’s magnetic field during early Cretaceous and to obtain precise Cretaceous paleomagnetic pole positions for stable South America. The average unit direction is rather precisely determined from 29 out of 35 sites. All A95 confidence angles are less than 8°, which points to small within-site dispersion and high directional stability. Normal polarity magnetizations are revealed for 19 sites and 10 are reversely magnetized. Two other sites yield well defined intermediate polarities. The mean direction, supported by a positive reversal test is in reasonably good agreement with the expected paleodirection for Early Cretaceous stable South America and in disagreement with a 10° clockwise rotation found in the previous studies. On the other hand, paleomagnetic poles are significantly different from the pole position suggested by hotspot reconstructions, which may be due to true polar wander or the hotspot motion. Our data suggest a different style of secular variation during (and just before) the Cretaceous Normal Superchron and the last 5 Ma, supporting a link between paleosecular variation and reversal frequency.

“Thus, it is truly tectonics which governs stratigraphy, and thetwobranchesofthegeologicalsciencesareinseparable.Astruc-tural geologists who is not a stratigrapher is only a geometer,not a geologist; for he reasons about abstract surfaces and vol-umes, emptied of their history; and a stratigrapher who neverconcerned himself with tectonics would produce only a deadstratigraphy,” (Gignoux, 1950, p. 3).The paper “Provenance of the Arroyo del Soldado Group(Ediacaran to Cambrian, Uruguay): Implications for the palaeogeo-graphicevolutionofsouthwesternGondwana”(Blancoetal.,2009)presented new U–Pb (SHRIMP), Sm–Nd and geochemical data ofsome units of Arroyo del Soldado Group (ASG), in order to betterconstraining the evolution of sedimentary protoliths and there-fore to justify a rift tectonic setting for deposition of those units.Unfortunately, the data presented are incapable of answering thetectonic evolution of Neoproterozoic–Lower Paleozoic Brasilianounits located at the east of the Uruguayan territory. We point outthattheauthors’interpretationisnotsubstantiatedonthedata.Thescarcity of geological and isotopic data obtained for Dom Felicianobelt(DFB)determinesawidespanofgeotectonicmodels.Blancoetal.(2009)use,force,andadapttheavailableisotopicdatatosustaintheir tectonic model. Other plausible models can also explain the

The main Precambrian tectonic units of Uruguay include the Piedra Alta tectonostratigraphic terrane (PATT) and Nico Perez tectonostratigraphic terrane (NPTT), separated by the Sarandi del Yi high-strain zone. Both terranes are well exposed in the Rio de La Plata craton (RPC). Although these tectonic units are geographically small, they record a wide span of geologic time. Therefore improved geological knowledge of this area provides a fuller understanding of the evolution of the core of South America. The PATT is constituted by low- to medium-grade metamorphic belts (ca. 2.1 Ga); its petrotectonic associations such as metavolcanic units, conglomerates, banded iron formations, and turbiditic deposits suggest a back-arc or a trench-basin setting. Also in the PATT, a late to post-orogenic, arc-related layered mafic complex (2.3–1.9 Ga), followed by A-type granites (2.08 Ga), and finally a taphrogenic mafic dike swarm (1.78 Ga) occur. The less thoroughly studied NPTT consists of Palaeoproterozoic high-grade m...

Neoproterozoic–lower Palaeozoic successions in the Brasiliano fold belts are described and a brief synthesis of these terranes is presented in order to erect a tectonic framework for this region. Tectonic events that occurred around the Rio de La Plata craton were diachronous and reflected successive stages of the Brasiliano orogenic cycle. They took place in mobile belts that constituted part of the Gondwana supercontinent. The most thoroughly investigated Neoproterozoic sections are located in the eastern and southeastern regions of Uruguay. The Dom Feliciano Belt shows a tectonic evolution from back-arc to foreland basin characterized by fold-and-thrust, thick-skinned belts developed during the Brasiliano/Pan-African orogenic cycle. The most conspicuous features were late-tectonic high-K calc-alkaline granitoids, HT-LP metamorphism, significant displacements along shear zones, and post-tectonic granitoids. The final stage was characterized by post-collisional basins (molassic sequences) and extensional...

Volcanic rocks in southern Uruguay are linked to an extensional tectonic regime related to the post-collisional Brasiliano-Pan African orogenic cycle. The ca 580 Ma magmatic event is recorded in the Playa Hermosa Formation. In the upper section of this formation several units were defined. The basal unit is a quartz-syenite brecciated deposit, interpreted as the result of explosive episodes of shallow plutonic quartz-syenite intrusion with signs of hydrothermal alteration. Sedimentary and basaltic lithoclasts are occasionally present in the breccia, implying the emplacement of basalts before of that magmatic event. The middle unit is composed of trachytic hyaloclastites. Local distribution and textural evidence indicate that trachytic volcanic pulses have been followed by an explosive event that produced brecciated deposits. The upper unit of the studied sequence is composed of basalts with thin sedimentary intercalations. Most of the outcropping basalts display the typical micro- and macro-features of hyaloclastites; distinctive of extrusions occurred in wet sediments previous to lithification. Basaltic feeder dikes are common in the lower unit. The study of flow structures in the quartz-syenite brecciated deposits led to the recognition of two basaltic inputs. Such differences are related to the intensity of chloritic alteration, which would be related to water contamination. Basaltic peperites are one of the most impressive features of the Playa Hermosa Formation. Hyaloclastites and peperites largely represented among the studied volcanic rocks, and devitrification textures are all evidences of magma/seawater interactions. In the basaltic fragments of the peperites well preserved orange palagonite appears, while the sandstone fractions have lithic clasts of felsic volcanic rocks, such as rhyolitic lavas with perlitic cracks and lithophysae-like structures. Palagonite chemical analyses suggest marine environment and, at the same time, it proves that the studied section lacks of regional metamorphism. The felsic volcanic lithoclasts contained in sandstones could be related to the felsic volcanic lobes intercalations. The studied magmatic event is important in order to formulate correlations with other Neoproterozoic units distributed around the Dom Feliciano belt, like Camaquã and Campo Alegre basins (Brazil), and in the Kaoko belt (NW Namibia) in Africa. Also, Playa Hermosa Formation presents glacigenic features that are well documented, and reinforce the volcanism around 580 Ma in the Rio de la Plata Craton. Fil: Sánchez Betucci, Leda. Universidad de la República; Uruguay Fil: Koukharsky, Magdalena Maria L.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina Fil: Pazos, Pablo Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentina Fil: Stareczek, Santiago. Universidad de la República; Uruguay

A palaeomagnetic study was performed on three Neoproterozoic sedimentary successions exposed in central and eastern Uruguay in order to better constrain the palaeogeographic evolution of the Río de la Plata craton by the latest Proterozoic. These units comprise the latest Ediacaran to Early Cambrian calcareous Cerro Victoria Fm., exposed in the central Nico Pérez terrane, the late Ediacaran clastic Yerbal Fm. and the calcareous Polanco Fm., exposed in the Dom Feliciano belt, and the Ediacaran clastic Rocha Fm. exposed in the easternmost Punta del Este suspect terrane. The study showed that none of the units carry the original remanence and that they were affected by remagnetizations. The most widespread remagnetization is shown by the Cerro Victoria, Yerbal and Rocha Formations. A dual-polarity post-folding remanence, carried by hematite, was isolated in all these units. Mean directions from them are CV (Cerro Victoria): Dec: 179.1°, Inc: 59.0°, α95: 2.9°, n = 79 samples; Y (Yerbal): Dec: 182.4°, Inc: 61.9°, α 95: 4.5°, n = 38 samples; R (Rocha): Dec: 4.2°, Inc: -64.9°, α 95: 2.7°, n = 42 samples. Their corresponding pole positions are virtually identical (CV: 82.6°S, 309.3°E, A95: 3.9° Y: 77.0°S, 298.4°E, A95: 5.9° R: 76.6°S, 291.0°E, A95: 4.2°) suggesting the same magnetization age and process. Comparison with the South American path suggests the Late Permian-Early Triassic or the latest Cretaceous-Palaeogene as the most likely times for its acquisition. These poles are also identical to the pole of the Late Proterozoic La Tinta Fm., which is interpreted as affected by the same remagnetization, and therefore, invalid for palaeogeographic reconstructions. A different magnetic component, also dual polarity and post-folding, was defined at two sites of the Cerro Victoria Fm. and other two of the Polanco Fm., possibly carried by magnetite. The mean geomagnetic poles from both units (CVc: 4.2°N, 343.2°E, A95: 13.8° and P: 3.2°N, 325.8°E, A95: 15.2°) fall on the Middle Cambrian to Early Ordovician segment of the Gondwana APWP, suggesting that age for the remagnetization. This permits to establish the age of the tectonic event affecting the Neoproterozoic units of the Río de la Plata craton as Early Cambrian (ca. 525 Ma.). The available palaeomagnetic poles for this craton permit to constrain its palaeogeographic evolution only since approximately 600 Ma. © 2008 The Authors Journal compilation Fil: Rapalini, Augusto Ernesto. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología. Instituto de Geofísica "Daniel Valencio"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Bettucci Sanchez, Leda. Universidad de la República; Uruguay

Neoproterozoic glacial successions have been described in South America, but the glacial deposits of the Rio de la Plata Craton have been neglected in previous studies addressing the global distribution of glacially influenced successions. The Rio de la Plata Craton contains Neoproterozoic glacial deposits in the Sierra del Volcan Formation (Tandilia System, Argentina), glacial influenced deposits in the Playa Hermosa and Zanja del Tigre formations (Dom Feliciano Belt, Uruguay) and suspected glacially influenced deposits in Passo da Areia (Sao Gabriel block, Brazil). The Tandilia System glacial record includesdiamictites, dropstonesand rhythmitesdepos- ited in glaciomarine conditions in a tectonically stable depositional setting. The Dom Feliciano Belt includes a thin section with ice-rafted clasts in carbonates and a thicker section containing diamictites, rhythmites, outsized clasts and deformed beds in a volcano-sedimentary succession. The Sao Gabriel block occurrence deserves more attention to confirm any glacial influence in the fine-grained part of the succession. Glaciation is considered to be contemporaneous with the Gaskiers glaciation (580 Ma), with the exception of the carbonates with dropstones that may represent a previous event correlative with one of the glaciations described in the Kalahari Craton, prior to Kalahari-Rio de la Plata assembly in the proto-western Gondwana margin.

Global paleogeographies in the Neoproterozoic are poorly known. In particular, the assembly of Gondwana at the end of the Proterozoic is controversial. In order to constrain the kinematic evolution of the Rio de la Plata craton, a paleomagnetic study was carried out in the Vendian to Cambrian Sierra de Las Animas magmatic Complex, exposed in southeastern Uruguay (34.7°S, 55.3°W). One hundred and forty-seven samples from 23 sites were studied. These included two sites on the Vendian glaciogenic sediments of the Playa Hermosa Formation. After stepwise AF and thermal cleaning a characteristic remanence was isolated at several sites. According to the available isotopic data for the complex and the correlation between remanence directions and lithologic type and age, two paleomagnetic poles were computed for the Sierra de Las Animas complex. SA1 (338.1°E, 5.9°N, dp=19.6°, dm=26.7°, N=7 sites, mean declination: 44.5°, mean inclination: 58.0°, α95: 18.1°), with a likely age around 520 Ma, shows a distribution of VGPs that suggests a remanence acquisition that spanned a long time during a period of fast apparent polar wander for Gondwana. SA2 (250.9°E, 16.9°S, dp=15.9°, dm=21.5°, N=6 sites, mean declination: 95.3°, mean inclination: −58.5°, α95: 14.5°) corresponds to a likely age around 550 Ma and falls close to a pole of similar age from the Congo craton. This suggests that the Rio de la Plata craton was at that time part of Gondwana and confirms previous postulates that a single APWP can be defined for the supercontinent since 550 Ma. A preliminary mean geomagnetic pole obtained from the Playa Hermosa Formation (PH, 198.4°E, 43.0°S, dp=8.6°, dm=16.0°, n=6 samples, mean declination: 226.0°, mean inclination: 24.2°, α95: 15.0°) is consistent with a previous pole of 595 Ma from the Campo Alegre (CA) lavas and may suggest, if confirmed, that the glaciogenic deposits were produced at low to intermediate latitudes. Despite high uncertainties, a new speculative model on the process of assembly of Gondwana is proposed.

In this chapter, based on the available geological information, a model for the genesis and evolution of the Uruguayan landscape is proposed. A structural framework of the landscape evolution is provided and the record of such evolution in the most representative geological units is considered. A brief summary of the Uruguayan geology and its location in the regional context is performed, from Precambrian to Cenozoic times.

We report a detailed palaeomagnetic investigation of 28 lava flows (221 standard palaeomagnetic cores) collected from the Paraguayan part of the Paraná flood basalts (the Alto Paraguay Formation). The initial aims of our study were to (i) document variability of the Earth's magnetic field during the time interval sampled, (ii) obtain a new Early Cretaceous palaeomagnetic pole (PP) for stable South America, and (iii) estimate the extrusion rate of the Paraná magma. We precisely determined the palaeofield direction for 26 sites for which the characteristic remanent magnetizations exhibit small within-site dispersion and high directional stability. No palaeodirections were determined for two sites because of a very complex and erratic behaviour of the remanence during the palaeomagnetic treatments. Nine sites display normal polarity magnetization, whereas nine others are reversely magnetized and the remaining eight sites yield intermediate palaeodirections. The mean palaeomagnetic direction of normal polarity sites give I = -41.8°, D = 4.9°, k = 112, and α95 = 4.9°, whereas reversely magnetized sites give I = 37.1°, D = 181.4°, k = 23, and α95 = 11.1°. The reversal test as defined by McFadden and McElhinny (1990; Classification of the reversal test in paleomagnetism: Geophysical Journal International, v. 103, p. 725-729) is positive, corresponding to Type B with γ = 8.7° and γ0 = 3.7°. This ensures that the palaeomagnetic treatment successfully removed the secondary natural remanent magnetization and that the sampling adequately averaged the palaeosecular variation (PSV). The mean PP position obtained from 18 sites is palaeolongitude (Plong) = 359.2° and palaeolatitude (Plat) = 86.2° S. We show by means of probability plots and formal testing procedures that a Fisher distribution with a concentration parameter K = 65 satisfactorily fits the distribution of virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs). The PP obtained in this study agrees reasonably well with coeval pole positions, in particular with those obtained from the Central Paraná Magmatic Province in Brazil, Los Adobes, and Misiones in Argentina. However, some other similar age PPs show significant departure that may be attributed to local tectonic rotations or insufficient sampling needed to overcome the PSV. This new PP differs slightly from the reference poles at 135 Ma for South America given by Besse and Courtillot (2002; Apparent and true polar wander and the geometry of the magnetic field in the last 200 million years: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 107, no. B11, p. 2300). The PSV parameters are in agreement with those obtained from selected data reported for the Cretaceous Normal Superchron (CNS). In contrast, VGP angular dispersion found here is lower with respect to the Jurassic and Plio-Pleistocene data. The intermediate VGPs determined in the present geographical frame show a northern hemisphere cluster of seven VGPs located east of India, whereas one other VGP is located in the vicinity of Australia. Fil: Goguitchaichvili, Avto. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Instituto de Geofísica; México Fil: Cervantes Solano, Miguel. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Instituto de Geofísica; México Fil: Camps, Pierre. Université Montpellier II; Francia Fil: Bettucci Sanchez, Leda. Universidad de la República; Uruguay Fil: Mena, Mabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología. Instituto de Geofísica "Daniel Valencio"; Argentina Fil: Trindade, Ricardo. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: Aguilar Reyes, Bertha. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Instituto de Geofísica; México Fil: Morales, Juan. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Instituto de Geofísica; México Fil: López Loera, Héctor. Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica A.C. ; México

The Arroyo del Soldado Group of Uruguay is a key unit for unraveling several, still unsolved cardinal problems in Neoproterozoic research. Thus, we welcome in principle publications contributing to our knowledge of this and other units. Regarding Aubet et al.'s (2012) paper, we contest their age assumptions and chemostratigraphic inferences and thereby call into question the core message of the paper. Moreover, we also show below that it does not make proper acknowledgement of sources. Fil: Gaucher, Claudio. Universidad de la República; Uruguay Fil: Sial, Alcides N.. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; Brasil Fil: Frei, Robert. Universidad de Copenhagen; Dinamarca Fil: Sprechmann, Peter. Universidad de la República; Uruguay Fil: Bossi, Jorge. Universidad de la República; Uruguay Fil: Poire, Daniel Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas; Argentina Fil: Blanco, Gonzalo. Cementos Artigas; Uruguay Fil: Bettucci Sanchez, Leda. Universidad de la República; Uruguay

Pecoits et al. (Reports, 29 June 2012, p. 1693) describe bilaterian trace fossils and assign them an Ediacaran age based on the age of a granite interpreted as intrusive. We argue that the granite is not intrusive but in fact represents the basement of the sedimentary succession. Moreover, we show that identical trace fossils occur in nearby Carboniferous-Permian glacigenic rocks., Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas

The Punta del Este Terrane (eastern Uruguay) lies in a complex Neoproterozoic (Brasiliano/Pan-African) orogenic zone considered to contain a suture between South American terranes to the west of Major Gercino–Sierra Ballena Suture Zone and eastern African affinities terranes. Zircon cores from Punta del Este Terrane basement orthogneisses have U–Pb ages of ca. 1,000 Ma, which indicate an lineage with the Namaqua Belt in Southwestern Africa. U–Pb zircon ages also provide the following information on the Punta del Este terrane: the orthogneisses containing the ca. 1,000 Ma inheritance formed at ca. 750 Ma; in contrast to the related terranes now in Africa, reworking of the Punta del Este Terrane during Brasiliano/Pan-African orogenesis was very intense, reaching granulite facies at ca. 640 Ma. The termination of the Brasiliano/Pan-African orogeny is marked by formation of acid volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks at ca. 570 Ma (Sierra de Aguirre Formation), formation of late sedimentary basins (San Carlos Formation) and then intrusion at ca. 535 Ma of post-tectonic granitoids (Santa Teresa and Jose Ignacio batholiths). The Punta del Este Terrane and unrelated western terranes represented by the Dom Feliciano Belt and the Rio de La Plata Craton were in their present positions by ca. 535 Ma.

[1] Thellier paleointensity experiments are carried out on the Early Cretaceous Arapey Formation, which belongs to the Parana Magmatic Province (PMP) in northern Uruguay. Twenty-seven samples out of 225 analyzed yield reliable absolute intensity determinations. For these samples the NRM fraction f used for determination ranges between 0.33 to 0.83 and the quality factor q ranges from 4.5 to 14.1, being generally greater than 5. The flow-mean paleointensity values obtained in this study range from 16.3 ± 2.3 to 41.5 ± 3.8 μT, with corresponding virtual dipole moments (VDMs) from 3.4 ± 0.6 to 8.2 ± 0.8 (1022 Am2). This corresponds to mean VDM value of 6.4 ± 2.3 × 1022 Am2. 40Ar/39Ar dating on the PMP sequence by Feraud et al. (1999) gave a mean age of 132.2 ± 0.5 Ma. Our results in conjunction with previous studies (Kosterov et al., 1998; Goguitchaichvili et al., 2002) suggest that the paleostrength during the early Cretaceous might be as variable and strong as Brunhes data and not anomalously low as previously suggested. The scatter observed in our study is similar to recent findings by Granot et al. (2007) for the Troodos Ophiolite.

The southern sector of Uruguay was intruded by numerous granitic plutons during the Brasiliano Cycle. The granites and granodiorites of the Carapé Complex comprise a large part of the Neoproterozoic terrain exposed in southern Uruguay. Typological and age relationships show that the characteristic of the granitic rocks changed during the Brasiliano Cycle. Four groups of granitoids can be distinguished according to their emplacement. The first group corresponds to the Campanero Unit, interpreted as a pre-Brasiliano basement, which includes mainly preorogenic granites. The second group, Pan de Azúcar and related granitoids, includes synorogenic granites and granodiorites. The third granitoid group, Dos Hermanos Granite and related plutons, is classified as late- to postorogenic granites. Finally, the fourth group, consisting of the Águila Granite and related plutons, is represented by alkaline amphibole-biotite granites and are considered as post-collisional alkaline granites, which we assign to an extensional event associated with post-collisional slab-break off marking the end of the late Proterozoic Brasiliano orogenic cycle. Most of the granitic plutons in this area (2,300 km2) are relatively well exposed and have well-defined intrusive relationships with the metamorphic country-rocks. These granitic rocks are the result of successive magma pulses from similar magma chambers through the late Proterozoic to early Paleozoic times. Fil: Bettucci Sanchez, Leda. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; Uruguay Fil: Oyhantçabal, Pedro. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; Uruguay Fil: Page, Stella. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología. Laboratorio de Tectónica Andina; Argentina Fil: Ramos, Victor Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología. Laboratorio de Tectónica Andina; Argentina

Pecoits et al . (2010) question the stratigraphic and glacigenic origins of a tiny section of the Zanja del Tigre Formation that constitutes the least well-constrained of all confirmed and suspected glacial deposits in the Rio de La Plata craton (Pazos et al . 2008, 2010). Pecoits et al . assert that in the ‘latest compilations of the geology of Uruguay' the Zanja del Tigre Formation is part of the Carape Group and not …

A sedimentary succession included in the lower section of the Playa Hermosa Formation from the Playa Verde Basin, Uruguay, is described. Two facies associations, one mainly coarse- to medium-grained and other one fine-grained, have been defined (FA I-II). In the first one, breccias, conglomerates, sandstones and minor mudstones were deposited in a subaqueous depositional setting (proximal) suggesting slope instability and resedimentation processes. The second one contains diamictites, rhythmites, sandstones and mudstones and presents abundant evidence of soft-deformation, also interpreted to be deposited in a subaqueous environment (distal). Dropstones, clast layers, diamictites, rhythmites and varve-like deposits are interpreted as ice rafting processes generated during a glacial episode. This glacial-related succession constitutes the first record from the Varanger glaciation at the Rio de la Plata Craton of the late Neoproterozoic age and also represents one of the oldest sedimentary records after the collision of the Rio de la Plata and Kalahari Cratons. A combined interaction of extensional faulting and glaciation in a tectonically active basin with locally high subsidence rates, resulted in high rates of sedimentation and resedimentation processes. As a whole, the sedimentary succession sets a relevant datum to be used in future paleogeographic reconstructions of the Vendian glacial record in southern South America.

The Lavalleja Group is located in the southern extreme of the Dom Feliciano Belt, being tentatively correlated with the Porongos and Brusque Groups of Brazil. The basement of the Lavalleja Group is probably represented by granitic-gneissic rocks of the Campanero Unit with ages, in the southern portion, ranging from 1.75 to 2.1 Ga (U-Pb in zircon). The Lavalleja Group is characterized by narrow bands of metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks and it is separated in three formations, namely (from base to top): Zanja del Tigre, Fuente del Puma and Minas. Outcrops assigned to the Minas Formation have been recently correlated with the Arroyo del Soldado Group. Only the Fuente del Puma formation hosts base metals, Au and Ag ocurrences. The Fuente del Puma formation is divided into three informal units: sedimentary, volcanic and hornblenditic gabbros. The sedimentary unit is characterized by an important amount of carbonates. Syn-collisional to post-tectonic granitic bodies (Carape Complex) intrudes the Lavalleja Group and the Campanero Unit. Several mineralizations are located in the Fuente del Puma Formation, those associated to Arrospide, Ramallo-Reus, Chape, Valencia, La Oriental, Apolonia, Redondo Hill, La China and La Paloma mines are the most important. In addition, many ocurrences of Cu-Zn-Pb were recognized in the region. The Cu-Zn-Pb mineralization includes massive sulfides with pyrite-chalcopyrite-sphalerite-galena-pyrrothyte, arsenopyrite-hematite into small bodies with lenticular shape. The host rock shows frequently hydrothermal alteration. The geochemistry and the geological features of the mineralizations suggest Besshi Massive Sulphide Zn-Cu-Pb and SEDEX Zn-Pb as most probably genetic models for the deposits related to the Neoproterozoic orogeny. Early mineralizations are syngenetic and were formed on the sea floor, although the main mineralizations are related to remobilization during syn- to late-metamorphic events and thrusting.

The Lavalleja Group exposed along the Dom Feliciano orogenic belt is located in the southeast of Uruguay. This group consists of volcano-sedimentary rocks, developed during the Neoproterozoic Brasiliano cycle. The geochemical signature of the igneous rocks of the Lavalleja Group, mainly metagabbros and basic and acidic metavolcanic rocks, indicates a back-arc basin tectonic setting. The metamorphic grade increases to the southeast, from very low grade, lower green-schist facies, in the Minas Formation, to a medium grade, amphibolite facies, in Fuente del Puma and Zanja del Tigre Formations. The metamorphic mineral assemblages correspond to a low-pressure regional metamorphism associated with a high thermal gradient. A compressive deformational event that probably corresponds to the closure of the Lavalleja basin during a continental collision, was recognized. The petrology, geochemistry, metamorphic grade, and tectonic setting are consistent with a back-arc basin setting for the Lavalleja Group.