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Exposed within the reworked basement of the Aracuai orogen, eastern Brazil, the Pedro Pereira metavolcanosedimentary sequence (PPMS) comprises a lower unit dominated by metaultramafic/mafic rocks, an intermediate unit dominated by metarhyolites and a predominant upper unit of acid metavolcanites associated with chemical and clastic metasedimentary rocks. This sequence has been defined and investigated in the ’80s when it was considered as a Mesoarchean greenstone belt. Since then, few studies have addressed these rocks, and due to the lack of reliable geochronological data, a Paleoproterozoic age has also been suggested for the sequence. To reevaluate the age and evolution of the unit, new whole-rock geochemical and zircon U–Pb (LA-ICPMS) geochronologic data were obtained for the iron formation and acid metavolcanic rocks, respectively. When normalized to post-Archean Australian Shale standard, BIF samples can be divided into three groups. Group 1 BIF samples are marked by significant enrichment of the LREE, very high ∑ REE + Y, positive La anomaly, extreme negative Ce anomaly, negative Eu anomaly, and subchondritic Y/Ho ratio. In contrast, Group 2 BIFs are marked by the enrichment of HREE, low ∑ REE + Y, positive La anomaly, negative Eu anomaly, slight negative Ce anomaly, and predominantly super- and subchondritic Y/Ho ratios. The massive iron formation (MIF) group shows very high middle-to-heavy REE + Y enrichment, strong negative Ce anomaly, negative Eu anomaly, very high ∑ REE + Y, and variable Y/Ho ratios. The modification of the iron formation by post-depositional hydrothermal alteration might have disturbed the original basin water signature. However, Group 2 is more compatible with pure chemical precipitates and its slight negative anomalies suggest an oxic environment. A PPMS metarhyolite from the upper portion of the sequence interlayered with the BIFs yielded the Concordia Age of 2771 ± 8.4 Ma. This age rules out a Paleoproterozoic origin for the PPMS, as suggested/considered by recent papers. The results imply that PPMS possibly represents one of the oldest records of oxygenation previous to the GOE in the geologic archives and could provide information to understand the early evolution of localized pockets of oxygen before the Great Oxidation Event.

The Sao Francisco paleocontinent comprises Archean nuclei and Paleoproterozoic magmatic arcs which were amalgamated during Siderian to Orosirian thermal-tectonic events (ca. 2.4–2.0 Ga). Located in the Porteirinha domain, one of these Archean segments, the Riacho dos Machados metavolcanosedimentary sequence encompasses metamafites and metaultramafites intercalated with metasedimentary rocks. The metamafites clustered in the Type I category are tholeiitic, present MORB-like affinities and flat REE patterns with enrichment in La, Rb, and Cs. The metamafites from Type II are calc-alkaline, showing arc signatures with enrichment in LILE (Cs, Ba, U, Rb, K) and LREE, and depletion in the HFSE. The associated metaultramafites were classified as high-Mg ultramafic rocks similar to Barberton-Type komatiites, with enrichment in LILE and LREE, Al2O3/TiO2 1. U–Pb (LA–SF–ICP-MS) zircon analyses were carried out on the Type II hornblendite, unraveling a concordant crystallization age of 2071 ± 9 Ma. Inherited zircons yield a discordant age of 2922 ± 22 Ma and a lower intercept at 473 ± 48 Ma. The hybrid magmatism of the studied metamafites coupled with the inherited zircon grains, indicate that this metavolcanosedimentary sequence was developed in an intra-continental back-arc basin. The rocks from Type I have been originated from MORB-like source with a slightly input of subduction-derived fluids. In its turn, Type II samples represent melts more influenced by the fluids from the dehydrated slab. This assumption implies that the Sao Francisco paleocontinent, in the region of the Porteirinha block and surroundings, were under an accretionary stage at the late Rhyacian. During this orogenic process the metamorphic PT conditions reached lower-amphibolite facies. Moreover, this thermal-tectonic event in likely responsible for the auriferous fluid percolation of the Riacho dos Machados Gold Mine.

Fatias de rochas compreendendo granitóides, gnaisses bandados, anfibolitos, quartzitos e metapelitos formam um sistema imbricado situado na porção oeste do Lineamento Patos (Província Borborema, NE do Brasil). A estrutura situada no sul do estado do Ceará, inserida no Bloco Assaré, nesse momento ainda carece de estudos geológicos que permitam a sua melhor compreensão. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de trazer novos dados geocronológicos e estruturais para acrescentar no entendimento do duplex transcorrente. Datações de rochas situadas no interior das escamas imbricadas em zircões (U-Pb) via LA-ICP-MS indicam que o duplexé constituído por unidades (escamas) de idades diferentes. Gnaisses bandados, diques de anfibolito e metaultramáficas da unidade Granjeiro forneceram idades arqueanas (gnaisses: c. 2.8 Ga, LM10; c. 3.2 Ga, LM3; dique: c. 3.0 Ga, LM2). Idades siderianas e riacianas foram encontradas em gnaisses e anfibolitos a oeste de Cajazeiras (c. 2.4 Ga, LM1; c.2.4, LM13) e em augen gnaisses a sul de Cedro (c. 2.2 Ga, LM11), respectivamente. Essas sequencias do embasamento encontram-se em contato alóctone com metapelitos e quartzitos agrupados na Formação neoproterozoica Lavras da Mangabeira. Critérios cinemáticos derivados doestudo das microestruturas e das tramas cristalográficas de milonitos ricos em quartzo mostram que a sequência metassedimentar foi empurrada para nordeste. Eixos-c e eixos- de quartzo indicam a ativação de sistemas de deslizamento de alta temperatura durante o desenvolvimento da trama. Estimativas de temperaturas baseadas na abertura de ângulo da trama de eixos-c e em contatos suturados entre grãos de quartzo indicam que a deformação dúctil ocorreu entre 500 e 700 °C. A formação do duplex transcorrente, que constitui uma estrutura única na Província Borborema, possivelmente foi facilitada pela presença de rochas arqueanas que provavelmente se comportaram de forma mais rígida durante a deformação facilitando o cavalgamento oblíquo dos conjuntos litológicos. O arranjo estrutural das fatias imbricadas é portanto consistente com um duplextranscorrente compressivo induzido pela deformação cisalhante destral. Slices of metaplutonic rocks, banded gneiss, amphibolites and metasedimentary sequences form a strike-slip duplex situated in the west portion of the Patos Lineament (Borborema Province, Northeastern Brazil). U-Pb (LA-ICP-MS) data in zircons from the imbricate slices indicate they are constituted by rocks of different ages. Banded gneiss, orthogneisses and metaultramafic dikes assembled in the Granjeiro Complex yielded Archean ages between 2.8 and 3.2 Ga. In contrast, biotite gneisses and amphibolites produced a Siderian (ca. 2.4 Ga) age and an augen gneiss apparently intrusive in the Siderian sequences yielded a Rhyacian (ca. 2.2 Ga) age. These basement sequences are in allochtonous contact with metapelites and quartzites grouped in the Lavras da Mangabeira Formation of Neoprotrozoic age. Kinematic criteria deduced from the study of the microstructures and crystallographic fabric of quartz-rich mylonites show that the metasedimentary sequence was thrusted to the northeast direction. Crystalligraphic c- and a- axis of quartz indicated that medium- to high temperature slip-systems were active during the fabric development. Temperature estimations based on the opening-angle of the c-axis fabric and the sutured contacts between quartz-quartz grains indicated that the ductile deformation occurred at 500 and 700°C. The development of the tectonic duplex was likely facilitated by the occurrence of Archean rocks involved in the shear deformation. They would have acted as a rigid (competent) material that induce the stacking of the sequences during the bulk dextral transcurrent deformation of the Patos Lineament.