Brazil-Africa geological links

Abstract

In this work, the main evidence and conclusions regarding geological links between Brazil and Africa are summarized, with emphasis on the geochronological aspects. Taking into account the geographical position, as well as the similarities in the geochronological pattern, the following main provinces of the two continents are correlated : (1) The Imataca and Falawatra complexes in the Guayana Shield and the Liberian Province of West Africa. (2) The Paraguay--Araguaia and the Rockelide Fold Belts. (3) The S~o Luiz and the West African cratonic areas. (4) The Caririan Fold Belt of northeastern Brazil and the Pan-Africa Belt of Nigeria and Cameroon. (5) The Jequi~ Complex of Bahia, the Ntem Complex of Cameroon and similar rocks of Gabon and Angola. (6) The Ribeira Fold Belt in Brazil and the West Congo and Damara Belts in West and South Africa. In addition, other geological links are considered, such as some of the major linear fault zones which can be traced across the margins of South America and Africa, in the pre-drift reconstructions. Correlations are also made of the tectonic and stratigraphic evolution of the Paran~i and Karroo syneclises, and the Brazilian and African marginal basins around the South Atlantic, during their initial stages. Finally, several similarities in the tectonic evolution of South America and Africa, during and after the onset of drifting, are shown to be compatible with a recent origin for the South Atlantic floor, as required by sea-floor spreading and continental drift between South America and Africa.