The Caldas Novas dome, central Brazil : structural evolution and implications for the evolution of the Neoproterozoic Brasilia belt

Abstract

The Caldas Novas dome (Goiaas state, central Brazil) lies in the southern segment of the Neoproterozoic Brasilia belt (center of the Tocantins Province) between the Goias magmatic arc and the margin of the ancient Sao Francisco plate. The core of the dome comprises rocks of the Meso-Neoproterozoic Paranoa group (passive margin psamitic-pelitic sediments and subgreenschist facies) covered by a nappe of the Neoproterozoic Araxa group (backarc basin pelitic-psamitic sediments and volcanics of greenschist facies, bitotite zone). Hot underground waters that emerge along fractures in the Paranoa quartzite and wells in the Araxa schist have made the Caldas Novas dome an international tourist attraction. A recent detailed structural analysis demonstrates that the dome area was affected by a D₁D₃ Brasiliano cycle progressive deformation in the — 750-600 Ma interval (published U-Pb and Sm-Nd data). During event D₁, a pervasive layer- parallel foliation developed coeval the regional metamorphism. Event D₂ (intense F₂ isoclinal folding) was responsible for the emplacement of the nappe. D₁ and D₂ record a regime of simple shear (top-to-SE relative regional movement) due to a WNW-ESE subhorizontal compression (a1). Event D₃ records a WSW-ENE compression, during which the dome rose as a large-scale F₃ fold, possibly associated with a duplex structure at depth. During the dome’s uplift, the layers slid back and down in all directions, giving way to gravity-slide folds and an extensional crenulation cleavage. A set of brittle fractures and quartz veins constitutes the record of a late-stage D₄ event important for understanding the thermal water reservoir.