Current works

"Tracing the onset and evolution of plate tectonics with rutile".

The earth is the only planet in the Solar System that is characterized by an active plate tectonic regime, that is responsible for cyclic supercontinent formation and played a major role in the atmosphere oxygenation, the addition of nutrients to the ocean and produced resources that supported the biosphere. There is still no consensus about the age that plate tectonics was fully operational in the geological community, generating discussions if it was fully operational in the Archean or if it only developed in the Paleoproterozoic. To constrains the earliest plate tectonic regime, the metamorphic record is widely used to interpret the age and conditions of the early plate tectonic regime, since the hallmark of modern plate tectonics resides in the paired, high and low T/P metamorphic conditions. To address the issue of when plate tectonics was fully operational, this project aims to analyze rutile, a Ti phase stable in high/ultra-high pressures that form during subduction and deep-crustal metamorphism. Rutile is being recently used as a new proxy to track the existence of low T/P and paired metamorphism as it has the potential to constrain its crystallization temperature (Zr-in-rutile thermometer) and U-Pb ages of individual rutile grains. Considering this discussion, this research project aims to find whether there is any change in the T/P distribution of rutile from the Archean (Superior Province, Ontario and Quebec, Canada) to the Paleoproterozoic (São Francisco Craton, Brazil and West African Craton, Man Shield, Ghana, Africa), to identify the earliest evidence of modern plate tectonic regime through geochemical and U-Pb geochronology of rutile.

Funded by São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) - grant number 2022/06156-1.

People involved:
- Prof. Dr. George Luiz Luvizotto, São Paulo State University (UNESP).
- Prof. Dr. Fabrício de Andrade Caxito, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG).
- Prof. Dr. Alex Joaquim Choupina Andrade Silva, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM).
- Prof. Dr. Claudio Riccomini, University of São Paulo (USP).
- Prof. Dr. Renato de Moraes, University of São Paulo (USP).
- Prof. Dr. Christopher Spencer, Queen's University, Canada.

Main methods:
- U-Pb dating of rutile (LA-ICP-MS);
- Systematic rutile trace element analysis (Electron Probe Microanalyzer - EPMA).

"Geochronology and provenance from the lower successions of the Parnaíba, Araripe, Jatobá and Tucano Norte basins: implications on the origin of Western Gondwana intracratonic basins".

The fluvial systems of Ipu Formation (base of Parnaíba Basin) were sourced by the mountainous regions from the Brasiliano orogenic cycle located at the south/southeastern part of Borborema Province, and flowed towards the NW marine environments of Western Gondwana, in a ramp-like tilted terrain. In this complex paleogeographical context, the Cariri and Tacaratu formation are missing pieces, once they also present similar sedimentary and paleocurrent characteristics. This post-doctoral project aims, using modern geochronological and sedimentary provenance methods together with facies and paleocurrents analysis, to build a paleogeographical and depositional scenario for the Ipu, Cariri and Tacaratu formations, deposited in the SW Gondwana. Thus, this project aims to fill an important historical gap regarding the correlation of these units, precursors of the northeastern Brazilian basins, and also deepen the knowledge about the genesis, sedimentation and paleogeography of the initial cratonic basins sedimentary deposits of SW Gondwana.

Post-doctoral fellowship.
Funded by São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) - grant number 2020/10739-7.

People involved:
- Prof. Dr. Lucas V. Warren, São Paulo State University (UNESP).
- Prof. Dr. Mario L. Assine, São Paulo State University (UNESP).
- Prof. Dr. George Luiz Luvizotto, São Paulo State University (UNESP).
- Prof. Dr. Christopher Spencer, Queen's University, Canada.

Main methods:
- U-Pb dating of detrital zircon and rutile (LA-ICP-MS);
- Systematic rutile trace element analysis (Electron Probe Microanalyzer - EPMA).

"Jaibaras tectonossequence genesis (Ediacaran - Ordovician) and its inheritance in the sedimentation of Serra Grande sequence (Ordovician - Silurian), Northeast border of Parnaíba Basin".

The premise that intracratonic basins evolve from initial rifting processes following thermal or flexural subsidence is widespread in the geologic sciences and to this day remains a topic of intense debate. Seeking to test this hypothesis, we proceeded a novel zircon U-Pb geochronology, provenance (rutile trace elements) and sedimentological analysis aiming to identify differences (and/or similarities) in the sedimentary signal and source areas between the rift to sag sequences deposited during the final stages of the SW Gondwana consolidation. Thus, in this contribution we performed these analyses from the top of the Ediacaran Jaibaras Basin (Aprazível Formation) and the basal unit of Parnaíba Basin (Ipu Formation, Ordovician), obtaining new ages and insights for the huge intracratonic Parnaíba Basin evolution.

PhD thesis.
Funded by São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) - grant number 2017/19550-1.

People involved:
- Prof. Dr. Lucas V. Warren (advisor), São Paulo State University (UNESP).
- Prof. Dr. Mario L. Assine (co-advisor), São Paulo State University (UNESP).

Main methods:
- U-Pb dating of detrital zircon (LA-ICP-MS);
- Systematic rutile trace element analysis (Electron Probe Microanalyzer - EPMA).