CENOMANIAN-CONIACIAN MICROFACIES IN THE SERGIPE BASIN, BRASIL

Pierre-Yves Berthou
Peter Bengtson

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Microfacies study of outcrop from the CenomanianConiacian Cotinguiba Limestone

Formation of the Sergipe Basin

in northeastern Brazil were carried out, in order to complement

the existing stratigraphical framework based essentially
ammonites. Material from 604 localities
278 had been dated using ammonites

was available

and/or

on

(of which

inoceramids).

Microfacies analysis was shown to be useful in most case for

dating down to stage or even substage
of microfacies were recognized,
lower

Turonian~

level. Four main groups

~orresponding

to the Cenomanian,

upper Turonian and Coniacian, respectively. The

microfacies types recognized are briefly described and figured.

The presence in most of the samples of Calcisphaerulidae,
in particular Pithonella, indicates that deposition took place in
the outer shelf region. This is in accordance with

current

concepts of the Cotinguiba limestones as open marine deposits.

The microfacies point to a "polarity" in the basin. Thus,
macrofaunal debris decreases from northeast to southwest, for all
stratigraphical stages. The littoral zone lies in a northearly
direction, and at a certain distance from the central parts of
the Basin.
The sequence seems to be characterized by cyclic
abundance of macrofaunal debris brought by currents from the
littoral zone and produced by the reworking of previously
deposited material. This is the case for the Cenomanian which
locally contains Albian oncoliths. Each stage seems to contain
coarse material at the base and lower-energy deposits above. A
conspicuous feature is the frequent silicification of fossil
fragments. This is probably related to the proximity of the
expanding Atlantic Ocean floor during this geological interval.

Universie P. & M. Curie, Laboratoire de Geologie des Bassins

Sedimentaires et L.A.319, tours 14-15, 4e etage, 4

place

Jussieu, F-75230 Paris Cedex 5, France

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Paleontologiska museet, Box 558, S-751 22 Uppsala, Sweden

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