GEOLOGIA E EVOLUÇÃO DO SISTEMA DE BACIAS TAFROGÊNICAS CONTINENTAIS DO SUDESTE DO BRASIL

The Sao Paulo, Taubate, Resende and Volta Redonda basins are fil1ed by similar continental sedimentary sequences. These sequences include a basal rudaceous facies which grades to the top and laterally to a f1uviatil facies; only at the Taubate basin a lower lacustrine facies is present. Palinologic and K-Ar datings of ankaramitic flows indicated the Upper Eocene age of the sequences. The basins are hemi-grabens and small faults cutting the sediments are observed. The normal, reverse and strike-slip faults may be related to a regional deformation system with principal NNW-SSE elongation, vertical shortening and ENE-WSW intermediate axis. This deformation may be related to a crustal extension regime or a horizontal dextral displacement. The development of the basins has been linked to the late stage of the Atlantic opening, but intraplate processes are not to be discarded.