MID-EVENT FIELD TRIP

SÃO PAULO BASIN

Hosts: Mauricio G.M. Santos (UFABC) and Renato Henrique-Pinto (USP)

Maximum number of people: 15.

Minimum number of people: 5.

Suggested price: R$ 300.00

The geology of the city of São Paulo is mostly characterised by the sediments of the Cenozoic São Paulo Basin, an intra-horst basin which preserves >300 m of alluvialdeposits. The basin was filled by meandering rivers and lacustrine deposition, with sediments which are typically argillaceous and sandy. Some horizons of these depositsare characterized by limonitic cementation that resulted in prominent duricrusts which were explored back in the 17th century for what is considered the first iron mill of theAmericas. These sediments also preserve abundant examples of soft-sediment deformation structures, including folds, vents, and clastic dykes. This fieldtrip will visitkey outcrops of the São Paulo Basin deposits exposed in the downtown area of the city, particularly the fluviatile São Paulo Formation. This is an experience in urban geology, so the outcrops are limited in area but can still offer interesting information on the palaeoenvironments of the region during the Cenozoic.