Earth-Science Reviews, 17 (1981) 87--107 87

Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam -- Printed in The Netherlands

The Brazilian Continental Margin

L.R. MARTINS 1 and P.N. COUTINHO 2

1 Centro Estudos Costeiros Oceanogrdficos, Instituto Geoci~ncias, Universidade Federal
do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS (Brazil)
2 Dept. Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE (Brazil)

ABSTRACT

Martins, L.R. and Coutinho, P.N., 1981. The Brazilian continental margin. Earth-Sci.
Rev., 17: 87--107.

The Brazilian continental margin, with its interesting morphology, structure and sedi-
ments, has become better k n o w n only during the last two decades.
Six physiographical provinces can be recognized at the continental margin and the
adjacent coast: (1) Cabo Orange--Parnaiba delta; (2) Parnaiba delta--Cabo S~o Roque; (3)
Cabo S~o Roque--Belmonte; (4) Belmonte--Cabo Frio; (5) Cabo Frio--Cabo Santa Marta;
and (6) Cabo Santa Marta--Chui.
The shelf is rather wide near the A m a z o n Mouth, becoming narrower eastwards, con-
tinuing very narrow along the northeastern and eastern coast, and becoming wider again
in the south towards the Plate River. Prominent morphological features along the margin
are the A m a z o n cone, the marginal plateaus off northeastern Brazil, the S~o Francisco
cone and canyon, the Abrolhos Bank, and the deep-sea plateaus of Pernambuco and S~o
Paulo. O n the shelf proper a number of relief elements exist, such as sand waves east of
the Amazon, submarine terraces at various places, and irregularities of structural origin.
The shelf break is rather smooth in the far north and sodth, more abrupt in the
remainder.
Surface sediments of the Brazilian shelf show five distinct facies types: littoral quartz
sands, mud, transition sand--mud, coralline algae, and biodetrital. The terrigenous clastic
fractions dominate off the A m a z o n and in southern Brazil; between these areas they
occupy a very narrow strip near the coast. The carbonate facies, predominantly composed
of calcareous algae, is abundant between the Parnaiba delta and Cabo Frio; to the south
this facies is more biodetrital and restricted to the outer shelf.
Economically important on the BrazUian continental margin besides oil,are sands and
gravels, carbonate deposits, evaporites and some subsurface coal. Other possible mineral
resources could be phosphate, heavy minerals and clays for ceramics.

GEOMORPHOLOGY

The Brazilian continental margin shows a number of characteristic physio-

graphical features closely related to the morphostructural units of the con-
tinent. It can be classified as of the stable Atlantic type, subject only to
epeirogenetic movements.

0012-8252/81/0000---0000/$05.25 ©1981 Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company

88

A series of sedimentary basins, established since the Late Jurassic and

filled with Cretaceous and Cenozoic sediments, represent the sites of major
sedimentary progradation (Mabesoon e et al., this volume).
The characteristics of the surface sediments have been described by
various researchers (Martins et al., 1967; Zembruscki, 1967, 1968; Coutinho
and Moraes, 1968; Barretto and Milliman, 1969; Mabesoone and Coutinho,
1970; Mabesoone, 1971; Zembruscki et al., 1971, 1972; MiUiman et al.,
1972; Urien et al., 1973; MiUiman and Summerhayes, 1975).

GEOMORPHOLOGICAL ASPECTS

The first bathymetric investigations provided only a vague idea of the

morphology of the Brazilian continental margin. Zembruscki et al. (1972)
defined various topographical provinces and inferred some genetic relations
between certain provinces of this margin. A series of bathymetric maps
better defining the physiographical features has been presented by Zem-
bruscki and Franqa (1976). Martins et al. (1975) recognized the following six
physiographical provinces from south to north: (1) Cabo Orange--Parnaiba
delta; (2) Parnaiba delta--Cabo S~o Roque; (3) Cabo S~o Roque--Belmonte;
(4) Belmonte--Cabo Frio; (5) Cabo Frio--Cabo Santa Marta; and (6) Cabo
Santa Marta--Chui.

Cabo Orange--Parnaiba delta

In this region two major sedimentary basins occur, the Amazonas and the
Piaui--Maranh~o (Parnaiba), both of which have been filled in Paleozoic
times and later reactivated in response to continental rifting during the Late
Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. The Piaui--Maranh~o Basin has at its northern
flank two smaller and younger basins, S~o Luiz and Barreirinhas (Mabesoone
et al., this volume).
The region corresponds to the Amazonian or Equatorial coast of Silveira
(1964), and due to its shaping, dynamic marine conditions and differences
in precipitation, it can be divided into three parts.
The first part, between the Amazon River mouth and the Guyanas, is a
low-lying coast with a smooth coastline, probably the result of accretion by
Amazon sedimentation. The second part is the so-called Amazon Gulf, with
an extremely unstable coastline due to influence of waves, tidal and coastal
currents and river runoff. The third part corresponds to the eastern Ama-
zonian coast, characterized by a great number of small estuaries bordered by
low cliffs, now in full retreat. Mangrove swamps occur at some protected
places, helping to accentuate the irregularity of the coastline. The sandy
nature of the coast east of the S~o Marcos Bay favours the formation of sand
dunes and beaches, resulting in a rather smooth coastline.
The shelf is the widest one in Brazil, varying between 330 km off the
Amazon River and 100 km near the Parnaiba River mouth (Fig. 1). The
 89
~D

©
0

III i-II

r~

• r-" oE i

,i'1'
-- o=~
O~

•o oO oO oo

--.t ~
90

depth of the shelf-slope break ranges from 120 m off the Amazon to 80 m in
the extreme east of the area. Although the major part of the shelf is broad
and flat, a few features are n o t e w o r t h y . For instance, while the inner shelf
northwest of the Par~ River presents a flat surface 0 to 30 m in depth, built
up by present<lay Amazon sedimentation, the major part of the inner and
middle shelf east of the Par~ River is characterized by symmetrical and asym-
metrical sand waves, 5--10 m in amplitude and with average wavelengths
between 100 and 500 m. The outer shelf and the upper slope are incised by
numerous gullies and canyons, with those of the Amazon and the Saldanha
being the most important. Probably these features represent a Pleistocene
fluvial system n o t buried by subsequent Holocene sedimentation.
The most prominent feature of this region is the Amazon Cone, one of the
largest deep-sea fans in the world. In spite of its great sediment thickness the
cone is a y o u n g feature, estimated to be 22 m.y. old (Early Miocene). This
means that no great quantities of terrigenous sediment were supplied to the
outer shelf before the Early Miocene, this material probably remaining until
t h a t ~time behind barriers located at the edge of the present<lay shelf.
The Amazon Cone causes a discontinuity in the continental slope of the
region, which is rather narrow (maximum width of 45 km) and is cut by
various valleys and canyons.
Actually, delta and cone are separated due to the sea-level rise, which
covered the Amazon and Maranh~o plains, although the presence of palaeo-
channels and a system of abandoned canyons can be observed. These palaeo-
channels permit a reconstruction of the coastal retreat in response to the last
rise of sea level.
The marked widening of the Amazon shelf is partially due to the sedimen-
tation of the Amazon system with its complex of deltas and estuaries.
Among other features, one may observe buried channels normal to the
shelf-break zone, beach ridges, and marine terraces with a smooth surface.
Thus, due to the voluminous recent sedimentation, there is almost no real
shelf break, but a gradual transition from shelf to slope, with a few erosional
steps, between the depths of 145 and 220 m.
The f o o t of the continental slope appears as a well-defined feature on
both sides of the Amazon Cone, extending from the base of the slope to
depths of 3660 to 4000 m, with the North Brazilian Ridge as its outer limit.

Parnaiba delta--Cabo SSo Roque

From the Parnaiba delta up to Cabo S~o Roque, where it curves toward
the south, the coast is more or less straight, with a semi-arid climate and
rather high, moving coastal dunes, behind which lagoons and marshes are
c o m m o n . The environment is favourable for salt pans which produce the
major part of the salt consumed in Brazil.
In this region the shelf becomes considerably narrower, with a width of
about 30 km near Cabo S~o Roque; the shelf break starts at a depth of about
 91

80 m and decreases in the direction of northeastern Brazil where it m a y

attain depths of only 40 to 50 m (Fig. 1). The most important traces of the
continental terrace are the plateaus and marginal terraces off Cear~ and Rio
Grande do Notre states as well as a series of submarine seamounts parallel to
the continental margin, separated from the shelf b y a rather abrupt scarp.
The presence of small terraces and remainders of ancient reefs has not yet
been described.
Besides these features, the North Brazilian Ridge and the Fernando de
Noronha Ridge play an important role in the morphology and sedimentation
of the region. The first ridge was initially described b y Hayes and Ewing
(1970) as a continuous feature, probably of volcanic origin, extending along
the whole of the northern Brazilian shelf. Recently, Kumar et al. (1976)
showed this ridge to be discontinuous, with at least three segments consisting
of isolated seamounts. The North Brazilian Ridge acted as a sediment trap
until the beginning of the Early Miocene. The Fernando de Noronha Ridge is
a line of seamounts of which only Fernando de Noronha and Atol das
l%ocas reach the surface.
At the margin of the continental shelf, one m a y observe sedimentary
structures o f deltaic origin and zones of active abrasion formed during the
Pleistocene. These represent an important factor in the modelling of the
present form of the shelf and especially the upper slope where wave action
left traces of a series of steps d o w n to a depth of 150 m.

Cabo SSo Roque--Belmonte

From Cabo S~o R o q u e southward, the coast is characterized by Cenozoic

sediments of the Barreiras Group, of semi-arid type, constituting a surface
which abruptly terminates at the coast against rather steep cliffs. The most
remarkable features are, however, the sandstone "reefs" (beach rocks) which
occur in various lines parallel to the coast. These "reefs" form a certain pro-
tection for this coast.
The shelf of northeastern Brazil is typical for its reduced width and shal-
low depths when compared with other parts of the Brazilian submerged plat-
forms (Fig. 2). This reduced width seems to be related to the low continental
erosion rate and the small zone of marine sedimentation (Summerhayes et
al., 1976). The shallow depth is attributed, b y some authors, to inefficient
marine erosion processes during the Pleistocene, acting u p o n a narrow and
abrupt continental terrace, and to recent uplift. In addition there is the con-
stant presence o f the Brazil Current that is directed towards the southwest
parallel to the shelf.
The shelf width varies from 42 km o f f Macei5 to 8 km off Salvador, with
an average of 30 km. Its greater part has a depth of less than 40 m and its
edge occurs at 50--60 m. Nearly all bathymetric sections show multiple
breaks, corresponding to terraces at the shelf margin (Boyer, 1969).
The most important feature o f this region is the Pernambuco Plateau with
92
7

IS ,oo!
2100 ~

oooi
% PLATEAU
5 e

\
FRANCISCO 1400
CONE

2100~
"8

9 t0

ROYAL CHARLOTTE
BANK

DOCE R.

VITO~IA

~J
z
44
CABO ~a

70ij
I 400 i

o ioo zso $50 21 O0 ~

29001

Fig. 2. Precision bathymetric sections (PDR) and most important physiographic units of
the continental terrace between Cabo S~o Roque and Cabo Frio. The narrowness of the
northeastern shelf, the intermediate scarp between the shelf and the Pernambuco Plateau
(section 7), and the Royal Charlote and Abrolhos Banks with their abrupt borders caused
by their volcanic nuclei may be observed. (After Martins et al., 1975).

an irregular surface, composed of an upper level between 700 and 1250 m

and a lower terrace at 2 0 0 0 - - 2 4 0 0 m (Zembruscki et al., 1972).
The surface of the shelf bottom is somewhat irregular, cut by a net of nar-
row and shallow channels and has a typical erosional hummocky topography.
The hummocks are slightly rounded with reliefs of 2--6 m and diameters of
2 km; they are particularly visible at the middle shelf north of the S~o Fran-
cisco River mouth (Summerhayes et al., 1976).
 93

On the inner shelf the presence of lines of beach rock, often covered with
coralline algae, constitutes the chief topographical feature (Mabesoone and
Coutinho, 1970). F r o m the S~o Francisco River southward, the topography
of the inner and middle shelf becomes more regular, with disappearance of
the h u m m o c k s due to increased river contribution. But north o f this river
the shelf b o t t o m relief is more irregular with an erosional pre-Pleistocene
topography due to absence of important fluvial supply. Off the river proper,
its sediments form a cuspate delta with a morphology reflecting the predomi-
nant effects of high-energy waves (Bacoccoli, 1971; Coleman and Wright,
1972). The absence of relief irregularities on the outer shelf may point to the
fact that at present the reef-forming organisms are n o t active in this zone.
This m a y be because of unfavourable living conditions or because of exces-
sive turbidity produced by the biodetrital sediments with a high mud con-
tent present in the area.
From the Pernambuco Plateau southward to Belmonte, the continental
slope presents a few seamounts, and, within its relief, the canyons of S~o
Francisco, Japaratuba and Salvador. Typical are the abundant structural ter-
races b o u n d to a system of faults as well as to the presence of various slump
scars. The slope is generally very abrupt, with an average width of 30 km,
becoming locally narrower off the canyons.

Belmonte--Cabo Frio

This eastern coast (Silveira, 1964) is characterized by a great number of

beach ridges. The recent sedimentation in the area is abundant. More
towards the south, where the shelf becomes wider and flatter, there exist a
number of coral reefs, for instance the Abrolhos Bank.
In this portion of the coast the width of the shelf is very irregular due to
the development of extensive biogenic formations on t o p of banks of vol-
canic origin (Fig. 2). The shelf is unusually shallow, often less than 60 m
deep, with its edge at a depth of only 70 m.
The innermost shelf, above a depth of 20 m, is generally smooth due to
burial of the topography b y Holocene sedimentation. The b o t t o m surface of
the middle and outer shelf is rougher because of the many small banks and
steep-walled narrow channels which probably represent a Pleistocene drain-
age system (Melo et al., 1975).
On the shelf of this zone, the Doce and Paraiba do Sul river deltas devel-
oped; they are related, through almost buried channels, to a large embay-
m e n t south of the banks, called Espfrito Santo basin. Both deltas played an
important role on the prograding shelf border where deltaic fronts alternate
with submarine terraces at depths between 44 and 141 m.
The Abrolhos Bank, of great structural importance, lies at a distance of
a b o u t 120 km off the coast, with a width of 180 km and a surface area of
a b o u t 35,000 km 2. This bank of volcanic substratum presents a variable
physiography with reefs, canyons, marginal terraces and a wide lagoon
 94

o~
"C,

o'~
~0~

~'~ ~

N~ a

~ o o o ; b b 6 ~ b
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

O ~.,-

IJJ i i i
E 0 0 0
0 0 0
J

I,,.

E 6 6 c
0 0 0
C
• 0
,~j "i ~ .~-
Y

0 0 0 0
-- oJ

4' 0

~ 0.~

•~ . ~ ~

"r.

f
 95

surrounded b y pinnacles of dead corals and covered with biodetritic sedi-

ments. The Royal Charlote Bank extends for 95 km east of the coast, form-
ing a plateau a b o u t 46 km wide. Its t o p is fiat, with channels up to 30 m
deep. Other seamounts, such as the Vitoria and Besnard banks, also present
fiat tops at depths b e t w e e n 50 and 80 m. The coastal reefs are absent south
of the Abrolhos Archipelago.

Cabo Frio---Cabo Santa Marta

The shoreline of this region is characterized b y sandy beaches with inter-

mittent r o c k y headlands. Coastal lagoons b o u n d e d b y barrier ridge systems
are prominent o f f Cabo Frio. Another particular feature of the southeastern
region is the small area drained by the rivers. These are short and carry only
little suspended material, the major part of which is deposited in estuaries
and coastal lagoons.
From Cabo Frio towards the south the coastline is convex and the conti-
nental terrace begins to widen, forming various steps as well as the Santos
e m b a y m e n t as a response to the subsidence of the basement of the S~o Paulo
Plateau (Fig. 3). The shelf width in this region varies between 90 and 210
km; the break occurs at depths between 150 and 185 m, showing a smooth
dip and a more gradual transition at greater depths (sections 12 and 14 in
Fig. 3) that is different from the other zones. On the other hand, in the zone
with marginal terraces, the break is more prominent due to the presence of
a small scarp (section 15, Fig. 3).
In this region the features of the shelf are more m o d e m due to the fact
that the surface deposits, chiefly terrigenous, have been reworked during the
Holocene transgression. The presence of elongated banks parallel to the
bathymetric lines suggests the existence of ancient littoral zones. Superim-
posed on these banks are submarine dunes, the product of the reactivation of
the b o t t o m caused by the new hydraulic regime.
The continental slope is broad, with a weak relief and a gentle inclination,
suggesting the predominance of depositional processes. The same influence
of sedimentation on the morphology of the continental margin of this region
is observed at the f o o t of the continental slope which has a width of 300 km
o f f Cabo Frio, incrasing to 400 km southwards.
The most important morphological expression of the area is the S~o Paulo
Plateau, with a complex topography already described b y Butler (1970). The
plateau extends for some 200 km between the isobaths of 2000 and 3000 m
and it seems n o t to be limited b y a steep scarp at the ocean side as is sug-
gested by some authors. On the contrary, there exists a progressive transition
between the plateau and an almost flat continental rise, pierced by two large
seamounts (Mascle and Renard, 1976).
~o 5,oo 4,~o loo ¥o 3~o

•5°

TERRITORIO00
AMAPA S. PEORO-PAULO
O
0o

PAR~ R OGA S F. N O R O N N A
N AItANHAO ,/ I
PIAU(I t O
.5o
R-G.
O0 NORTE

PARAIOA
LITTORAL QUARTZ SAND
PERNA
MUD

TRANSiTiON SAND-MUD ,10 o

SERGIPE
] CORALLINE ALGAE
',,~
GIODETRITIG

BAHIA -15o

EG PI'R ITO SANTO

20 °

RIO DE J A N E f R O

SAD PAULO

25 °

I
i
RiO GRANOIr DO ~
SUL l"
•3 0 o

35o

Fig. 4. Simplified map of the distribution of surface sediments on the Brazilian conti-
nental shelf (Coutinho, 1975).
 97

Cabo Santa Marta--Chui

From Cabo Santa Marta southward the coast is low and sandy. It presents
a set of well<leveloped beach ridges and wide plains within which strings of
lagoons appear, some completely closed, others connected with the sea.
In the State of Rio Grande do Sul the dip of the continental terrace
diminishes gradually, presenting a marked deltaic progradation (Butler,
1970). The average shelf width is 125 km, with maxima of 180 and minima
of 100 km. The shelf break is generally transitional, without plateaus and
marginal terraces. In contrast to other regions of the Brazilian continental
margin, its southern part is not crossed by any important canyons, except
the Rio Grande Valleys (Zembruscki et al., 1972). Another typical feature of
this area is the occurrence of many depressions that run parallel to the coast
on the middle shelf, apparently Late Quaternary analogues of the modern
coastal lagoons (Martins et al., 1967; Rocha et al., 1975). As will be
explained below, these relic mid-shelf lagoons contain very special sediments.
Some of the bathymetric records show steps near the shelf margin, possibly
erosional features related to lower sea-level stands.
The shelf surface shows minor features such as ancient banks, submarine
dunes and barriers parallel to the present coastline. At the shelf margin there
still exist traces of channels belonging to a drainage network on a sub-
merged coastal plain.
On the inner shelf a typical barrier coast developed with growing barriers
parallel to it as a consequence of the new hydrodynamic regime (Figueiredo,
1975). There also occur typical estuarine river mouths through which much
fine clastic material is supplied. Bands of beach rock and buried channels
have been observed south of Rio Grande, as probable relics of the Rio de la
Plata drainage on the coastal plain of Uruguay and Rio Grande do Sul (Urien
and Ewing, 1974; Urien et al., 1976).

SURFACE SEDIMENTS

Generalities

The sedimentological maps of the Brazilian shelf show that the major part
of the deposits is relict, followed by detrital and biogenic sediments and
accessory authigenic deposits (Fig. 4). In fact, the surface of the eastern
South American shelf underwent, during the Quaternary, phases of submer-
sion and exposure, chiefly due to eustatic sea-level variations. About 15,000
years B.P., at the end of the Pleistocene glaciations, a rapid sea-level rise
caused submergence of the coastal plain. Available data suggest that the
Holocene transgression stabilized about 3000 years B.P. and the sea level has
remained at its present position with only few oscillations.
The entire coastal plain became submerged, with the original features
more or less intact.
98

Martins et al. (1973) subdivided the continental shelf into at least four
domains: m o d e m , relict, palimpset and glacial.

Cabo Orange--Parnaiba delta

Sedimentation in this region is chiefly terrigenous at the inner and middle
shelf parts, changing gradually to biodetrital sediments of relict t y p e towards
the shelf break. The sediments near the shelf edge appear to have been
derived from a series of shelf-edge reefs, as elsewhere in the world (Milliman,
1974). Another characteristic of the outer Amazonian shelf is the presence
of high-magnesium calcite ooids at a depth of 120 m, that were deposited
during the last low-sea-level stand (Milliman and Barretto, 1975). The major
part of the carbonate sediments is thus relict, although some mixture of
modern and ancient material may occur.
To the northwest of the Amazon and Par~ rivers the terrigenous sediments
are chiefly pelitic, occurring mainly on the inner shelf, whereas more
towards the southeast this zone is chiefly sandy quartz.
The m u d lens off the Amazon m o u t h is modern, the product of river dis-
charge trapped in this area. Part of it is transported by the North Brazilian
Coastal Current toward the Guyanas coast and differentially deposited by
the physical--chemical and dynamic action of the sea water.
The sandy terrigenous sediments northwest of the Par~ River contain sub-
angular to subrounded quartz grains, have a subarkosic to protoquartzose
composition, and contain a heavy-mineral association of hornblende with
enstatite and hyperstene. East of the Par~ River and along the coast of
Maranh~o State, the sandy sediments b e c o m e gradually more rounded, with
an orthoquartzose composition and a fairly stable heavy-mineral association
of staurolite, tourmaline and zircon. Finally, between the S~o Marcos
Bay and the Parnaiba River delta a great quantity of kyanite occurs (Barretto
and Summerhayes, 1975). The major part of the coarse terrigenous sedi-
ments of the middle and outer shelf is relict, deposited during the last low
stand of sea level and the subsequent Holocene transgression.
The Amazon muds as well as the sublittoral sands are poor in CaCO3, but
towards the outer shelf the carbonate content increases due to the presence
of pebbles and sand of calcareous algae, foraminifera, bryozoans and mol-
lusks. The rapid terrigenous sedimentation covers the carbonate grains and
buries possible attachment b o t t o m s for the benthic community.
Summarizing, only little modern sediment from the Amazon escapes from
the coastal environment; much of it is deposited inside the estuary proper or
transported toward the northwest along the shore and innermost shelf b y the
longshore currents.

Parnaiba delta--Cabo S~o Roque

From the Parnaiba River m o u t h onwards to Cabo S~o Roque, the shelf
becomes gradually narrower, accompanied by a decrease of terrigenous sedi-
 99

mentation and an increase of biogenic and biodetrital sediments.

The terrigenous sediments are represented by quartz sands and muds, with
the latter restricted to the river mouths and with some rare occurrences on
the inner shelf. Patch reefs occur at depths above 20 m (Mabesoone and
Coutinho, 1970).
The quartz sands are chiefly angular to subangular, well sorted and nega-
tively skewed, suggesting accumulation under high-energy conditions. These
sediments are orthoquartzose on the inner and middle shelf and become
arkosic towards the outer shelf. The heavy-mineral association is quite
mature, dominated by kyanite up to the Jaguaribe River mouth and by
andalusite more to the east. The clay fraction is dominated by illite. These
nearshore sands are poor in CaCO3, with mollusk and occasional benthic
foraminiferal assemblages. Among the latter, miliolids are the most abun-
dant, chiefly in the muddy deposits. Apparently the sands of the inner and
middle shelf are relict and completely reworked.
The biogenic carbonate sediments are represented by pebbles and sand of
branching and encrusting coralline algae (Lithothamnium and Lithophyllum)
and of Halimeda. The latter occurs more frequently on the outer shelf.
The carbonate sediments cover the whole of the middle and outer shelf as
well as all the banks off this area when situated at depths of less than 100 m.
The boundary between these deposits and the terrigenous sands of the inner
shelf is fairly abrupt.

Cabo S~o Roque--Belmonte

The continental shelf of this region is extremely narrow, shallow, and

almost entirely covered with biogenic carbonate deposits.
Various factors favour the development of carbonate sedimentation, such
as the existence of a semi-arid climate on the continent which results in a
reduced supply of terrigenous material. This permits favourable conditions
of salinity, temperature and water transparency for the growth of calcium-
carbonate-producing epifaunal organisms (Kempf, 1970a). Only at the inner-
most part of the shelf, the high wave energy creates unfavourable conditions
(Coleman and Wright, 1972). In contrast to other tropical shelves, these sedi-
ments are very poor in corals and devoid of ooids.
The biogenic carbonates are represented by pebbles and sand composed
chiefly of encrusting and branched calcareous algae, with a dominance of
Halimeda at certain places. The distribution as well as .the biological and
geological characteristics of these sediments have been described by Cou-
tinho and Moraes (1968), Kempf (1970b, 1972), Kempf et al. (1969), Mabe-
soone et al. (1972), Martins et al. (1972), Zembruscki et al. (1972) and
Summerhayes et al. (1975).
On the inner shelf there occur lithified sediments constituting extensive
bands of submerged beach rock. In the depressions and lagoons behind these
"reefs", terrigenous mud accumulates, rich in organic matter, and at other
100

places lime muds in which Halimeda locally dominates.

Terrigenous muds occur at the m o u t h of big rivers (for instance, the S~o
Francisco), at isolated spots which o c c u p y depressions in the shelf relief, and
on the upper slope south of the S~o Francisco River.
The quartz sands of the inner shelf are subarkosic and include subrounded
and rounded grains. They present generally t w o distinct heavy-mineral asso-
ciations with tourmaline dominant north of the S~o Francisco River m o u t h
and staurolite south of it. The sands are also relict, with a completely
reworked biogenic fraction.

Belmonte--Cabo Frio
The sediment cover in this region is quite similar to that of the region dis-
cussed above, and exhibits the same distribution. The terrigenous sands
o c c u p y the inner shelf, reaching the middle shelf at the Doce River mouth.
These sands are arkosic with a fairly high hornblende content and very few
resistant heavy minerals such as zircon and tourmaline. As on the rest of the
northeastern Brazilian shelf, corals are rare, and oolites and other chemical
carbonate precipitates absent. The few corals occur in the littoral zone on
hard substratum, chiefly from the Vit6ria--Trindade Ridge northward.
Genera characteristic of the West Indies reefs are almost entirely absent
(Laborel, 1967).
Carbonate sands and pebbles o c c u p y the outer and middle shelf parts, at
some places also reaching the inner part.
The sedimentary cover of the Abrolhos Bank is biogenic, with carbonate
mud derived from degradation of reefs dominant in the depression and bio-
detritus with m o d e m and fossil components at the borders. North of the
bank, coralline algae dominate, and south of it bryozoans.
To the south of the Abrolhos Bank the shelf again becomes narrow and
terrigenous sedimentation becomes dominant, with the bioclastic fraction
restricted to the outer shelf. The climate of these latitudes is more humid,
resulting in a more significant supply of river material. The Doce and Paraiba
do Sul rivers form large deltas in this area, and are n o w restricted to the
coastal zone. They supply terrigenous sediment to the inner shelf, which is
laterally distributed b y waves and currents. The quantity of m o d e m terri-
genous sediment supplied is, however, small and consists mainly of relict sub-
arkosic sand and submature sandy muds. The deltas attained the shelf break
in the Pleistocene, as shown, for instance, by the presence of marine terraces
at depths between 150 and 200 m related to the deltaic fronts. As shown in
the seismic reflection diagrams of Fig. 5, a typical deltaic sedimentation
sequence can be observed.

Cabo Frio--Chui
From Cabo Frio to Chui the continental shelf becomes progressively
wider; and because the climate is more humid, terrigenous sediments develop
 101

NORTH S. FRANCISCO RIVER

C 2.

(0
~ 3

4.

SANTOS

2. .

3,.

4•,

RIO GRANDE

t ~-" ~ PELOTASSCARP

Fig. 5. Seismic reflection sections made by R.V. Oceanographer. Note the progradational
sedimentation from shelf to slope. The Sgo Francisco section presents at 0.3 sec a step
possibly a remnant of the deltaic overlap. The other sections show the influence of frac-
tures and slumping. (After Martins et al., 1975.)

southward where the carbonate deposition remains restricted to the outer-

most shelf part.
Cabo Frio marks the transition between the tropical realm of the north
and the temperate zone of the south, considerably affecting carbonate
deposition. North of this cape the sediments are rich in carbonates with
coralline algae, miliolids, Amphistegina, peneroplids and bryozoans, prob-
ably derived from the extensive algal ridge system (Rocha et al., 1975).
Toward the south, the sediments are poor in carbonate, with dominant asso-
ciations of mollusks, branachles and sandy foraminifera.
• The muds north of Cabo Frio contain much kaolinite and little illite and
montmoriUonite, whereas south of it the kaolinite content decreases rapidly
with consequent increase of iUite and montmorillonite.
The generally immature terrigenous sediments are distributed in zones
parallel to the coast, varying between psammites on the inner shelf to pelites
on the middle and outer shelf.
102

Near the shelf edge biodetrital accumulations occur of a composition

rather different from that of N--NE Brazil. They are normally formed by
fragments and abraded and blackened shells of mollusks, bryozoans and fora-
minifera, mixed with variable proportions of mud. The same t y p e of sedi-
m e n t reappears on the inner shelf, in the form of almost pure shell gravel dis-
tributed in elongated bodies. These banks are relict and possibly related to
beach rocks similar to those found near the spits of the Mirim and Chui
lagoons (Martins et al., 1973).
In the southernmost portion of the area Martins et al. (1972) distin-
guished a new m u d d y facies derived from the Rio de la Plata region, com-
posed of material coming from this river and covering the middle shelf off
Uruguay. At the shelf border the same t y p e of mud reappears, related to an
ancient distribution of sediments of the Rio de la Plata on the coastal plain
of Uruguay and Rio Grande do Sul.
All terrigenous sediments from Cabo Frio southward are relict. During the
Holocene sea-level rise and prior to the formation of present-day coastal
barriers, shelf muds and sands were deposited b y coastal rivers draining the
Rio Grande highlands. The terrigenous deposits to the north of the area must
have been derived from the numerous small rivers which drain the coastal
ranges there. In the extreme south of the area they originate chiefly from the
Rio de la Plata and are transported northward b y longshore currents. Studies
of suspended material indicate that little modern sedimentation is reaching
the southern margin (Milliman and Santana, 1974).
Recent studies on heavy minerals (Tomazelli, 1977) confirmed the origin
of these sediments.

ECONOMIC ASPECTS

Subsurface deposits
Oil
The search for oil started in 1968. Oil is produced in the Sergipe--Alagoas
Basin. The fields of the Potiguar and Campos basins are under development
(Beurlen and Cassedanne, this volume). The association b e t w e e n salt and oil
has been proved b y numerous wells. Evaporites are present in the shelf basins
of Sergipe--Alagoas, south of Bahia, Espirito Santo, Campos and Santos. The
diapiric structures found in the south Bahia and Espirito Santo regions con-
sist of shallow piercing, intermediate and a few deep and cushioned domes.
They show a N--S alignment, possibly reflecting the reactivation of the pre-
Aptian fault system (Rocha, 1973).
Coal
In Santa Catarina (south Brazil) mineral coal occurs in layers interbedded
within quartz sandstones and shales. Drillings showed the continuation of
the coal seam 8 km seaward, on the shelf, up to depths of 200 m (Amaral et
al., 1972).
 103

Surface deposits

Sand and gravel

Sands and gravels are represented by the littoral quartz sand facies of the
inner and outer shelf along the whole coast. Assuming an average thickness
of 5 m for this sand and gravel layer, Milliman and Amaral (1974) estimated
a reserve of 40 X 10 ~° tons, that is a b o u t 2000 times the reserves known on
the continent (DNPM, 1972). In some shelf regions, drillings revealed a
thickness greater than 5 m. In 1972 total production, for construction pur-
poses, was over 2 million tons.

Carbonates
Carbonates are chiefly represented by the calcareous algal facies which
constitutes an almost continuous belt between the Amazon m o u t h and Cabo
Frio. Due to the large terrigenous supply at the northern and southern
extremes of the Brazilian shelf, the calcareous sediments gradually disappear
oceanward. Chiefly between Cabo S~o R o q u e and the S~o Francisco River
m o u t h they occur at depths between 20 and 40 m, at a distance between 6
and 30 km from the coast (Kempf, 1970a).
The carbonate sediments are not uniform in texture and composition. The
"cascalho" of northeastern Brazil, equivalent to the "maerl" of Bretagne is
a mixture of organic sand and gravel, composed of fragments of coralline
algae with smaller quantities of foraminifera, bryozoans and mollusks.
Although the major part of the sediment is composed of gravel and sand-size
material, in a large area of Abrolhos a calcareous mud dominates (Melo et al.,
1975).
The carbonate sediments occur as t w o distinct types. The first t y p e is
represented b y ramificated and massive coralline algae, with small amounts
of foraminifera, bryozoans and mollusks; these deposits contain 4--7% Mg
and up to 1% of Na, Fe and K. The second group, represented b y the
so-called Halimeda silt, occurs chiefly at the inner and middle shelf parts of
north and northeast Brazil (Coutinho and Moraes, 1970); the skeletons are
c o m p o s e d o f aragonite containing up to 1.2% of Sr.
Sediments rich in mollusks with a high calcium content and absence of
magnesium are found in large quantities on the inner shelf of southern and
eastern Brazil.
Castro (1973) estimated the reserves of carbonates coming from mollusks
and other shallow-water organisms to be 3.5 X 106 tons. Taking into account
that the carbonate facies contains over 75% CaCO3, and assuming an average
thickness of 5 m, Milliman and Amaral (1974) calculated a reserve of a b o u t
20 X 10 ~° tons, which is 50 times the carbonate reserves estimated for the
continent (DNPM, 1972). A b o u t 1.9 X 106 tons of limestone were mined in
1972, or a b o u t 0.5% of the estimated reserves.
104

Heavy minerals
Along the Brazilian coast occurrences of heavy minerals of the " b " group
of Emery and Noakes (1969) are known in isolated spots separated by large
sterile zones.
The sandy shelf sediments contain generally less than 2% of heavy
minerals, chiefly represented by ilmenite, futile, zircon and monazite. In a
few areas only the concentration attains values higher than 4% of the sand
fraction as, for instance, in the relict sediments of the channels off the
Amazon and the shelf off Espirito Santo and Rio Grande do Sul.
Probably the beaches of northeast, southeast and south Brazil offer the
best conditions for the accumulation of important placer deposits. There,
average contents between 2.9 and 16% of heavy minerals have been deter-
mined (Barretto and Pinto, 1972). On the Espirito Santo coast some areas
are mined by the National Nuclear Energy Commission. The heavy minerals
of the beaches of northeast Brazil generally occur as thin films, which makes
exploitation difficult. The total reserve of heavy minerals, chiefly ilmenite,
rutile and zircon, exceeds 1.3 × 106 tons.
Oscillations of the Quaternary sea level reworked coastal sediments and
concentrated heavy minerals on beaches and in paleochannels. The existence
of deposits with high concentrations associated with former coastlines and
ancient river valleys can thus be expected.

Phosphate
Phosphorite is largely distributed on shelf and upper slopes, in areas of
upwelling at low latitudes, where detrital sediments are absent. The presence
of Cretaceous sedimentary phosphate in Pernambuco (Tinoco, 1971) indi-
cates upweUing during the Maestrichtian. The surface sediments of the
modern Brazilian shelf show a low phosphate content and only few areas
have values somewhat higher than 1% P2Os. The highest values (about 1.8%)
are associated with the algal and biodetrital facies of the shelf break (Sum-
merhayes et al., 1975). Data on sediments of the middle and lower slope are
still scarce. At some protected places on the Pernambuco and Paraiba coasts
there occur banks of phosphatic mud (4.6% P2Os), apparently related to the
occurrences of ancient deposits rich in phosphate on the adjacent continent
(Coutinho, 1975). The major part of the phosphate is present in the form of
organic matter in the fine sizes of the sediment or filling carbonate shells.
Recent dredgings on the Cear~ Plateau showed rocks with more than 13%
P2Os and manganese nodules derived from the Pernambuco Plateau show still
higher P2Os values.
Future studies on plateaus and rises off northeast Brazil may result in the
discovery of additional phosphate deposits.

Manganese
Manganese slabs and nodules, rich in iron, have been dredged up from the
Rio Grande Rise and the adjacent Vema Fracture zone. They present con-
 105

centrations of Mn, Fe, Cu and Ni considerably lower than those found in the
Pacific. A great density of manganese nodules has been photographed
between the latitudes of 26 ° and 34°8.
More recent dredgings on the flanks of the Pernambuco Plateau revealed a
great quantity of manganese slabs and nodules. Preliminary analysis of this
material showed high concentrations of Mn, Fe, Ni and Cu, and exception-
ally high Co content (Milliman and Amaral, 1974).

Organic muds
Terrigenous muds with less than 10% of CaCO3 and 1--3% of organic
carbon are found off the Amazon, in coastal lagoons, and on the southern
shelf. These muds are valuable for ceramics (Manheim, 1972).

REFERENCES

Amaral, C.A.B., Vicalvi, M.A., Barreto, L.A. and Santana, C.I., 1972. Recursos minerals
da margem continental brasileira. Soc. Brasil. Geol., An. XXVI Congr., Bel~m, PA, 2:
289--299.
Bacoccoli, G., 1971. Os deltas marinhos holoc~nicos brasileiros -- urea tentativa de classi-
ficaq~o. Bol. T6c. Petrobr~s, 14: 5--38.
Barreto, L.A. and Pinto, A.S.F., 1972. Projeto Cumuruxatiba. Companhia Pesquisas
Recursos Minerais, Salvador, BA, internal report.
Barretto, H.T. and Milliman, J.D., 1969. Esbo~o fisiogr~fico da margem continental
brasileira. In: L.C. Toffoli (editor). Margem continental brasUeira. Petrobr~s, Rio de
Janeiro, internal report, pp. 11--30.
Barretto, H.T. and Summerhayes, C.P., 1975. Oceanography and suspended matter off
northeastern Brazil. J. Sediment. Petrol., 45: 822--833.
Boyer, P.R., 1969. Structure of the Continental Margin of Brazil, Natal to Rio de Janeiro.
Thesis, University of Illinois, Urbana, IU., 93 pp.
Butler, L.W., 1970. Shallow structure of the continental margin, southern Brazil and
Uruguay. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 81 : 1079--1096.
Castro, E.C., 1973. Monografia da conchas calcfirias. Dep. Nacl. Prod. Min., Rio de
Janeiro, 82 pp.
Coleman, J.M. and Wright, L.D., 1972. Delta morphology in relation to the discharge/
wave power climate. Soc. Brasil. Geol., An. XXVI Congr., Bel~m, PA, 2: 145--156.
Coutinho, P.N., 1975. Aspectos econSmicos dos sedimentos superficiais da margem conti-
nental brasileira. Bol. Nficleo Nordeste Soc. Brasil. Geol., 5 -- Atas VII Simp. Geol.
Nordeste, Fortaleza, pp. 59--65.
Coutinho, P.N. and Moraes, J.O., 1968. DistribuciAn de los sedimentos en la plataforma
continental norte-nordeste del Brasil. Symp. Invest. Res. Caribbean Sea and Adjacent
Regions, Curaq~o, pp. 273--284.
Coutinho, P.N. and Moraes, J.O., 1970. Distribuci6n de los sedimentos en la plataforma
continental norte y nordeste del Brasil. Universidade Federal Cear~, Arquivos Ci~ncias
Mar, 10: 79--90.
DNPM (Departamento Nacional P r o d u ~ o Mineral), 1972. I ° Anu~rio Mineral Brasileiro.
Minist6rio Minas Energia, Rio de Janeiro, 255 pp.
Emery, K.O. and Noakes, L.C., 1968. Economic placer deposits of the continental shelf.
Mar. Biol., 5: 213--224.
Figuieredo Jr., A.G., 1975. Geologia dos dep6sitos.calc~rios biodetrfticos da plataforma
106

continental do R.G. Sul. Thesis, Universidade Federal Rio Grande do Sul, Porto
Alegre, RS, 72 pp. (manuscript)
Hayes, D.E. and Ewing, M., 1970. North Brazilian Ridge and adjacent continental mar-
gins. Bull. A m . Assoc. Pet. Geol., 54: 2120--2150.
Kempf, M., 1970a. Notes on the benthic bionomy of N - N E Brazilian shelf. Mar. Biol., 5:
213--224.
Kempf, M., 1970b. A plataforma continental da costa leste brasileira, entre o rio S~o
Francisco e a ilha de S~o Sebasti~o (10°30'--25 ° lat.S); nota sobre os principals tipos
de fundo. Soc. Brasil. Geol., An. X X V I Congr., Bel~m, PA, 2: 211--234.
Kempf, M., 1972. Prospec~es de fundo realizadas na plataforma continental do Norte,
Nordeste e Leste do Brasil, pelo Laborat6rio de Ci~ncias do M A R , UFPE, ou corn sua
participa~o. Soc. Brasil. Geol., An. XXVI Congr., Bel~m, PA, 2: 245--259.
Kempf, M., Mabesoone, J.M. and Tinoco, I.M., 1969. Estudos da plataforma continental
na ~irea de Recife (Pernambuco). Univ. Fed. Pernambuco, Trabalhos Oceanogr., 9/11 :
125--148.
Kumar, N., Bryan, G., Gorini, M. and Carvalho, J., 1976. Evolution of the continental
margin off northern Brazil: sedimentation and carbon potential. An. Acad. Brasil.
Ci~nc., 48 (Supl.): 131--143.
Laborel, J.L., 1967. A revised list of Brazilian scleractinian corals and description of a
new species. Postilla, Peabody Museum Natural History, Yale University, 107 : 14 pp.
Mabesoone, J.M., 1971. F~cies sedimentares da plataforma continental brasileira. Estud.
Sedimentol., 1(1): 55--71.
Mabesoone, J.M. and Coutinho, P.N., 1970. Littoral and shallow marine geology of
northern and northeastern Brazil. Univ. Fed. Pernambuco, Trabalhos Oceanogr., 12:
214 pp.
Mabesoone, J.M., Kempf, M. and Coutinho, P.N., 1972. Characterization of surface sedi-
ments on the northern and eastern Brazilian shelf. Univ. Fed. Pernambuco, Trabalhos
Oceanogr., 13: 41--48.
Manheim, F.T., 1972. Mineral resources off the northeastern coast of the United States.
U.S. Geol. Survey, Circ., 6 9 9 : 2 9 pp.
Martins, L.R., Urien, C.M. and Butler, L.W., 1972. Provincias fisiogr~ificas e sedimentos
da margem continental atl~ntica da America do Sul. Soc. Brasil. Geol., An. XXVI
Congr., Bel~m, PA, 2: 105--114.
Martins, L.R., Urien, C.M. and Eichler, B.B., 1967. Distribuiq~o dos sedimentos
modernos da plataforma continental sul-brasileira e uruguaia. Soc. Brasil. Geol., An.
XXI Congr., Curitiba, PR, pp. 29--43.
Martins, L.R., Urien, C.M. and Martins, I.R., 1973. Sedimentos modernos e relfquias da
plataforma continental sul-americana oriental. Soc. Brasil. Geol., An. XXVII Congr.,
Aracaju, SE, Bol., 1 : 212--213 (resumo)
Martins, L.R., Urien, C.M., Butler, L.W. and Martins, I.R., 1975. Morfologia e sedimentos
da plataforma continental atl~ntica sul-americana entre Cabo Orange e Chui (Brasil).
An. Hidrogr., 23: 83--109.
Mascle, J. and Renard, V., 1976. The marginal S~o Paulo plateau: comparison with the
southern Angolan margin. An. Acad. Brasil. Ci~nc., 48 (Supl.): 179--190.
Melo, U., Summerhayes, C.P. and Ellis, J.P., 1975. Upper continental margin sedimenta-
tion off Brazil. Part IV -- Salvador to Vit6ria, southeastern Brazil. Contrib. Sedimen-
tol., 4: 78--116.
Milliman, J.D., 1974. Marine carbonates. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 375 pp.
Milliman, J.D. and Amaral, C.A.B., 1974. Economic potential of Brazilian continental
margin sediments. Soc. Brasil. Geol., An. XXVIII Congr., Porto Alegre, RS, 3: 335--
344.
Milliman, J.D. and Barretto, H.T., 1975. Relict magnesium calcite oolite on the Amazon
shelf. Sedimentology, 22: 137--145.
 107

Milliman, J.D. and Santana, C.I., 1974. Oceanography and suspended matter in the sur-
face waters off southern Brazil, November--December, 1972. Soc. Brasil. Geol.,
XXVIII Congr., Porto Alegre, RS, abstract manuscript.
Milliman, J.D. and Summerhayes, C.P., 1975. Upper continental margin sedimentation
off Brazil. Contrib. Sedimentol., 4: 1--175.
Milliman, J.D., Barretto, H.T., Barreto, L.A., Costa, M.P.A. and Francisconi, O., 1972.
Surficial sediments of the Brazilian continental margin. Soc. Brasil. Geol., An. XXVI
Congr., Bel4m, PA, 3: 29--44.
Rocha, J., 1973. Domos de s a l e possibilidades de enxSfre (Plataforma continental Bahia
Sul/Espfrito Santo). Companhia Perquisas Recursos Minerais, Rio de Janeiro, internal
report, 32 pp.
Rocha, J., Milliman, J.D., Santana, C.I. and Vicalvi, M.A., 1975. Upper continental
margin sedimentation off Brazil; Part V - - S o u t h e r n Brazil. Contrib. Sedimentol., 4:
117--150.
Silveira, J.D., 1964. Morfologia do litoral. In: A. Azevedo (Editor), Brasil, a terra e o
homem; vol. I - - A s bases ffsicas. Companhia Editora Nacional, S~o Paulo, SP, pp.
253--305.
Summerhayes, C.P., Coutinho, P.N., Franqa, A.M.C. and Ellis, J.P., 1975. Upper conti-
nental margin sedimentation off Brazil; Part I I I - Salvador to Fortaleza, northeastern
Brazil. Contrib. Sedimentol., 4: 44--78.
Summerhayes, C.P., Fainstein, R. and Ellis, J.P., 1976. Continental margin off Sergipe
and Alagoas, northeastern Brazil: a reconnaissance geophysical study of morphology
and structure. Mar. Geol., 20: 345--361.
Tinoco, I.M., 1971. Contribuiq~o ao conhecimento da g~nese do fosfato de Olinda
(Estado de Pernambuco). Arquivos Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, 54: 177--182.
Tomazelli, L.J., 1977. Minerais pesados da plataforma continental do Rio Grande do Sul.
Thesis, Universidade Federal Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS.
Urien, C.M. and Ewing, M., 1974. Recent sediments and environments of southern Brazil,
Uruguay, Buenos Aires and Rio Negro continental shelf. An. Acad. Brasil. Ci~nc., 48
(Supl.): 157--177.
Urien, C.M., Martins, L.R. and Butler, L.M., 1973. Fisiografia y sedimentos de la margen
continental sulamericana. 2e Congr. Latinoam. Geol., Caracas, resumo comunica-
ciones, 1: 5--6.
Urien, C.M., Martins, L.R. and Martins, I.R., 1976. Complexo delt~ico pre-holoc~nico na
~rea de influ~ncia do Rio de la Plata. Soc. Brasil. Geol. XXIX Congr., Ouro P r e t o -
Belo Horizonte, MG, resumo comunicaq~es: 112--113.
Zembruscki, S.G., 1967. Sedimentos da plataforma continental do Brasil. Dir. Hidrogr.
Navegaq~o, Publ. 26-X (ap4ndice B): 369--409.
Zembruscki, S.G., 1968. Geologia e magnetometria submarina na plataforma continental
de Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia e Espfrito Santo. Dir. Hidrogr. Navegaq~o, Publ. 26-XI:
531--578.
Zembruscki, S.G. and Branqa, A.M.C., 1976. Mapas batim4tricos da margem continental
brasileira. Bol. T4c. Petrobrfis, 19: 157--162.
Zembruscki, S.G., Gorini, M.A., Palma, J.C. and Costa, M.O.A., 1971. Fisiografia e distri-
buiq~o dos sedimentos superficiais da plataforma continental norte brasileira. Bol. T4c.
Petrobrfis, 14: 127--155.
Zembruscki, S.G., Barretto, H.T., Palma, J.C. and Milliman, J.D., 1972. Estudo perliminar
das provincias geomorfol6gicas da margem continental brasileira. Soc. Brasil. Geol.,
An. XXVI Congr., Bel4m, PA, 2: 187--209.

[Received September 4, 1980]