ABSTRACT A U-Pb SHRIMP zircon geochronological study was carried out in the Nico Pérez Terrane in the central-eastern portion of Uruguay with the aim of constraining its geological evolution and its cratonic affinity. Nico Pérez Terrane is made up by a mosaic of tectonic blocks with diferente lithologies and sizes. This terrane is limited to the west by the Piedra Alta Terrane through the Sarandí del Yí shear zone, and to the east, is in tectonic contact through the Retamosa thrust with the Dom Feliciano Belt (Brasiliano orogenic cycle). Lithologically, the Nico Pérez Terrane is composed by medium to high grade metamorphic rock contained in three tectonic blocks (Pavas, Valentines and Rivera blocks) represented mainly by granitoids, as well as ortho and parametamorphic rocks, such as amphibolites, metapyroxenites, BIFs, schists, quartzites with fuchsite, among others. Archean inheritance, Rhyacian, Statherian, and Neoproterozoic magmatic ages are reported here. Similar ages, which show Archaean inheritance and Neoproterozoic imprint, reported in units of the Piedra Alta Terrane modify the idea that the Río de La Plata Craton only corresponds to a juvenile Paleoproterozoic tectonic unit. This, together with recently published geophysical information, supports the cratonic affinity of the Nico Pérez Terrane with the Río de La Plata Craton.

RESUMEN Un estudio geocronológico U-Pb SHRIMP en circón fue realizado en rocas del Terreno Nico Pérez, con el objetivo de circunscribir la evolución geológica y su afinidad cratónica. Este terreno, localizado en la porción central del Uruguay, está constituído por un mosaico de tres bloques tectónicos y se encuentra limitado al oeste por el Terreno Piedra Alta a través de la zona de cizallamiento Sarandí del Yí. Al este, se encuentra en contacto tectónico a través del corrimiento Retamosa con el Cinturón Dom Feliciano (Ciclo Orogénico Brasiliano). Litológicamente, el Terreno Nico Pérez está compuesto por rocas metamórficas de grado medio a alto (bloques Pavas, Valentines y Rivera) representados principalmente por granitoides, así como por rocas orto- y parametamórficas, tales como anfibolitas, metapiroxenitas, BIFs, esquistos, cuarcitas con fucsita, entre otras. Se presenta en este trabajo un conjunto de edades magmáticas que poseen herencia arqueana, y edades riacianas, estaterianas y neoproterozoicas. Edades similares a estas, que muestran herencia arqueana e impronta neoproterozoica, reportadas en unidades del Terreno Piedra Alta, modifican la idea de que el Cratón del Río de La Plata corresponde a una unidad tectónica paleoproterozoica juvenil. Esto, junto con la información geofísica publicada recientemente, respalda la afinidad cratónica del Terreno Nico Pérez con el Cratón del Río de La Plata.

Abstract Small to medium-sized intrusive bodies with ages between 2.1 and 2.0 Ga characterize Piedra Alta terrane and represent the final stabilization of Río de la Plata Craton. A reconnaissance study of petro- and magnetic fabrics based on microscopic observations, anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and anhysteretic remanent magnetization, was carried out on 41 sites from 14 intrusive bodies, in order to obtain preliminary information on kinematics of their emplacement, degree of deformation, and regional stress regime during this magmatic event. The magnetic fabrics coupled with the microstructural analysis are interpreted as generally reflecting magma kinematics near solidus temperature, although few cases of tectonically modified fabrics at local levels have been interpreted. Field evidence and magnetic fabrics in most plutons show subvertical to high angle E-W to NE-SW trending foliations and subvertical lineations. These data suggest that plutons were probably intruded under a regional extensional to transtensional regime, which controlled the magma ascent and distribution of the intrusions. Lack of metamorphism and low to null deformation shown by the study plutons suggest a late-orogenic character for this magmatism, which has been associated with crustal stabilization after accretionary processes that led to the formation of Río de la Plata Craton in the Orosirian.

Abstract The aim of this work is to propose a new stratigraphic scheme of the Barriga Negra Formation, in order to solve the controversies in one of the most discussed units of Uruguay. Here, we introduce a new map (unmodified since 1984) and amend the stratigraphic profile for the Barriga Negra Formation, establishing the correct sequence, order and thickness, dividing it in four members (Volcaniclastic, Arkosic Conglomerate, Calcareous Conglomerate and Petromictic Conglomerate Member). We describe by first time the presence of basal volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks that implies a tectonic active environment. Volcaniclastic rock dating yield an U-Pb concordia age of 633 ± 3.4 Ma. Moreover, we show that this unit has no stratigraphic continuity with other units that previously were used to constrain its stratigraphic position, age and paleoenvironment. We confirm unequivocally that the unit is as a continental conglomeratic sequence deposited in arid and active tectonic conditions, and not transitional passive margin deposits as some works claim. Finally, we revisit the metamorphism, deformation, stratigraphy, structural relationships of this unit and identify new basement units. As consequence of this new evidence, we reexamine its correlation with other regional units. This work is also a key to understand the chaotic stratigraphic proposals of Uruguay..

RESUMO: Este trabalho resulta de um esforço de vários anos tentando usar a geologia de campo para descrever litologias, estabelecer relações de contato e perfazer a evolução tectônica das sucessões metassedimentares, de idades meso a neoproterozoicas, que foram deformadas dentro da Faixa de Xistos do Cinturão Dom Feliciano. Essas rochas constituem uma cobertura de baixo grau que repousa em cima do embasamento de alto grau metamórfico dos complexos La China e Las Tetas. Esse embasamento é de idade paleoproterozoica-arqueana. A Faixa de Xistos é sotoposta em discordância angular pela formação Barriga Negra. O Complexo Lavalleja e a formação Barriga Negra se deformaram junto durante o evento D2 (~ 570 - 540 Ma), mas a formação Barriga Negra registrou apenas parcialmente o evento transpressivo D2, enquanto o Complexo Lavalleja foi afetado pelos dois eventos (D1 e D2). O evento D1 teria desenvolvido uma dobra - nappe com vergencia para o sul. Essa hipótese é sustentada por diferentes estruturas: (i) dobras recumbentes e dobras retas orientadas E-W, (ii) Foliação subhorizontal milonítica em mármores (calco-xistos); (iii) lineações de estiramento mergulhando para SW em metaconglomerados do Complexo Las Tetas, e (iv) retrabalhamento da foliação subhorizontal, paralelamente à zona de cisalhamento transcorrente Sarandí del Yí.

ABSTRACT: This work is the result of a multiyear effort to use field geology to describe lithologies, to establish contact relationships and to create a sketch of the tectonic evolution of the Meso- to Neoproterozoic metasedimentary successions within the Schist Belt of the Dom Feliciano Belt. This low-grade metamorphic cover rests on the high-grade metamorphic basement of the La China and Las Tetas complexes. This basement is Archean-Paleoproterozoic in age. The Schist Belt is overlapped unconformably by the Barriga Negra formation. The Lavalleja complex and the Barriga Negra formation both deformed together during the D2 deformation event (~ 570 -540 Ma), but the Barriga Negra only partially recorded the D2 transpressive event, whereas the Lavalleja complex was affected by both the D1 tangential event and the D2 event. Event D1 would have developed a fold nappe with vergence to the south. This hypothesis is supported by different structures: (i) recumbent and upright folds oriented E-W, (ii) subhorizontal mylonitic foliation in marbles (calc-schists), (iii) stretching lineations plunging towards the SW in metaconglomerates of the Las Tetas Complex, and (iv) a reworking of the subhorizontal foliation parallel to the Sarandí del Yí strike-slip shear zone.

The composition and textures of epiclastic sedimentary rocks from the Mercedes Formation and the micromorphology of its paleosoils are described in order to study the provenance areas, the tectonic framework, the paleoclimatic fluctuations and the diagenetic processes affecting this unit during the Upper Cretaceous. The Mercedes Formation is located to the west and south of Uruguay, in the Parana Basin. The combined provenance analyses on conglomerates and sandstones show two different source areas with a transitional boundary between them. Towards the north, the volcanic clasts from the underlaying Arapey Formation predominate while there is a minor input from the sandstones of the Guichón Formation and from metamorphic and plutonic sources (Precambriam basement). Besides, in the central-south area the Precambrian clasts are dominant, and fragments from the Arapey Formation are scarce, while here, the Guichón Formation is not a source unit. The sandstone petrography shows interior to continental transitional cratonic provenance. Stable grains are more abundant than metastables and instables suggesting that the sediments where deposited under warm and humid climates. The increase of metaestables altered clasts in the central-south, suggests a near source area. The diagenetic processes were not uniform resulting in a varible porosity distribution, with a predominance of secondary porosity due to dissolution. The recognized processes are clay and iron oxides illuviation, clay neoformation and recristalization, carbonate and silica precipitation and disolution. The uppermost section of this unit has paleosoils, related to the complete infilling of the basin and tectonic quiescence, that suggest a change in the climate, the presence of palygorskyte and illuvial clays imply a semiarid seasonal climate.

La composición y textura de las epiclastitas y la micromorfología de los paleosuelos de la Formación Mercedes, aflorante en el oeste y sur de Uruguay, permitieron determinar áreas de procedencia, marco tectónico de las zonas de aporte, procesos diagenéticos y variaciones paleoclimáticas en el Cretácico Superior de la cuenca de Paraná. La composición de las epiclastitas define dos sectores de distinta procedencia, con límite transicional; en el norte dominan clastos de la Formación Arapey (volcanitas), con menor aporte de la Formación Guichón (areniscas) y del basamento precámbrico (metamorfitas y plutonitas). En el centro-sur dominan los últimos, son escasos los de la Formación Arapey y no hay participación de la Formación Guichón. El marco tectónico del área de aporte es cratónico, variando entre interior cratónico y continental transicional. El predominio de granos estables sobre metaestables e inestables, indica que las epiclastitas se depositaron bajo un clima cálido y húmedo. El aumento de clastos metaestables alterados en la zona centro-sur, sugiere mayor proximidad al área fuente. Los procesos diagenéticos no han actuado uniformemente, por lo que la porosidad de las rocas es variable, con predominio de la de tipo secundario por disolución. Los más importantes son: iluviación de arcillas y óxidos de hierro, recristalización y neoformación de arcillas, precipitación de carbonato de calcio, sílice y disolución. En el tope de la unidad se desarrollan paleosuelos, vinculados a la colmatación de la cuenca y a estabilidad tectónica, que permiten inferir un cambio climático, ya que la presencia de palygorskita y de arcillas iluviales indican clima cálido subárido, pero con marcados cambios estacionales de humedad.