Abstract A worldwide revision of the Cretaceous record of Neornithes (crown birds) revealed that unambiguous neornithine taxa are extremely scarce, with only a few showing diagnostic features to be confidently assigned to that group. Here we report two new neornithine specimens from Vega Island (López de Bertodano Formation). The first is a synsacrum (MN 7832-V) that shows a complex pattern of transversal diverticula intercepting the canalis synsacri, as in extant neornithines. Micro-CT scanning revealed a camerate pattern of trabeculae typical of neornithines. It further shows the oldest occurrence of lumbosacral canals in Neornithes, which are related to a balance sensing system acting in the control of walking and perching. The second specimen (MN 7833-V) is a distal portion of a tarsometatarsus sharing with Vegavis iaai a straight apical border of the crista plantaris lateralis. Osteohistologically the tarsometatarsus shows a thick and highly vascularized cortex that lacks any growth marks, resembling Polarornis gregorii. The cortex is osteosclerotic as in other extinct and extant diving neornithines. These new specimens increase the occurrences of the Cretaceous avian material recovered from the Upper Cretaceous strata of the James Ross Sub-Basin, suggesting that a Vegaviidae-dominated avian assemblage was present in the Antarctic Peninsula during the upper Maastrichtian.

Abstract Tectonic rejuvenation has been widely described in ancient rifting areas of intraplate settings, despite extensive active tectonics being discontinued long ago. Various models have been invoked to justify such tectonic rejuvenation, suggesting that the long-term deformation in intraplate interiors may be more complex than once supposed. Inherited weakness zones, e.g., pre-existing faults are stress concentrators. However, not all weakness zones in plate interiors show tectonic rejuvenation and recognizing intraplate fault reactivation remains puzzling. Bedrock channels play an essential role in tectonically unstable landscapes and therefore they may unveil which pre-existing structures have been rejuvenated. Here we explore the Cinzas Catchment in order to investigate the interactions between tectonic rejuvenation, bedrock inheritance and geomorphic river signatures in an important Brazilian rifting feature, the Ponta Grossa Arch. We perform a geomorphic analysis combined with fieldwork, dating techniques and existing data to evaluate whether the geomorphic responses of the major rivers show perturbations related to the bedrock inheritance and post-rift rejuvenation. We also show that the interactions between river signatures and the bedrock fault zones are responses to post-rifting rejuvenation coupled with bedrock inheritance. This post-rifting rejuvenation is consistent with a mosaic of superimposed mechanisms which have been invoked by previous studies.

Abstract We present the analysis of airborne and ground gamma-ray spectrometry signatures of the Araguainha impact structure, located in central Brazil, the largest impact structure in South America with ~ 40 km diameter. The airborne data are total gamma-ray counts per second collected along flight lines spaced 1 km apart. The ground gamma-ray data are concentrations of potassium, uranium, and thorium isotopes calculated from radiations measured in three individual channels. The objectives are to distinguish lithologies within the structure, which have naturally distinctive radiogenic signatures, and identify potential post-impact hydrothermal alteration zones, as indicated by high K concentrations. Based on results obtained by numerical modeling of the crater formation, we infer the locations of potential occurrences of target rocks that may have undergone hydrothermal alteration as a result of the impact. The deviations from the background potassium concentration show significant anomalous K values at the center and in the northwestern crater rim, where high concentrations of U are also observed. The numerical model shows that ideal temperature conditions for hydrothermal fluid circulation were attained right after pos-impact gravitational stabilization.

Resumen La caracterización petrofísica de yacimientos desempeña un rol importante en la industria petrolera, siendo primordial en el gerenciamiento integral y la optimización de procesos de recuperación. El siguiente trabajo planteó el modelado petrofísico y de facies para las unidades formacionales del Grupo Grant y el yacimiento Anderson dentro del Bloque- Bunda-3D-2009 de la cuenca Canning en Australia. Esta propuesta fue dividida en dos etapas. La etapa conceptual se basó en el estudio de la migración y acumulación de hidrocarburos en el área, y la creación de un inventario desde la información registrada en el Sistema de Gestión de Información Geotérmica y de Petróleo de Australia Occidental (WAPIMS). La segunda etapa se desarrolló considerando que la cantidad y distribución de lutitas presentes en las areniscas, tienen un gran impacto en la productividad de los yacimientos de hidrocarburos. Así, el primer paso fue calcular el volumen de lutitas a través del índice lineal de rayos gamma. Posteriormente, se modelaron las facies mediante el uso de redes neuronales y los resultados fueron comparados con las descripciones litológicas reportadas de los núcleos de diámetro completo de perforación. La porosidad efectiva fue modelada mediante el registro de densidad volumétrica de la roca y el tipo de distribución de arcilla; la saturación de agua mediante la correlación de Poupon- Leveaux y el modelo de permeabilidad horizontal fue generado con los datos de análisis convencionales de núcleos de diámetro completo de perforación. Se resalta que la presencia de pirita afectó la respuesta de los registros de densidad volumétrica, porosidad neutrón y de resistividad para algunos pozos del área. Igualmente, el hidrodinamismo actuante y la presencia de agua meteórica en los acuíferos incidió en la respuesta del registro eléctrico resistivo, resultando complejo la identificación de contactos agua - hidrocarburo.

Abstract The petrophysical characterization of deposits plays an important role in the oil industry, primarily in the integral management and optimization of recovery processes. The following project presents the petrophysical and facies modeling for the formational units of the Grant Group and the Anderson deposit within the Block-Bunda-3D-2009 of the Canning Basin in Australia. This proposal was divided into two stages. The conceptual stage was based on the study of hydrocarbon migration and accumulation in the area, and the creation of an inventory from the information recorded in the Western Australia Geothermal and Petroleum Information Management System (WAPIMS). The second stage was developed considering that the quantity and distribution of shales present in the sandstone, have a great impact on the productivity of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Thus, the first step was to calculate the volume of shales through the linear index of gamma rays. Subsequently, the facies were modeled using neural networks and the results were compared with the lithological descriptions reported of the full diameter drilling cores. The effective porosity was modeled by recording the volumetric density of the rock and the type of distribution of clay; water saturation by Poupon-Leveaux correlation and the horizontal permeability model was generated with conventional core drilling analysis data. It is highlighted that the presence of pyrite, affected the response of volumetric density, neutron porosity and resistivity records for some wells in the area. Likewise, the acting hydrodynamism and the presence of meteoric water in the aquifers affected the response of the resistive electrical record, making the identification of water-oil contacts complex.

RESUMO: Solos e paleossolos refletem complexa inter-relação entre sedimentação, erosão e não-deposição. A análise dos constituintes mineralógicos de paleossolos é fundamental para a reconstituição dos fatores, processos e ambientes no qual esses se formaram. O reconhecimento de determinadas assembléias mineralógicas podem revelar as condições ambientais durante a pedogênese e através da análise quantitativa se torna possível constatar variação vertical ao longo dos perfis de paleossolos, identificando horizontes com maior concentração mineral ou lixiviação, apontando indiretamente processos ambientais que dominavam no decorrer da evolução pedogenética. O objetivo desse trabalho foi discutir o significado das fases minerais e sua quantificação na evolução ambiental e no grau de desenvolvimento dos paleossolos da Formação Marília, Maastrichtiano da Bacia Bauru. Foram descritas três seções (A1, A2, A3) da Formação Marília. A mineralogia foi determinada através da difratometria de raios-x e para a quantificação mineral foi utilizado o método de refinamento Rietveld. Os calcretes da Formação Marília são predominantemente pedogênico, com minerais autigênicos em sua maioria. A variação do teor de quartzo, calcita, paligorskita e esmectita, a micromorfologia e a diversidade de horizontes subsuperficiais (Bkm, Btkm, Bt) demonstraram que os paleossolos se desenvolveram em condições gerais semiáridas, com episódios de maiores taxas de precipitação, umidade, lixiviação e dessilicação.

ABSTRACT: Soils and paleosols reflect the complex interplay between sedimentation, erosion and non-deposition. An analysis of the mineralogical components of paleosols is critical for the reconstitution of the factors, processes and environments in which they were formed. The recognition of mineralogical assemblages can reveal the environmental conditions during pedogenesis and through quantitative analysis it is possible to identify a vertical variation in mineral concentration or leaching over the paleosol profiles, indirectly pointing to environmental processes that dominated during the pedogenetic evolution. The objective of this study is to discuss the significance of mineral phases and to quantify the environmental evolution and degree of development of paleosols of the Marília Formation, Maastrichtian of Bauru Basin. Three sections have been described (A1, A2, A3) in the Marília Formation. The mineralogy was determined by x-ray diffraction, and mineral quantification was obtained through the Rietveld refinement method. The calcretes of the Marília Formation are pedogenic, mostly authigenic minerals. The variation of quartz, calcite, palygorskite and smectite, the micromorphology, and the diversity of subsurface horizons (Bkm, Btkm, Bt) indicate that the studied paleosols did develop in semi-arid conditions, with episodes of higher rainfall rates, humidity, leaching and desilication.

ABSTRACT Deduction of associated paleoenvironments and paleoclimate, definition of the chronosequence of paleosols, and paleogeographic reconstruction have become possible through the application of micromorphology in paleopedology. Micromorphology has also been useful in recognition of weathering processes and definition of minerals formed in succession. In this respect, the objective of this study was to identify the development of pedogenic processes and discuss their significance in the paleoclimate evolution of the Marília Formation (Maastrichtian) of Bauru Basin. Three sections of the Marília Formation (A1, A2, and A3) were described, comprising nine profiles. Micromorphologic al analysis was carried out according to the specialized literature. In the Marília Formation, the paleosols developed in sandstones have argillic (Btkm, Bt) and carbonate (Bk) horizons with different degrees of cementation, forming mainly calcretes. The evolution of pedogenic processes, in light of micromorphological analysis, evidenced three moments or stages for the genesis of paleosols with Bkm, Btk, and Bt horizons, respectively. In the Maastrichtian in the Bauru Basin, the paleosols with Bkm are older and more arid environments, and those with Bt were formed in wetter weather, but not enough to lead to the genesis of enaulic-related distributions, typical of current Oxisols.

ABSTRACT The influence of post-burial geological processes on preserving pedogenic properties has great importance in identifying ancient paleosols both in the field and in a laboratory. However there are not many publications that focus on characterizing paleosol diagenesis. As temperature and pressure progressively increase, evidence of pedogenesis is modified and destroyed, hindering paleoenvironment characterization and interpretation. This paper discusses diagenetic evidence and its relation to strictly pedogenic features, like structure, cements, nodules, and neoformation of clay minerals using the carbonate paleosols of the Marília Formation in the upper unit of the Bauru Basin as a case study. Despite the long geotectonic and thermal history of the Marília Fomation, paleosols bring us pedogenic evidence that can undergo micromorphological analyses, such as cementation, clay illuviation, bioturbation, and ped structures. The results of analyses in 25 paleopedogenic horizons indicate that the paleotopographic features were responsible for distribution of the diagenetic processes and preservation of the paleosol properties. The maturity of those paleosols controls lithification. In mature paleosols that developed in more stable portions of the landscape, characteristics such as carbonate cementation and development of pedogenic structures are the main factors that inhibit diagenesis. However diagenetic processes that influence poorly-developed paleosols are controlled by depositional characteristics and by changes in the water table, enabling more advanced diagenetic processes, compared to mature paleosols.

Abstract Reservoir static modelling plays a fundamental role in the evaluation phase of a petroleum field. Integrated modelling allows a better understanding of how the local geology and depositional systems are related through the distribution of facies and petrophysical properties within the reservoir. In this study, geological static models of the siliciclastic Carapebus Formation of Campos Basin were built using subsurface data. The applied methodology was divided into five phases: (1) establishment of a conceptual model, (2) building of a structural model, (3) generation of 100 realizations of lithofacies using sequential indicator simulation, (4) generation of 100 realizations of porosity and permeability using sequential Gaussian simulation, and (5) validation of models by targeting both statistical and geological consistency. The obtained models are consistent and honor the conditioning data. A lithofacies constraint is crucial to better characterize the petrophysical properties distribution of the reservoir. A Dykstra-Parsons coefficient of V=0.52 characterizes this reservoir as moderately homogeneous.