Lineamentos pós-rifte na porção centro-sul da Bacia Potiguar: estudos estruturais a partir de dados de sensores remotos e de campo

Abstract

This work presents a geological and structural analysis of post-rift lineaments in the south-central portion of the Potiguar Basin, located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, covering an area of approximately 5,000 km². The main objective was to contribute to the advancement of geological knowledge of the region through the acquisition of data in the emerged part of the basin, using remote sensing image analysis and field data. The methodology included the identification of geological structures, such as lineaments and fractures in the basin, as well as the traces of foliations and lineations in the Precambrian basement, along with the brittle structures superimposed on it, aiming to characterize the Meso-Cenozoic reactivation phases in the basin. Two main types of remote sensing images were used: optical images obtained by satellites, supported by the Google Earth software, and radar images obtained by the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). The interpreted geological-structural data were integrated with the analysis of parameters at the outcrop scale in different units of the basin, allowing the refinement of previously mapped lineament sets. Four predominant orientations were identified and mapped: N-S, E-W, NW (including NNW to WNW), and NE/NNE. These features, defined by discrete and linear traces, were associated with brittle structures and stand out mainly for being associated with rectilinear drainage aligned in valleys or topographic ridges. The lineaments truncating the basin are generally attributed to the Cretaceous period. These features may represent newly formed tectonic structures or result from the reactivation of older ones, highlighting the influence of Meso-Cenozoic tectonic events on the basin's configuration.