The presence of gas hydrates offshore of eastern Canada has long been inferred from estimated stability zone calculations, but the physical evidence is yet to be discovered. While geophysical evidence derived from seismic and borehole logging data provides indications of hydrate occurrence in a number of areas, the results are not regionally comprehensive and, in some cases, are inconsistent. In this study, the results of systematic seismic mapping along the Scotian and Newfoundland margins are documented. An extensive set of 2-D and 3-D, single and multi-channel, seismic reflection data comprising ~45,000 line-km was analyzed for possible evidence of hydrate. Bottom simulating reflectors (including one double BSR) were identified at five different sites, ranging between 300 and 600 m below the seafloor and in water depths of 1000 to 2900 m. The combined area of the five BSRs is 1720 km2, which comprises a small proportion of the theoretical stability zone area along the Scotian and Newfoundland margins (~635,000 km2). The apparent paucity of BSRs may relate to the rarity of gas hydrates on the margin or may be simply due to geophysical limitations in detecting hydrate.

The ‘giant’ Tambogrande volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits within the Cretaceous Lancones basin of northwestern Perú are some of the largest Cu-Zn-Au-Ag-bearing massive sulphide deposits known. Limited research has been done on these deposits, hence the ore forming setting in which they developed and the key criteria that permitted such anomalous accumulation of base-metal sulphides are not understood. Based on field relationships in the host volcanic rocks and U-Pb geochronology, the deposits formed during the early stages of arc development in the latest Early Cretaceous and were related to an extensional and arc-rift phase (~105-100 Ma, phase 1). During this time, bimodal, primitive basalt-dominant volcanic rocks were erupted in a relatively deep marginal basin. Phase 1 rhyolite is tholeiitic, M-type, and considered to have formed from relatively high temperature, small batch magmas. The high heat flow and extensional setting extant during the initial stages of arc development were essential components for forming a VMS hydrothermal system. The subsequent phase 2 (~99-91 Ma) volcanic sequence comprises more evolved mafic rocks and similar, but more depleted, felsic rocks erupted in a relatively shallow marine setting. Phase 2 is interpreted to represent late-stage arc volcanism during a waning extensional regime and marked the transition to contractional tectonism. The Tambogrande deposits are particularly unusual amongst the ‘giant’ class of VMS deposits in that deposition largely occurred as seafloor mound-type and not by replacement of existing strata. Paleomorphology of the local depositional setting was defined by seafloor depressions controlled by syn-volcanic faults and rhyolitic volcanism. The depressions were the main controls on distribution and geometry of the deposits and, due to inherently confined hydrothermal venting, enhanced the efficiency of sulphide deposition. Geochemical and radiogenic isotope data indicate that the rhyolites in the VMS deposits were high temperature partial melts of the juvenile arc crust that had inherited the isotopic signatures of continental crust. Moreover, Pb isotope data suggest the metal budget was sourced almost wholly from mafic volcanic strata. Therefore, unlike the implications of many conventional models, the felsic volcanic rocks at Tambogrande are interpreted to have only played a passive role in VMS formation.

The ‘giant’ Tambogrande volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits within the Cretaceous Lancones basin of northwestern Perú are some of the largest Cu-Zn-Au-Ag-bearing massive sulphide deposits known. Limited research has been done on these deposits, hence the ore forming setting in which they developed and the key criteria that permitted such anomalous accumulation of base-metal sulphides are not understood. Based on field relationships in the host volcanic rocks and U-Pb geochronology, the deposits formed during the early stages of arc development in the latest Early Cretaceous and were related to an extensional and arc-rift phase (~105-100 Ma, phase 1). During this time, bimodal, primitive basalt-dominant volcanic rocks were erupted in a relatively deep marginal basin. Phase 1 rhyolite is tholeiitic, M-type, and considered to have formed from relatively high temperature, small batch magmas. The high heat flow and extensional setting extant during the initial stages of arc development were essential components for forming a VMS hydrothermal system. The subsequent phase 2 (~99-91 Ma) volcanic sequence comprises more evolved mafic rocks and similar, but more depleted, felsic rocks erupted in a relatively shallow marine setting. Phase 2 is interpreted to represent late-stage arc volcanism during a waning extensional regime and marked the transition to contractional tectonism. The Tambogrande deposits are particularly unusual amongst the ‘giant’ class of VMS deposits in that deposition largely occurred as seafloor mound-type and not by replacement of existing strata. Paleomorphology of the local depositional setting was defined by seafloor depressions controlled by syn-volcanic faults and rhyolitic volcanism. The depressions were the main controls on distribution and geometry of the deposits and, due to inherently confined hydrothermal venting, enhanced the efficiency of sulphide deposition. Geochemical and radiogenic isotope data indicate that the rhyolites in the VMS deposits were high temperature partial melts of the juvenile arc crust that had inherited the isotopic signatures of continental crust. Moreover, Pb isotope data suggest the metal budget was sourced almost wholly from mafic volcanic strata. Therefore, unlike the implications of many conventional models, the felsic volcanic rocks at Tambogrande are interpreted to have only played a passive role in VMS formation.

La géodynamique du domaine Caraïbe, sa déformation et son évolution sont analysés à partir des données de géologie et de géophysique marine, telles que la bathymétrie, la sismique réflexion et réfraction, la gravimétrie et le magnétisme. Ce travail commence par une étude bibliographique du domaine Caraïbe établissant un état des recherches au début de notre étude. L'instrument géophysique majeur utilisé est la sismique multitrace, et notamment les données de la campagne Casis qui ont été traitées classiquement et plus spécifiquement par migration avant sommation (Leroy et al, 1996). Notre travail s'est divisé en deux parties, la première concerne le domaine Nord Caraïbe et plus particulièrement le fossé Cayman, et la deuxième examine, en détail, la Grande Province Volcanique Caraïbe, sa déformation et sa structure crustale. Dans le fossé Cayman, les deux marges conjuguées sont asymétriques, la marge du Belize est abrupte tandis que la marge Jamaïcaine est large et peu sédimentée. L'ensemble des données a permis de définir les blocs basculés de la croûte continentale, non enfouis sous les sédiments, une transition Continent-Océan constituée par un mont arrondi et par une importante dépression syn-rift, et le domaine océanique où les blocs océaniques sont basculés vers la dorsale. Des failles de détachements et les réflexions du Moho sont imagées grâce à la sismique de haute qualité. Les bordures Nord et Sud du fossé sont formées par des fosses profondes qui constituent des marges transformantes entre les croûtes Jamaïcaine et Cubaine épaisses et la croûte continentale amincie ou océanique. Dans le domaine océanique, une discontinuité majeure a été identifiée à l'axe d'expansion. L'identification des anomalies magnétiques sur l'ensemble du fossé conduit à la datation de la Transition Continent Océan (Lutétien inférieur; 49 Ma), à refermer le bassin et à proposer un modèle d'évolution de la zone Nord Caraïbe par le fonctionnement successif (du Nord au Sud) de failles transformantes senestres qui accommodent le mouvement de la plaque vers l'Est. La dorsale océanique s'est propagée vers le Sud entre les anomalies 6 et 8. A la même époque, au Néogène, la trace fossile de la faille transformante Swan a été réactivée entraînant la formation de structures compressives jusqu'à Hispaniola à l'Est. Une déformation Miocène compressive est observée sur la plaque Caraïbe, formée en majeure partie par un plateau volcanique d'âge Crétacé, et divisée en deux bassins (Colombien à l'Ouest, et Vénézuélien à l'Est). La compression augmente du Sud vers le Nord et les structures compressives sont décalées de manière dextre par des accidents orientés NE-SW. La partie centrale et occidentale de la ride de Beata est formée par des hauts topographiques orientés NS décalés de façon dextre. Le point culminant est situé au Nord, se reliant au massif montagneux de Hispaniola (Bahoruco). La tectonique compressive s'effectue sous une contrainte orientée E-W à NE-SW. Son maximum est situé dans la presqu'île Sud d'Haïti et se traduit par une collision avec le bâti Nord d'Hispaniola. On peut évaluer le raccourcissement à 170 km. Le bassin Caraïbe apparaît formé de deux microplaques et la microplaque Colombienne se déplace plus rapidement vers l'Est que la microplaque Vénézuélienne. Ce mouvement différentiel peut être la conséquence d'un mouvement de convergence plus important à l'Ouest qu'à l'Est des plaques Amériques et d'une influence de la rapide convergence de la plaque Cocos. La Grande Province Magmatique Caraïbe atteint 800 000 km2, dont une partie est accrétée sur le continent par obduction et/ou collision. La taille de la province magmatique est de 2500 km de diamètre. On distingue des petits plateaux séparés par des bassins. L'âge des formations volcaniques s'échelonne depuis l'Albien (110 Ma) jusqu'au Campanien (80 Ma), avec un épisode important à 88 Ma (Coniacien) qui affecte l'ensemble de la province magmatique et nous concluons que le volcanisme n'est pas instantané. Nous avons compilé les données de sismique réfraction et différencié une couche 2 (4.6 et 6 km/s) et une couche 3 (plus de 6 km/s). L'épaississement de la croûte s'effectue au niveau de la couche 3, comme sur le plateau des Kerguelen, par sous-placage. En effet, la couche 2 reste mince aussi bien sur les plateaux (4 km) que dans les bassins (2 km); cette disposition explique les affleurements de gabbros (couche 3) le long de l'escarpement Ouest de la ride de Beata. Nous optons pour une origine Pacifique de la plaque Caraïbe et on note de nombreuses analogies avec les Grandes Provinces Magmatiques du Pacifique Ouest (bassin de Nauru, Ontong Java et bassin de Pigafetta), mais nous rejetons l'hypothèse du panache géant situé dans le Pacifique, et nous rattachons la Grande Province Caraïbe au point chaud des Galápagos.

O presente trabalho tem como enfoque o estudo de foraminíferos planctônicos, na margem continental Sudeste Brasileira, entre São Sebastião, SP e Cabo de São Tomé, RJ através do levantamento das espécies existentes no plâncton. Buscou conhecer a distribuição sazonal e vertical na coluna d?água (0 a 100 m de profundidade) das espécies de foraminíferos planctônicos, correlacionar a presença desses organismos a fatores abióticos e bióticos no meio ambiente. Comparar a composição da biocenose e da tanatocenose assim como, realizar análise tafonômica das carapaças depositadas no fundo oceânico, a fim de avaliar o registro sedimentar desses organismos e considerar a utilização de assinaturas tafonômicas em carapaças de foraminíferos planctônicos na compreensão dos processos hidrodinâmicos na área de estudo. Para isso, foram analisadas amostras de plâncton, coletadas no verão/2002 e inverno/2002, e amostras de sedimento. Foram aplicadas metodologias usuais em análises de foraminíferos planctônicos. Foi possível reconhecer que há grande diferença sazonal na abundância e no tamanho de foraminíferos planctônicos na margem continental Sudeste Brasileira. A distribuição vertical desses organismos no verão parece estar relacionada à profundidade da camada de mistura, variação da temperatura na água, e à cadeia alimentar. No intervalo de profundidade entre 0 m e 40 m, predominam Globigerinoides ruber (pink) e Globigerinoides ruber (white). As espécies Globigerina bulloides, Neogloboquadrina dutertrei e Globigerinella siphonifera predominam entre 40 m e 60 m de profundidade, ao passo que entre 60 m e 80 m de profundidade ocorrem Globorotalia menardii, Orbulina universa e Globigerina falconenis. O registro sedimentar das espécies de foraminíferos planctônicos encontrado na área de estudo reflete a biocenose, podendo assim ser utilizado em análises ambientais e paleoceanográficas. As assinaturas tafonômicas observadas refletem as condições hidrodinâmicas locais. / The present work focuses on the study of planktonic foraminifera on the southeast Brazilian continental margin between São Sebastião, SP and São Tomé, RJ. This was done by means of a survey of the existing species in the plankton. The seasonal and vertical distribution in the water column (0-100 m depth) of the planktonic foraminifera species was also determined. In addition, a comparison of the biocenose and of the tatocenose was carried out as well as a tafonomic analysis of the tests deposited in the bottom. This was done in order to evaluate the sedimentary record of these organisms and consider the possibility of using tafonomic signatures in planktonic foraminifera tests in order to better understand the hydrodynamic processes in the study area. For this, plankton samples collected in the summer and winter of 2002, as well as sediment samples, were analyzed. Methodologies common to planktonic foraminfera analysis were applied. The results show that there is a great seasonal difference in abundance and size of the planktonic foraminifera on the southeast Brazilian continental margin. The vertical distribution of these animals in the summer seems to be related to the depth of the mixture layer, variations in water temperature, and to the food chain. In the depth interval between 0 m and 40 m, there was a predominance of Globigerinoides ruber (pink) and Globigerinoides ruber (white). The species Globigerina bulloides, Neogloboquadrina dutertrei and Globigerinella siphonifera are predominate between 40 and 60 m. On the other hand, between 60 and 80 m Globorotalia menardii, Orbulina universa and Globigerina falconenis occur in greater quantities. The sedimentary record of the species of planktonic foraminifera found in the study area reflect the biocenose, being therefore appropriate for the usage in environmental and paleoceanographic analyses. The tafonomic signatures observed reflect the local hydrodynamic conditions.

Eventos climáticos ocorridos no planeta deixam registros no ambiente, com os quais é possível realizar reconstruções das condições ambientais. No oceano, o destino de grande parte da matéria orgânica é o sedimento; assim o estudo de colunas sedimentares preservadas, testemunhos, fornece um registro de informações sobre os processos biológicos, geológicos e químicos ocorridos no passado e de como esses processos responderam às mudanças ambientais. No presente trabalho foram analisados sedimentos superficiais marinhos ao longo da margem continental superior do Sudeste do Brasil de forma a validar a utilização de marcadores geoquímicos orgânicos na região e foi analisado um testemunho cuja base aponta para 35.000 anos e que engloba importantes eventos climáticos ocorridos no planeta: eventos Heinrich 3, 2 e 1, o Último Máximo Glacial e o evento Younger Dryas, de forma a realizar uma reconstrução paleoceanográfica desse período. Os resultados dos marcadores orgânicos moleculares nas amostras superficiais, quando comparados com outros trabalhos realizados na região, mostraram que os marcadores respondem corretamente aos processos sedimentares na margem continental do Sudeste do Brasil e que a utilização de alquenonas como indicadores de temperatura superficial marinha na região é válida. A análise do testemunho permitiu correlacionar as variações de temperatura da água superficial do mar e variações do nível do mar com o fluxo de material terrígeno para o meio marinho nos últimos 35.000 anos, além de identificar os eventos climáticos citados e verificar a influência desses eventos para a região da margem continental superior do Sudeste do Brasil. Os resultados mostraram uma variação de temperatura superficial marinha de até 4°C entre o Último Máximo Glacial e o Holoceno e mostraram que, para a região, não ocorreu a anti-fase térmica entre o Atlântico Norte e o Atlântico Sul citada em diversos trabalhos realizados no Atlântico Sul, durante os eventos climáticos citados. / Climatic changes produce environmental signatures with which it is possible to reconstruct past environmental conditions. In the ocean, the fate of most of the organic matter is the marine sediment. Sediment core analyses reveal a unique reservoir of biological, chemical and geological information about past processes and how they responded to the environmental changes. In the present work, marine surface sediments from the Southeastern Brazilian Continental Margin were analyzed to verify the efficiency of organic geochemical markers in this area. Sediment core from the Southeastern Brazilian upper slope were also analyzed to carry out a paleoceanographic reconstruction. The core covers a time period of 35,000 years, where important climatic changes occurred, such as the Heinrich events 3, 2 and 1, the LGM, and the Younger Dryas events. Surface sediment results for geochemical markers were comparable with other works developed in the area, efficiently describing the processes that occur there. The alkenone based SST was also comparable with observations from multinational programs, being valid for this area. The core analyses showed correlations between SST and sea level variations with changes in terrestrial organic matter flow to the ocean over the last 35,000 years, allowed the identification of previously mentioned climatic events and the verification of the influence of these events on the Southeastern Brazilian Continental Shelf. Results showed that the SST varied up to 4.5°C between the LGM and the Holocene indicating that at this region a thermal antiphasing between southern and northern Atlantic Ocean SST during the last 35,000 years did not occur.

Os métodos potenciais são conhecidos como uma ferramenta útil para estudos regionais. Na Ibéria Ocidental, a gravimetria e a magnetometria podem ser utilizadas para auxiliar no entendimento de algumas questões sobre a estruturação tectônica offshore. Nesta região, tanto as estruturas geradas pela quebra continental, quanto às herdadas do embasamento variscano, tem uma importante contribuição para a resposta geofísica regional observada com estes métodos. Este trabalho tem como objetivo correlacionar as feições geofísicas observadas com alguns modelos geológicos do arcabouço tectônico da Ibéria Ocidental já publicados na literatura. Mapas filtrados foram usados para auxiliar no reconhecimento de diferentes assinaturas geofísicas, os quais foram calculados a partir dos mapas de gravidade Bouguer e do campo magnético total tais como o gradiente horizontal total, derivada tilt, derivada vertical, e integral vertical. O domínio crustal continental foi definido a partir da interpretação dos dados gravimétricos, utilizando gradiente de gravidade horizontal total da Anomalia Bouguer. Os dados magnéticos, originais e filtrados, foram utilizados para identificar mais três domínios regionais offshore, que sugerem a existência de três tipos de crosta não-siálica. Dois deles são propostos como domínios de transição. A região da crosta de transição mais próxima do continente tem uma fraca resposta regional magnética, e a porção mais distal é um domínio de anomalia de alta amplitude, semelhante à resposta magnética oceânica. O limite crustal oceânico não pôde ser confirmado, mas um terceiro domínio offshore, a oeste da isócrona C34, poderia ser considerado como crosta oceânica, devido ao padrão magnético que apresenta. Alguns lineamentos do embasamento foram indicados na crosta continental offshore. As feições gravimétricas e magnéticas interpretadas coincidem, em termos de direção e posição, com zonas de sutura variscanas, mapeados em terra. Assim, esses contatos podem corresponder à continuação offshore destas feições paleozoicas, como o contato entre as zonas de Ossa Morena-Zona Centro-Ibérica. Nesta interpretação, sugere-se que a crosta continental offshore pode ser composta por unidades do Sudoeste da Península Ibérica. Isto permite considerar que a Falha de Porto-Tomar pertence a uma faixa de deformação strike-slip, onde parte das bacias mesozoicas da margem continental está localizada. / Potential field methods are known as a very useful tool to regional studies. On Western Iberia, gravimetric and magnetometric data could be helpful to understand some questions about the offshore tectonic framework. In this area, both continental break-up features and inherited continental basement structures have a strong contribution to compose the regional geophysical response on gravimetric and magnetometric maps. This work aims to correlate observed geophysical features of the Iberian margin with some geological models about the tectonic framework of Western Iberia, already published on literature. Filtered maps were used to recognize different geophysical signatures, which were computed from both calculated Bouguer gravity and total magnetic field, such as total horizontal gradient, tilt derivative, vertical derivative, and vertical integration. The continental crustal domain was defined from gravity data interpretation using an enhanced total horizontal gradient of Bouguer Anomaly maps. Magnetic data was used to identify three more regional offshore domains that could indicate three types of non-sialic crust. Two of them are proposed as transitional domains. The landward transitional crust has a very weak regional magnetic response, and the seaward one is a high amplitude anomaly domain, similar to oceanic magnetic response. The oceanic crustal boundary was not confirmed, but a third offshore domain, seaward from C34 isochron, could be considered as oceanic crust by its magnetic pattern. Some basement lineaments were indicated in the offshore continental crust. Gravimetric and magnetic features coincide in terms of their direction and position with Variscan suture zones mapped onshore. Therefore these contacts could correspond the offshore continuation of these Paleozoic features, such as the Ossa-Morena Zone and Centro-Ibérica Zone suture zone. In this interpretation, offshore continental crust could be formed by units from Southwest Iberia. It allows considering the Porto-Tomar fault as a part of a swath of strike-slip deformation, where mesozoic basins are located.

The ‘giant’ Tambogrande volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits within the Cretaceous Lancones basin of northwestern Perú are some of the largest Cu-Zn-Au-Ag-bearing massive sulphide deposits known. Limited research has been done on these deposits, hence the ore forming setting in which they developed and the key criteria that permitted such anomalous accumulation of base-metal sulphides are not understood. Based on field relationships in the host volcanic rocks and U-Pb geochronology, the deposits formed during the early stages of arc development in the latest Early Cretaceous and were related to an extensional and arc-rift phase (~105-100 Ma, phase 1). During this time, bimodal, primitive basalt-dominant volcanic rocks were erupted in a relatively deep marginal basin. Phase 1 rhyolite is tholeiitic, M-type, and considered to have formed from relatively high temperature, small batch magmas. The high heat flow and extensional setting extant during the initial stages of arc development were essential components for forming a VMS hydrothermal system. The subsequent phase 2 (~99-91 Ma) volcanic sequence comprises more evolved mafic rocks and similar, but more depleted, felsic rocks erupted in a relatively shallow marine setting. Phase 2 is interpreted to represent late-stage arc volcanism during a waning extensional regime and marked the transition to contractional tectonism. The Tambogrande deposits are particularly unusual amongst the ‘giant’ class of VMS deposits in that deposition largely occurred as seafloor mound-type and not by replacement of existing strata. Paleomorphology of the local depositional setting was defined by seafloor depressions controlled by syn-volcanic faults and rhyolitic volcanism. The depressions were the main controls on distribution and geometry of the deposits and, due to inherently confined hydrothermal venting, enhanced the efficiency of sulphide deposition. Geochemical and radiogenic isotope data indicate that the rhyolites in the VMS deposits were high temperature partial melts of the juvenile arc crust that had inherited the isotopic signatures of continental crust. Moreover, Pb isotope data suggest the metal budget was sourced almost wholly from mafic volcanic strata. Therefore, unlike the implications of many conventional models, the felsic volcanic rocks at Tambogrande are interpreted to have only played a passive role in VMS formation. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

Análises microfaunísticas, sedimentológicas e geoquímicas realizadas em testemunho coletado na plataforma interna ao largo de Itajaí, SC, (26°5916,8S -048°0433,6W) permitiram reconhecer nos últimos 7.600 anos, três fases com distintas condições de fluxos de matéria orgânica e hidrodinâmicas. A primeira fase (7.600 5.000 anos cal. A.P.) é caracterizada por baixa produtividade, constatada pelos baixos valores dos indicadores de produtividade (Corg, CaCO3 e índice Benthic Foraminífera High Productivity - BFHP), condições hidrodinâmicas mais intensas (predomínio de areia e alta frequência de Globocassidulina subglobosa) e águas mais oxigenadas (valores elevados do índice Benthic Foraminífera Oxic Index BFOI e porcentagens relativamente altas de espécies epifaunais). O clima nesse período era relativamente mais seco e o nível médio do mar estava aproximadamente 3 m acima do atual. A segunda fase (5.000 3.000 anos cal. A.P.) é marcada pelo relativo incremento na paleoprodutividade (aumento de Corg, CaCO3 e índice BFHP), condições hidrodinâmicas menos intensas (baixa frequência de G. subglobosa e aumento no conteúdo de lama) e diminuição na disponibilidade de oxigênio nas águas de fundo (valores relativamente baixos do índice BFOI). O clima aparentemente torna-se progressivamente mais úmido e há diminuição progressiva do nível relativo do mar. A terceira fase (3.000 900 anos cal. A.P.) é caracterizada por aumento expressivo na produtividade (maiores porcentagens de Corg, CaCO3 e do índice BFHP e altas frequências de espécies infaunais e detritívoras), provavelmente as correntes de fundo são menos intensas (predomínio de sedimentos lamosos e baixa frequência de G. subglobosa) e com conteúdo de oxigênio mais restritivo (valores relativamente baixos do índice BFOI). Nesse período, há aumento significativo no aporte de material terrígeno, evidenciado por acentuado incremento na frequência de Buliminella elegantissima e das razões Fe/Ca e Ti/Ca. O aumento na produtividade poderia estar relacionado ao aumento da umidade ao longo do Holoceno, devido à intensificação do Sistema de Monções da América do Sul (SMAS) ocasionada por variações no ciclo de precessão e possivelmente aumento na frequência de El Niño, que corroboram para o aumento de chuvas no sul do Brasil. O clima mais úmido e o fortalecimento de frentes frias (ventos de S/SW) poderiam ter favorecido à penetração de águas frias e ricas em nutrientes vindas do sul, relacionada à descarga do Rio da Prata / Microfaunal, sedimentological and geochemical analyses from a core collected on the inner shelf off Itajaí, SC, allowed us to recognized , in the last 7,600 years, three phases with different organic matter fluxes and hydrodynamic conditions. The rst phase (7,600 5,000 years cal. B.P.) is characterized by low productivity, evidenced by low values of productivity proxies (organic carbon (Corg), calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and Benthic Foraminífera High Productivity index - BFHP), more intense hydrodynamic regime (dominance of coarser sediments and higher frequencies of Globocassidulina subglobosa) and waters with more oxygen availability (higher values of the Benthic Foraminífera Oxic Index BFOI and relatively high percentages of epifaunal species). The climate during this period was relatively dry and sea-level was approximately 3 m above the present. The second phase (5,000 3,000 years cal. B.P.) is marked by a relative increase in productivity (increase of Corg, CaCO3 and BFHP), hydrodynamical conditions were probably less intense (lower frequencies of G. subglobosa and muddy sediments), and oxygen availability decreased (lower BFOI index values). The climate apparently became progressively more humid and a progressive decline of the sea-level occurred. The third phase (3,000 900 years cal. B.P.) is characterized by a significant increase of productivity (higher percentages of Corg, CaCO3, infaunal and detritivores species, and increase of BFHP index values), probably bottom currents were less intense (muddy sediments and lower frequencies of G. subglobosa) and oxygen contents more restrictive (lower BFOI values). A significant increase in the input of continental material occurs during this period, as highlighted by an increase of Buliminella elegantissima frequencies and increase of the Fe/Ca and Ti/Ca ratios. The increase of productivity could be related to moisture increase throughout the Holocene, due to the intensification of the South American Monsoon system (SAMS) caused by variations in the precession cycle and possibly increased El Niño frequency, which corroborates the increase in rainfall in southern Brazil. The wetter climate and strengthening cold front may have favored the penetration of cold water rich in nutrients from the south, related to the discharge of the Rio de La Plata

O presente estudo compreende a análise de distribuição dos foraminíferos bentônicos vivos no talude continental da Bacia de Campos e Platô de São Paulo, procurando compreender os fatores ambientais condicionantes dessa distribuição. Amostras de sedimento foram coletadas, entre 400 e 3000 m de profundidade, no outono/inverno de 2008, e verão de 2009. Dados sedimentológicos, geoquímicos e microfaunísticos permitiram identificar dois setores na área de estudo. O Setor I inclui amostras do talude superior e médio (400-1300 m de profundidade), e é caracterizado por valores altos de densidade, diversidade, densidade das espécies de foraminíferos bentônicos indicadoras de produtividade (BFHP), de carbono orgânico, e pela presença de espécies como Adercotryma wrighti, Globocassidulina subglobosa e Pullenia bulloides, refletindo maior disponibilidade de alimento, com fluxos episódicos de fitodetritos. O setor II, constituído de amostras do talude inferior e Platô de São Paulo (1300-3000 m de profundidade), é caracterizado por baixos valores de densidade, diversidade, BFHP e de carbono orgânico, com predomínio de espécies epifaunais, indicando condições mais oligotróficas. O oxigênio não se mostrou um fator restritivo à distribuição da microfauna, entretanto, constatou-se que os processos hidro-sedimentares (p.e ação da CB junto ao fundo) e a morfologia de fundo são fatores controladores das condições tróficas no ambiente, determinando assim variações latitudinais e temporais da microfauna de foraminíferos bentônicos vivos na Bacia de Campos. / The present study comprise the analysis of the distribution of living benthic foraminifera on the continental slope of Campos Basin and Plateau of São Paulo to understand the environmental factors determining this distribution. Sediment samples were collected between 400 m and 3000 m water depth, in the austral autumn/winter of 2008, and summer of 2009. Sedimentological, geochemical and microfauna data indicated the existence of two sectors in the study area. Sector I includes samples from the upper and middle slope (400-1300 m water depth), and is characterized by high levels of density, diversity, Benthic Foraminifera High Productivity (BFHP), organic carbon and the presence of species such as Adercotryma wrighti, Pullenia bulloides and Globocassidulina subglobosa, reflecting greater availability of food, with episodic phytodetritus fluxes. Sector II, consisting of samples of the lower slope and Plateau of São Paulo (1300-3000 m water depth), is characterized by low values of density, diversity, BFHP and organic carbon, with species predominant epifaunal, indicating more oligotrophic conditions. Oxygen was not a limiting factor to the distribution of the microfauna, however the hydro-sedimentary (BC influence in the sea floor) and morphology processes are background factors controlling trophic conditions of the environment, determining the temporal and latitudinal variations of the microfauna of living benthic foraminifera in Campos Basin.