" Integrated geological, geophysical and numerical modeling studies applied
to the te understanding of Amazonas Mouth Basin evolution "
e-mail:
Ecole Doctorale 398 Géosciences et Ressources Naturelles
Nom, label de l'unité de recherche:
ISTEP, UMR7193
Address:
Tour 46-00, 2ième étage, Case 129
4 Place Jussieu
75252 Paris Cedex 05
PhD Thesis adviser in France : Christian Gorini, DSc, Professeur
Institut des Sciences de La Terre de Paris (CNRS UMR 7193)
e-mail: [email protected]
PhD Thesis adviser in Brazil: Antonio Tadeu dos Reis, DSc. Full Professor at UERJ, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil)
Project to be developped in Brasil at « Programa de Pós-graduação em Programa de Pós-Graduação
em Dinâmica dos Oceanos e da Terra-UFF »
e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Co-advisers:
Dr. Cleverson Silva (UFF, Niteroi/RJ, Brazil)
Dr. Didier Grangeon (IFP, Rueil Malmaison, France)
Dr. Bilal U. Haq (UPMC-France, ANSF-USA)
Dr. Marina Rabineau (IUEM, Brest, France)
Main purpose of the PhD project:
The main goal of this project is to improve the understanding the Cenozoic evolution of the
the offshore Amazon Mouth basin (Foz do Amazonas basin).The project involves two main research
axes: (1) depositional cyclicity and dynamics of the continental shelf and slope environments of
through an interdisciplinary and approach integrating seismic analysis and digital stratigraphic
modelling, with a zoom on the last 900 kyr; and (2) slopes gravitational processes (gravity tectonics
and mass-transport). This multi-scale and source to sink approach will allow us to understand: (1) the
main processes involved in the sedimentary architecture evolution of the Amazon Mouth basin; and
(2) the evolution of sedimentary environments in mixed systems (carbonate, mixed carbonatesiliciclastic and siliciclastic environments). The main purpose is to reconstruct the geological history
since the post continental break-up by determining the relative importance of the different
parameters/processes (tectonics, climate, eustasy and hydrodynamics) controlling sediment deposition
and preservation.
Scientific arguments and thesis issues:
The Amazon Mouth basin passive margin located along the Brazilian Equatorial tropical
sector, is a particularly interesting study-area where very high sediment fluxes and relatively high
sedimentation rates are noted, allowing the preservation of geometries and configurations of main
sedimentary bodies. We have recently modeled a dip-section of the Amazon Basin using the
Dionisos© software (Cruz et al., 2013). This 2D simulation was based on the preliminary results of
our sequence stratigraphic analysis (Gorini et al., accepted), and brought forward a new age constrain
for the top of the carbonate platform. However, many post-rift stratigraphic and structural aspects of
the basin remain unconstrained.
The main goal of this PhD project is thus to focus on the evolution of the post-rift sedimentary
environments of the Brazilian Amapa Platform, the Amazon Deep-sea fan, the continental shelf and
slope depositional systems that took place in alternating carbonate-siliciclastic environments and
under the effect of gravity tectonics. One of the major difficulties associated with is the understanding
whether the gravitational deformation is continuous through time, or if it only occurs as a result of the
rising siliciclastic sedimentary fluxes (Reis et al., 2010; Cruz et al., 2011; Cruz, 2013; Cruz et al.,
2013), or carbonate production, linked with major tectono-eustatic cycles (e.g., Haq et al., 1987;
Miller et al., 2005). Besides that, many aspects concerning regional tectonics are still poorly
constrained (e.g., individualization of watersheds of the Amazon, Orinoco and Magdalena, Guyana
plateau) as well as how the basin responded to climate variations and eustasy. Seismic and well
analises and 3D stratigraphic modeling of the Amazon Platform will allow us better understanding the
main reasons and mechanisms behind the shift from a carbonate-rich platform into a siliciclastic
domain, and possibly the identification of the key processes at the origin of gravity-driven deposition
at the slope-platform transition.
Attached programs and funding
This project is proposed by our Franco-Brazilian GEOMARGEM research group, integrating
researchers and students from UERJ, UFF, UPMC, UBO focussing on the sedimentary and structural
evolution of Brazilian marginal basins and european margins (Reis et al., 2005; Reis et al., 2008;
Perovano et al., 2009; Araújo et al., 2009; Reis et al., 2010; Silva et al., 2010; Maia et al., 2010; Cruz
et al., 2011; Perovano et al., 2011; Reis et al., 2011; Marangoni et al., 2013; Reis et al., 2013; Cruz et
al., 2013; Gorini et al. accepted). The project is equally integrated linked to “Action Marge Marges
Transformante” (INSU Program).
Seismic and chronostratigraphic well data were made available by the ANP (National
Petroleum Agency of Brazil) as well obtained from academic acquisition surveys. Stratigraphic
modeling will be performed using the Dionisos© software (Granjeon, 1996; 2011), in collaboration
with the ISTEP, IFPEN and IUEM. The stratigraphic modeling will be carried out in two stages:
(1) a low-resolution modeling of the post rift evolution of the margin, followed by;
(2) a higher resolution modeling of the late Quaternary (last 900,000 years).
An important purpose is to develop sequence stratigraphy with the help of stratigraphic
modeling approaches in our franco-brasilian research group. Along with our research objectives, we
are willing to continue strengthening the training and knowledge exchange that we have been
developping between our universities since more than a decade.
Required knowledge and skills
The student will use different acoustic geophysical methods (imaging, seismics) and geological data
(well logs) to understand the basin’s morphological and stratigraphic evolution as well as, parameters
of sediment transfer in a complex sedimentary, deformational and geodynamic setting. The seismic
interpretation and time calibration will be conducted on the basis of sequence stratigraphic concepts. A
basin-scale simulation of sedimentary and tectonic processes will be used to confirm the latter seismic
and biostratigraphic results (Gorini et al., accepted).
References
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