CHRONOLOGY OF QUARTZITIC SLOPES FROM MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL
Abstract
Quartzitic mountain reliefs developed in a tropical savanna climate tend to have shallow sedimentary deposits. This is due to low level weathering processes of quartzite rocks and formation of colluvium ramps on the slopes. This study aims to determine the characteristics of colluvial materials, particularly grain size, and to analyze sediment chronology above the saprolite, seeking to identify accumulation rates and make correlations with the dynamics of the recent geomorphological evolution of the Canastra range in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Samples collected in different morphological positions were submitted to granulometric analysis and dated by Optically Stimulated Luminescence Single Aliquote Regeneration (OSL/SAR) and radiocarbon dating. Grain size analysis showed a predominance of sandy and gravel materials and demonstrated that the colluvial ramps in the study area contain materials derived from the decomposition of quartzite rocks, accumulated in shallow and sandy profiles. LOE/SAR dating indicated ages between the end of the Pleistocene, not exceeding 30,500 +/- 4,950 BP, to 500 years BP, whereas the 14C dating showed ages between 4460 +/- 30 BP and 1140 +/- 30 BP. These data indicate that the deposits from the study area are relatively recent, which demonstrate that variations in the weathering process and deposit formation have undergone recent changes, probably due to climatic fluctuations and changes in the regional hydrological regime.
Keywords: Canastra Range, Paleogeomorphological Reconstruction, Weathering of Quartzites, OSL, Tropical Range
References
AUGUSTIN, C. H. R. R., LOPES, M.R.S., SILVA, S.M. 2013. Lateritas: um conceito ainda em construção. Revista Brasileira de Geomorfologia, v.14, n.3, p. 241-257, http://dx.doi.org/10.20502/rbg.v14i3.202
ARAÚJO, M. S. 2017. Evolução dos canais fluviais: morfometria e sedimentologia na bacia hidrográfica do Rio Santo Antônio, Serra da Canastra- MG. 2017. 94 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em: Geografia e Gestão do Território) – Instituto de Geografia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, http://dx.doi.org/10.14393/ufu.di.2017.55
BARROS, L. F. DE P., LAVARINI, C., LIMA, L. S., MAGALHÃES JÚNIOR, A. P., 2012. Síntese dos cenários paleobioclimáticos do quaternário tardio em Minas Gerais/Sudeste do Brasil. Sociedade & Natureza, v. 23, n. 3, 26 abr. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1982-45132011000300001.
BEHLING, H. 1995. A high resolution Holocene pollen record from Lago do Pires, SE Brazil: vegetation, climate and fire history .J Paleolimnol 14,253–268 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00682427
BEHLING, H. 2002. South and southeast Brazilian grasslands during Late Quaternary times: a synthesis. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, vol. 177, issue 1-2, pp. 19-27 DOI:10.1016/S0031-0182(01)00349-2
BENITES, V.M., SCHAEFER, C.E.G.R., SIMAS, F.N.B. & SANTOS, H.G., 2007. Soils associated with rock outcrops in the Brazilian Mountain ranges Mantiqueira and Espinhaço. Rev. Bras. de Botânica 30: 569–577. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-84042007000400003
CARVALHO, A. ET AL., 2018. O Papel dos Processos Fluviais na Configuração de Fundos de Vale na Bacia do Rio Paraúna – Serra do Espinhaço Meridional, Sudeste Do Brasil. Rev. Bras. Geomorfol. (Online), São Paulo, v.19, n.4, (Out-Dez) p.691-708, http://dx.doi.org/10.20502/rbg.v19i4.1354
CAVALCANTE. L.B.V., VALADAO, R.C., SALGADO, A.A.R., 2010. Mapeamento das Unidades do Relevo da Serra do Caraça/Mg: Uma Proposta Baseada na Interpretação de Mapas Temáticos. Revista de Geografia (Recife), v. 1, p. 237-249.
CHONGYI E., JING Z., ZONGYAN C., YONGJUAN S., YAJUAN Z., PING L., MANPING S., YUNKUN S., 2019. High resolution OSL dating of aeolian activity at Qinghai Lake, Northeast Tibetan Plateau, CATENA, 183, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2019.104180
DULLER, G.A.T., WINTLE, A.G., 2012. A review of the thermally transferred optically stimulated luminescence signal from quartz for dating sediments. Quaternary Geochronology, 7: 6-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2011.09.003
EMBRAPA Manual de métodos de análise de solos. Rio de Janeiro : Embrapa Solos, 2011. 230p.
ENTERS, D.; BEHLING, H.; MAYR, C.; DUPONT, L.; ZOLITSCHKA, B., 2010. Holocene environmental dynamics of south-eastern Brazil recorded in laminated sediments of Lago Aleixo. J Paleolimnol 44, 265–277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-009-9402-z
FUCKS, M., LANG, A., 2009 Luminescence dating of hillslopes deposits- a review. Geomorphology. vol: 109 (1-2) pp: doi: 17-26. 10.1016/J.GEOMORPH.2008.08.025
GEE, G.W., BAUDER, J.W., 1986. Particle-size analysis. In: Klute, A. (Ed.), Methods of Soil Analysis: Part 1. Physical and Mineralogical Methods, 2nd edt., Agronomy, 9. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, USA, pp. 383–411.
GODFREY-SMITH, D.I., HUNTLEY, D.J., CHEN, W.H., 1988. Optical dating studies of quartz and feldspar sediment extracts. Quaternary Science Reviews, 7: 373-380. https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-3791(88)90032-7
GUEDES C.C.F., SAWAKUCHI A.O., GIANNINI P.C.F., DEWITT R., AGUIAR V.A.P., 2013. Luminescence characteristics of quartz from Brazilian sediments and constraints for OSL dating. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 85:1303-1316. DOI:10.1016/j.quageo.2011.09.003
GUPTA, A., SESHAGIRI RAO, K., 1998. Index properties of weathered rocks: inter-relationships and applicability. Bull Eng Geol Environ 57, 161–172. https://doi.org/10.1007/s100640050032
KEEN-ZEBERT A., TOOTH S., RODNIGHT H., DULLER G.A.T., ROBERTS H.M., GRENFELL M., 2013. Late Quaternary floodplain reworking and the preservation of alluvial sedimentary archives in unconfined and confined river valleys in the eastern interior of South Africa. Geomorphology, 185, p.54- 66 .dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2012.12.004
KING G.E., ROBINSON R.A.J., FINCHA.A., 2014. Towards successful OSL sampling strategies in glacial environments: deciphering the influence of depositional processes on bleaching of modern glacial sediments from Jostedalen, Southern Norway . Quat. Sci. Rev., 89, pp. 94-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2014.02.001
LEDRU, M.P., 1993. Late Quaternary Environmental and Climatic Changes in Central Brazil. Quaternary Research. v.39. p.90-98. https://doi.org/10.1006/qres.1993.1011
LIAN, O.B., ROBERTS, R.G., 2006. Dating the Quaternary: progress in luminescence dating of sediments. Quaternary Science Reviews, 25: 2449-2468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2005.11.013
MAGALHÃES, C. S. A Aplicação de Parâmetros Morfométricos no Estudo do Relevo das Bacias do Rio Santo Antônio e Ribeirão Grande, Sudoeste De Minas Gerais. 2015. 112 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Geografia) - Instituto de Geografia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia. 2015.
MAGALHÃES, C. S., RODRIGUES, S.C., 2020. A aplicação de parâmetros morfométricos no estudo do relevo das bacias do Rio Santo Antônio e Ribeirão Grande, Serra da Canastra, Sudoeste de Minas Gerais. Caderno de Geografia, 30, n.esp. 1, 136-153. https://doi.org/10.5752/P.2318-2962.2020v30nesp1p136-153
MAGALHÃES JÚNIOR, A.C., BARROS, L. F. P., RAPOSO, A.A., CHEREM, L.F.S., 2012. Dinâmica Fluvial Quaternária do Rio Maracujá,Quadrilátero Ferrífero (MG). Rev. Bras. Geomorfol. (Online), São Paulo, v.13, n.1, (Jan-Mar) p.3-14, http://dx.doi.org/10.20502/rbg.v13i1.337
MADSEN, A.T., MURRAY, A.S., 2009. Optically stimulated luminescence dating of young sediments: A review. Geomorphology, 109: 3-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.08.020
MELLETT, C. L., 2013. Luminescence Dating. in British Society for Geomorphology Geomorphological Techniques, Chap. 4, Sec. 2.6 - https://geomorphology.org.uk/sites/default/files/geom_tech_chapters/4.2.6_LuminescenceDating.pdf.
MEYER, M.C., GLIGANIC L.A., JAIN M. SOHBATI,R., SCHMIDMAI D., 2020. Lithological controls on light penetration into rock surfaces – Implications for OSL and IRSL surface exposure dating. Radiation Meeasurements. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2018.03.004
NAZAR, T.I.S.M., 2018. O Chapadão do Diamante na Serra da Canastra/MG, Brasil: caracterização geomorfológica e análise integrada do meio físico a partir de dados multifontes. 2018. 270 f. Tese (Doutorado em Geografia) - Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia. http://dx.doi. org/10.14393/ufu.te.2018.6
NAZAR, T.I.S.M.; RODRIGUES, S. C., 2019 (a). Relevo do Chapadão do Diamante, Serra da Canastra/MG, Brasil: Compartimentação d Análise a Partir dos Aspectos Geomorfométricos. Rev. Bras. Geomorfol. (Online), São Paulo, v. 20, n. 1, p. 69-88. http://dx.doi.org/10.20502/rbg.v20i1.1300
NAZAR, T.I.S.M., RODRIGUES, S. C., 2019 (b). Mapping and Analysis of Surface Geocover in the Chapadão do Diamante – MG - Brazil. Mercator, Fortaleza, v. 18, may p.1-17. https://doi.org/10.4215/rm2019.e18010
OLIVEIRA, L. A. F., COTA, G.E.M., LIMA, L.B.S., MAGALHÃES JÚNIOR, A.C. 2018. Aplicação da Luminescência Opticamente Estimulada (LOE) como Subsídio aos Estudos de Capturas Fluviais Quaternárias: O Caso da Serra da Mantiqueira (Zona da Mata de Minas Gerais). Rev. Bras. Geomorfol. (Online), São Paulo, v.19, n.4, (Out-Dez) p.679-690. http://dx.doi.org/10.20502/rbg.v19i4.1341
PAISANI, J.C., PAISANI, S.D.L., OSTERRIETH, M.L., PONTELLI, M.E., FUJITA, R.H., 2017. Dinâmica de Rampa de Colúvio na Superfície de Palmas/Água Doce Durante o Quaternário Tardio – Bases para Compreender a Evolução das Encostas no Planalto das Araucárias. Rev. Bras. Geomorfol. (Online), São Paulo, v.18, n.4, (Out-Dez) p.783-799. http://dx.doi.org/10.20502/rbg.v18i4.1247
PENG, J., DONG, Z. & HAN, F., 2016. Optically stimulated luminescence dating of sandy deposits from Gulang county at the southern margin of the Tengger Desert, China. J. Arid Land 8, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-015-0137-6
PINHEIRO M.R.; MICHELON C.R. MANFREDINI S., 2016. Gênese dos Depósitos Neocenozóicos do Reverso da Serra de São Pedro e Evolução da Superfície das Cristas Médias – Sudeste do Brasil. Rev. Bras. Geomorfol. (Online), São Paulo, v.17, n.4 (Out-Dez) p.661-677. http://dx.doi.org/10.20502/rbg.v17i4.1007
RICHARDS, M., 1994. Luminescence Dating of Quartzite From the Diring Yuriakh Site. 105p. Thesis. Simon Fraser University
RITTENOUR, T.M., 2008. Luminescence dating of fluvial deposits: applications to geomorphic, palaeoseismic and archaeological research. Boreas, 37 pp. 613-635. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1502-3885.2008.00056.x
RODRIGUES, S. C. 2002. Impacts of Human Activity on Landscapes in Central Brazil: a Case Study in the Araguari Watershed. Australian Geographical Studies (Print), v. 40, p. 167-178,. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8470.00172
Santos, F.C.,; Rodrigues, S.C. 2019. Procedimento Operacional Padrão (POP) - Laboratório de Geomorfologia e Erosão de Solos. 30p. Uberlândia. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.11998.59202
SANTOS, F.C., Confessor, J.G., 2020. Geoquímica e geocronologia em campos de murunduns no Chapadão do Diamante –Serra da Canastra-MG. Caderno de Geografia, 30, n.esp. 1, 99-111. https://doi.org/10.5752/P.2318-2962.2020v30nesp1p99-111
SIMÕES, L.S.A.; MARTINS, J.E.S.; VALERIANO, C.M.; GODOY, A. M.; ARTUR, A. C. 2015. Folha Vargem Bonita, SF.23-VB- I. Projeto Fronteiras de Minas Gerais. Programa Mapeamento Geológico do Estado de Minas Gerais. Contrato CODEMIG 3473, FUNDEP 19967. UFMG.
SOUZA, D. A.; RODRIGUES, S. C. 2014. Aspectos Morfoestruturais e Morfoesculturais da Serra da Canastra e Entorno (MG). Revista do Departamento de Geografia – USP, v. 27, p. 47-66. https://doi.org/10.11606/rdg.v27i0.472
SMEDLEY R.K., GLASSER N.F., DULLER G.A.T., 2016. Luminescence dating of glacial advances at Lago Buenos Aires (46 °S), Patagonia Quat. Sci. Rev., 134 pp. 59-73. doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.12.010
SOHBATI R, MURRAY AS, CHAPOT MS, JAIN M, PEDERSON J., 2012. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) as a chronometer for surface exposure dating. J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth. 117:1–7. doi:10.1029/2012JB009383.
SOHBATI, R., 2015. Luminescence, rock surfaces. In: Encyclopedia of Scientific Dating Methods. Springer, pp. 485–488. DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_83-4
STOKES, S., 1999. Luminescence dating applications in geomorphological research. Geomorphology, 29: 153-171. doi.org/10.1016/S0169-555X(99)00012-4
TISSOUX H., VALLADAS H., VOINCHET P., REYSS J.L., MERCIER N., FALGUÈRES C., BAHAIN J.J., L. ZÖLLER, ANTOINE P., 2010. OSL and ESR studies of Aeolian quartz from the Upper Pleistocene loess sequence of Nussloch (Germany). Quat. Geochronol., 5, pp. 131-136, 10.1016/j.quageo.2009.03.00
TRIPATHI, J.K. RAJAMANI, V., 2003. Weathering control over geomorphology of supermature Proterozoic Delhi quartzites of India. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.62(2), pp.215–226. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.501
VALERIANO, C.M.; DARDENE, M.A.; FONSECA, M.A.; SIMÕES, L. S.A.; SEER, H.,J. 2004. A evolução tectônica da Faixa Brasília. In: MANTESSO-NETO, V. et al. (Org.). Geologia do continente sul-americano: evolução da obra de Fernando Flávio Marques de Almeida. São Paulo: Beca, p. 575-592.
UHLEIN, A.; FONSECA, M.A.; SEER, H.J.; DARDENE, M., 2012. A. Tectônica da Faixa de Dobramentos Brasília – setores sententrional e meridional. Geonomos, Belo Horizonte, v. 20, n. 2, p. 1-14. DOI: 10.18285/geonomos.v2i20.243
YUKIHARA E.G., MCKEEVER S.W.S., 2011. Optically stimulated luminescence -Fundamentals and applications. John Wiley & Sons, Oklahoma.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain the copyright and grant MERCATOR the right of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which allows the sharing of the work with recognition of the authorship of the work and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are authorized to sign additional contracts separately, for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in this journal (e.g., publish in an institutional repository or as a book chapter), with acknowledgment of authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are allowed and encouraged to publish and distribute their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their personal page) at any point before or during the editorial process, as this can generate productive changes as well as increase the impact and citation of the published work (see The Effect of Free Access).
- Authors are responsible for the content of the manuscript published in the journal.