Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399

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Journal of South American Earth Sciences

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A stratigraphic chart of the Late Carboniferous/Permian succession of the

eastern border of the Paraná Basin, Brazil, South America
Michael Holz a,*, Almério B. França b, Paulo A. Souza a, Roberto Iannuzzi a, Rosemarie Rohn c
a
UFRGS-Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, C.Postal 15001-91501-970-Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
b
Petróleo Brasileiro-Depex, E&P-EXP-Av. República do Chile, 65/1302-20031-912-Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
c
UNESP, C. Postal 178, 13506-900-Rio Claro, SP, Brazil

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Sequence stratigraphy, lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy of the Late Carboniferous/Permian succes-
Received 15 October 2008 sion of the eastern border of the Paraná Basin are organized in the form of a detailed chart in order to
Accepted 17 April 2009 provide a useful and updated synthesis of that stratigraphic interval. The traditional lithostratigraphic
subdivision is shown together with a third-order stratigraphic framework and a complete biostrati-
graphic scheme based upon palynomorphs, plants and invertebrate macrofossils. Based on the regional
Keywords: occurrence of features that indicate base level fall and formation of a sequence boundary (e.g., marine
Late Carboniferous
to fluvial facies shift, pebbly lags, bonebeds) seven LPTS’s (=Late Paleozoic Third-Order Sequences) were
Permian
Paraná Basin
recognized and are shown in the stratigraphic chart, enclosed as an color-printed appendix at the end
Sequence stratigraphy of the paper. The text includes a brief characterization of the main facies and depositional systems of
Biostratigraphy the lithostratigraphic units, a description of the fossil content of each lithostratigraphic unit, and a char-
acterization in terms of sequence stratigraphy, with a brief description of eight third order sequence
boundaries as depicted in the stratigraphic chart, including recent advances on radiometric dating.
Ó 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction The prevalence of eustatic-tectonic cycles, which controlled

The Paraná Basin is a huge intracratonic basin on the South-
American platform, located in southernmost Brazil and north/
northwestern Uruguay, parts of Paraguay and Argentina (Fig. 1A).
The basin covers a surface area of about 1,700,000 km2, has a pres-
ent NE–SW elongated shape, and is approximately 1750 km long
and 900 km wide. The sedimentary fill of the basin was condi-
tioned by tectonic-eustatic cycles linked to the evolution of West
Gondwana during Palaeozoic and Mesozoic times.
The Basin has been emplaced over different geotectonic do-
mains, comprising Archean and Paleoproterozoic cratonic terrains
and Neoproterozoic mobile belts related to the Pan-African and
Brasiliano orogenies, responsible for the assemblage of West
Gondwana. Hence, the geotectonic framework of the basement is
characterized by several cratonic blocks and intervening mobile
belts, forming a complex framework of lineaments and crustal dis-
continuities which influenced sedimentation due to differential
subsidence and uplift of the tectonic blocks (Holz et al., 2006).
* Corresponding author. Address: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul,
Instituto de Geociências, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501 970, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Tel.: +55 51 3308 6836; fax: +55 51 3308 7047.
E-mail address: michael.holz@ufrgs.br (M. Holz).
sedimentation in the Paraná Basin, has generated a stratigraphic
record that is marked by numerous interruptions caused by ero-
sion and non-deposition. Milani et al. (1994, 1998, 2007) consid-
ered that the fill of the basin is constituted of six second order
depositional sequences, ranging in age from Late Ordovician to Late
Cretaceous (Fig. 1B). The stratigraphic interval studied herein cor-
responds to the third sequence of Milani et al. (2007), named as
‘‘Gondwana I Supersequence”, ranging from the Late Carboniferous
to the Late Permian.
The present paper deals with the sedimentary succession of the
eastern border of the basin (Fig. 1A), showing a comprehensive
integration of lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and third order se-
quence stratigraphy (i.e. sequences with a typical 1–11 m.y. dura-
tion, e.g., Krapetz, 1996). The main goal is to offer an integrative
overview of both published and new data, as well as interpreta-
tions on the geological evolution of these deposits. Although se-
quence stratigraphy deals rather with analytic tools than with
formal stratigraphic units (as lithostratigraphy does), we have cho-
sen to present the overview with subdivisions based on lithostra-
tigraphy, which still is a kind of ‘‘reference for communication”
between stratigraphers. Insofar, sentences like ‘‘part of the Rio Bo-
nito Formation integrates sequence 2”, although conceptually
wrong (because different concepts are mixed up), will appear in or-
der to facilitate comprehension, because lithostratigraphical

0895-9811/$ - see front matter Ó 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2009.04.004
382 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399

Fig. 1. (A) Simplified geologic map of the eastern/southeastern margin of the Paraná Basin and the main geographic information. (B) The stratigraphic chart (see Appendix A)
dealt with herein shows an approximately northeast–southwest oriented section, covering the four states São Paulo (SP), Paraná (PR), Santa Catarina (SC) and Rio Grande do
Sul (RS). B – the stratigraphic chart of the Paraná Basin (simplified after Milani et al. (2007)). The dotted rectangle marks the target of the present paper.

names are ‘‘classics” and widely known, in contrast to the sequence
stratigraphic schemes.
Based on these premises, the text is organized as follows:
 A brief characterization of the main facies and depositional sys-
tems of the lithostratigraphic units;
 A descriptive list of the fossil content of each lithostratigraphic
unit, stressing mainly bivalves, conchostraceans, plants and pal-
ynomorphs, on which the biostratigraphic schemes and correla-
tions were based;
 A characterization of the succession in terms of sequence stra-
tigraphy, with a brief description of the sequence boundaries
as depictured in the stratigraphic chart.
The header of each chapter will refer to the name of the strati-
graphic unit (e.g.; ‘‘Rio Bonito Formation”) followed by the approx-
imate time frame of deposition (e.g., ‘‘Early Permian, Sakmarian to
Artinskian”), without discussing lithostratigraphic hierarchy (e.g.,
whether a particular unit is treated as a group, a subgroup or for-
mation by other authors). Extensive literature revisions are
avoided herein, but key references to every stratigraphic unit are
given.
Palynozones are assigned for each lithostratigraphic unit
according to Souza and Marques-Toigo (2005) and Souza (2006)
zonal schemes, which are derived from data of several boreholes
and outcrops widespread in the Basin, integrating the intervals
proposed by Daemon and Quadros (1970). Limits between paly-
nozones are not related to the lithostratigraphical unit boundaries,
as well as the sequence boundaries. They correspond to important
variation in the flora composition, in response to major climate
changes.
Geochronology and published radiometric data are also dis-
cussed. We adopted the time scale of Gradstein et al. (2004) to cal-
ibrate all sequence stratigraphic and biostratigraphic surfaces.
Although the main figure and goal of the paper is the enclosed
stratigraphic chart, some additional figures are shown for clarifica-
tion of particular aspects of the stratigraphy shown in the chart.
The stratigraphic chart, enclosed as a fold-out page at the end of
the paper, shows the formal stratigraphic units (geochronology,
lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy) at the left, while sequence stra-
tigraphy appears at the right side, showing that the Late Carbonif-
erous–Permian second-order sequence is herein divided into seven
third-order sequences, labeled ‘‘Late Paleozoic third order
sequences” (LPTS) 1–7.
2. Itararé Group (Late Carboniferous to Early Permian:
Bashkirian/Moscovian to Early Sakmarian)
2.1. Main facies, depositional systems and lithostratigraphy
This unit comprises up to 1500 m of glacio-continental and gla-
cio-marine facies associations, consisting mainly of clastic litholo-
gies including diamictites, sandstones, rhythmites, mudstones,
 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399
shales, conglomerates and minor coal seams. The Itararé rests
either directly upon Precambrian basement, or on Cambrian/Ordo-
vician strata of the Camaquã and Itajaí basins (in southern Brazil),
or on Devonian strata of the Paraná Group. The facies association
points to deposition predominantly by rain out processes followed
by downslope resedimentation, sediment gravity flows, turbidity
currents, and minor lodgment tills.
França and Potter (1988) have divided its sedimentary succes-
sion into the Lagoa Azul, Campo Mourão and Taciba Formations.
In Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, the topmost Itararé is
mostly marine, known as the Rio do Sul Formation, with two Mem-
bers called Budó (a sponge-rich marine mudstone) and Suspiro (a
tillite). A recent stratigraphic overview can be found in Holz et al.
(2008).
2.2. Fossils and biostratigraphy
Most typical fossils of the glacial succession, unfortunately not
suitable for biostratigraphic zonation, are gastropods (Peruvispira
delicata), brachiopods (Atenuatella and Langella), insects (protort-
hopteroids, plecopteroids, Anphiesmemenoptera; and blattoids),
besides foraminifera, sponge and paleoniscoid fish fragments,
ostracodes, escolecodontes and ichnofossils (Petri and Souza,
1993; Pinto, 1995).
Palynomorph data indicate that the glaciogenic sedimentation
began during the Moskovian/Bashkirian (Late Carboniferous), but
the unit reaches up to Permian times (Sakmarian) (Souza, 2006).
In terms of macrofloral succession, the Itararé Group is basically
composed of two main kinds of floras: one Carboniferous and an-
other Permian. The Late Carboniferous flora was previously
denominated as Taphoflora A, by Rösler (1978), and later as Pre-
Glossopteris Flora, by Iannuzzi and Souza (2005). This flora occurs
as compressed–impressed plant remains in only few localities of
São Paulo, having been recovered from the lowermost to the mid-
dle Itararé Group.
It is characterized by the absence of glossopterid elements and
contains the typical plant taxa found in the ‘‘Nothorhacopteris-Bot-
rychiopsis-Ginkgophyllum Flora” for the Late Carboniferous of
Argentina. Some of the phytofossiliferous beds are interbedded
with glaciogenic deposits. The Late Carboniferous age of this flora
is based on the association with palynomorphs belonging to the
Ahrensisporites cristatus Zone and the Crucisaccites monoletus Zone
(Souza, 2006).
The Permian flora of this unit was designed as Phyllotheca-
Gangamopteris Flora by Iannuzzi and Souza (2005). It corresponds
to the ‘‘Transitional” or Taphoflora ‘‘A-B” of Rösler (1978). This flora
also occurs in few localities but is widely spread through the east-
ern margin of the Basin, having been found in localities from the
Fig. 2. Within the Itararé succession there is an important erosional feature linked to excavation and deposition during a major base level fall: A – the Lapa Sandstone, the
infill of a huge incised valley originated during a base level fall in the Late Carboniferous, B – the Vila Velha lobes, formed by sandstones deposited probably during the
excavation of the Lapa incised valley.
383
uppermost Itararé situated in São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul. It
is characterized by the impressions–compressions of the first
appearance of glossopterid elements and by the abundance of
shrubby sphenophytes. Among the glossopterid elements, the
Gangamopteris-type leaves dominate, while Glossopteris-type
leaves are less common in the assemblages. The Early Permian
age of this flora is adopted on the basis of its association with ele-
ments of the Vittatina costabilis Zone and the fact of the first
appearance of glossopterids is considered as a marker of the Perm-
ian strata throughout Gondwana (Iannuzzi and Souza, 2005).
In few localities of the Paraná Basin, there are occurrences of
some typical elements (bivalves) related to Australian ‘‘Eurydesma
Fauna”, recovered from the upper part of the Itararé Group (Rocha-
Campos and Rösler, 1978). The ‘‘Eurydesma Fauna” is considered
throughout Gondwana deposits as earliest Permian, e.g., Asselian
– Early Sakmarian interval (Iannuzzi and Souza, 2005; Iannuzzi,
2007).
2.3. Sequence stratigraphy
The Itararé succession is located at the base of the second-order
depositional sequence of Milani et al. (1994) and has two regional
sequence boundaries, hence containing two Late Paleozoic third
order Sequences (LPTS-1 and 2).
LPTS-1 is marked by the basal unconformity SB-1, which is rec-
ognizable regionally and marked by the contact between the Late
Carboniferous to Early Permian succession and its underlying Neo-
proterozoic, Cambrian-Ordovician or Devonian basement. The SB-1
is also a second-order boundary, marking the base of the second-
order depositional sequence of the framework of Milani et al.
(1994).
Within the Itararé succession there is an important erosional
feature linked to excavation and deposition during a major base le-
vel fall, the so-called Lapa Sandstone and Vila Velha Sandstone,
which form a continuous channel-lobe system in southern Paraná
(França et al., 1996). The Lapa Sandstone (Fig. 2A) is interpreted as
a huge incised valley fill (65 km long, 2 km wide and 100 m thick)
excavated during a sea level lowstand at the end of the Carbonifer-
ous, and filled by sands from glacial outwash during the subse-
quent transgression (França et al., 1996). The Vila Velha
Sandstone (Fig. 2B) is the result of the stacking of three widespread
lobes about 30 m thick each and 2 km wide, deposited probably
during the excavation of the Lapa incised valley.
Therefore, this erosional excavation feature is indicative of an
important base-level fall, marking a sequence boundary within
the Itararé succession, herein labeled SB-2, which divides LPTS 1
and 2 and is coincident with the transition between two pal-
384 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399
ynomorph interval zones (i.e., the A. cristatus and C. monoletus
Zones, labeled AcZ and CmZ, respectively).
3. Rio Bonito Formation (Early Permian: Early Sakmarian to
Middle Artinskian)
3.1. Main facies, depositional systems and lithostratigraphy
The Rio Bonito is the coal-bearing unit of the Paraná Basin.
Some coal seams, very thin (<0.5 m) and laterally discontinuous,
occur in a fluvial and deltaic system, as interpreted by facies asso-
ciation comprised by orthoconglomerates and coarse to fine
subarkose sandstones, with planar and trough cross bedding and
fining-upwards cycles, topped by mudstones and coal. The interflu-
ves are characterized by muddy facies with argillaceous coal
seams. This fluvial-deltaic interval occurs characteristically at the
base of the Rio Bonito Formation.
Thick (up to 2.5 m) and laterally continuous (up to 40 km) coal
seams occur in lateral association with quartz-arenites and mas-
sive or laminated mudstones with lenticular and wavy bedding.
The most conspicuous sedimentary structures of the sandstones
are tabular cross stratification and planar-parallel bedding, many
levels with flaser, mud drapes and wavy bedding and very abun-
dant hummocky cross stratification, besides icnofacies Skolithos
(Holz, 1999).
The features of these facies associations point to a wave and tide
influenced estuarine system evolving to a barrier-lagoon deposi-
tional system (e.g., Holz, 2003), where the mires were formed be-
hind barrier island (Fig. 3).
The succession of fluvial-deltaic and marine deposits is subdi-
vided into three major packages with the hierarchy of members, la-
beled from base to top: Triunfo (coastal and fluvial sandstones),
Paraguaçu (marine mudstones and fine-grained sandstones) and
Fig. 3. In southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul/Santa Catarina), the most exploited and economically important coal seams are not linked to delta systems, but to
retrogradational lagoon-barrier systems. A – Normal regression of shoreface and back-barrier peat-forming environments; B – after sea level raise and erosional shoreface
retreat, coal seams are topped by shoreface sandstones.
Siderópolis (coastal and fluviatile sandstones). The shallow marine
Paraguaçu member is not identified in the southernmost part of
the basin (the Rio Grande do Sul State), where the Rio Bonito For-
mation is not formally subdivided into members.
3.2. Fossils and biostratigraphy
This unit is characterized by the Glossopteris–Brasilodendron (G-
B) flora that corresponds to the typical ‘‘Glossopteris Flora” associ-
ated with the Gondwana coal measures (Iannuzzi and Souza,
2005). It is equivalent to Taphofloras ‘‘B” and ‘‘C” of Rösler (1978).
In this flora, the compressed–impressed lycopsid stems, pecopterid
fronds and codaitalean and glossopterid leaves are locally abun-
dant; leaves of the genus Glossopteris become dominant and replace
the previous Gangamopteris-type glossopterids. The age of this flora
is primarily given by its association with the V. costabilis Zone of the
late Sakmarian-Artinskian interval. In Santa Catarina, there was
identified a marine megafauna dominated by bivalves, named as
‘‘Taió Assemblage”, recorded in the middle Rio Bonito (Rocha-Cam-
pos and Rösler, 1978). An Early Permian age (probable Artinskian) is
suggested for this fauna based on the affinities of the bivalves to
Western Australian taxa (Rocha-Campos and Rösler, 1978).
3.3. Sequence stratigraphy
Detailed (third-order) sequence stratigraphy analysis of the
interval, which corresponds to the Rio Bonito Formation (e.g., Holz,
1999; Holz et al., 2006), clearly shows two distinct regional uncon-
formities caused by important base level changes. These unconfo-
rmities are third order sequence boundaries and roughly
correspond to the lithostratigraphic limits.
The first of these unconformities is located at the base of the Rio
Bonito Formation, marked as sequence boundary SB-3 in the chart.
 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399 385

Fig. 4. Core expression of sequence boundary SB-3 in a representative borehole in the southern study are, where the unconformity is characterized by fluvial deposits
overlying marine sediments. Detail in A illustrates the typical rhythmic sand/mudstone couplets interpreted as deposited by distal turbidity currents derived from
subaqueous glacial outwash fans, detail in B shows marine mudstones from the topmost zone of the glacial succession, detail in C shows medium to coarse-grained
sandstones with trough cross bedding, and detail in D illustrates estuarine sandstones and mudstones with bioturbation. Modified from Holz (1997).

This is a third order sequence boundary recognized and correlated
regionally, separating the glacio-marine mudstone and sandstone
of the Itararé from the fluvial and deltaic sandstones of the Rio Bo-
nito Formation (Fig. 4), as recorded at several locations of the east-
ern border of the Paraná Basin (e.g., França, 1993; Alves and Ade,
1996; Holz, 1997; Milani et al., 1998).
Eventually the fluvial succession scours even the transgressive
systems tract of the prior sequence, indicating a considerable
base-level fall which is recognized at the entire southern margin
of the Paraná Basin, as described by several authors (Alves and
Ade, 1996; Holz, 1997).
The second sequence boundary of this interval is stratigraphi-
cally located close to the top of the Rio Bonito Formation, and is
marked by fluvial to paralic facies (delta front, foreshore and shore-
face sandstones – lithostratigraphically equivalent to the Sideróp-
olis Member) overlying a marine offshore succession
(lithostratigraphically equivalent to the Paraguaçu Member). This
sequence boundary, described by Holz et al. (2006), is labeled
SB-4 in the stratigraphic chart.
This limit is recognizable towards the northern region of Paraná
(Tognoli et al., 2003) and probably is present in São Paulo also
(within the Tatuí Formation), as discussed ahead.
The Rio Bonito Formation is a coal-bearing unit at the entire
eastern margin of the basin, but the sequence stratigraphic ap-
proach, using a maximum flooding surface as a datum for correla-
tion, shows that the Rio Bonito has a marine intercalation in the
central part of the study area (Santa Catarina/Paraná), the Parag-
uaçu Member, which is not identified in the southernmost part
of the study area (the Rio Grande do Sul). The fluvial and coastal
sandstones of the topmost Rio Bonito Formation (labeled as the
Siderópolis Member) are laterally equivalent to the marine depos-
its of the basal portion of Palermo Formation (Fig. 5). Detailed cor-
relation has shown that sequence boundary SB-4 in proximal
setting has the typical ‘‘fluvial over marine” signature while in
the distal zone a pebbly, transgressively reworked lag of shoreface
sandstone can be found (Fig. 6).
Hence, the Rio Bonito succession embraces two third-order se-
quences – LPTS-3 and 4. The Siderópolis Member and its coal
seams, as occurring in Santa Catarina and Paraná, are linked to
LPTS-4, while the coal seams in Rio Grande do Sul belong to the
underlying sequence LPTS-3.
4. Palermo Formation (Early Permian: Middle Artinskian)
4.1. Main facies, depositional systems and lithostratigraphy
The main facies are light to dark gray mudstones and fine-
grained sandstones with hummocky and wavy bedding, showing
a characteristic yellow color in outcrops due to weathering. The
muddy facies is frequently bioturbated, with dominance of the ich-
nogenus Teichichnus. The depositional system is interpreted as
shallow marine (shoreface, marine bayments). The average thick-
ness is about 100 m, reaching up to 140 m. The Palermo Formation
386 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399

Fig. 5. Correlation between the Early Permian succession of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, based upon sequence stratigraphic analyses. Datum is the maximum
flooding surface of LPTS-3. Note that the marine interval called the Paraguaçu Member in Santa Catarina is equivalent to the coal-bearing shoreface-barrier system in Rio
Grande do Sul. After formation of sequence boundary SB-4 the main source area is Santa Catarina, with sandstones and coals assigned to the Siderópolis Member. This
member is time-equivalent to offshore facies in Rio Grande do Sul, labeled the Palermo Formation (modified from Holz et al., 2006). SB = sequence boundary, LPTS = Late
Paleozoic third order sequence.

is the topmost lithostratigraphic unit of the Guatá Group and cor- 5. Tatuí Formation (Early Permian: Late Sakmarian to Middle
relates northwards with the Tatuí Formation. Artinskian)

4.2. Fossils and biostratigraphy 5.1. Main facies, depositional systems and lithostratigraphy

The Palermo Formation is marked by the basal part of the
Lueckisporites virkkiae interval Zone (LvZ) (Souza and Marques-
Toigo, 2005) and by the transition from the Glossopteris–Brasiloden-
dron to the Polysolenoxylon–Glossopteris floras, reflecting an overall
change in flora composition probably due to the strong transgres-
sive component which controlled sedimentation of the Palermo
Formation (Iannuzzi and Souza, 2005), hence inducing retrograda-
tion of the terrestrial facies belt accompanied by evolutionary
modification of the associated floras.
Other fossils are scarce in the Palermo Formation and include
Dadoxylon sp. (in the form of fragments of silicified wood trunks),
teeth from the amphibian Loxomma, beside bivalve shells (Schnei-
der et al., 1974).
4.3. Sequence stratigraphy
As depicted in the chart, LPTS-4, limited at the bottom by se-
quence boundary SB-4, has a complex framework, because the
lithostratigraphic unit known as Palermo Formation is laterally
equivalent to the Siderópolis Member of the Rio Bonito Formation
(in Santa Catarina/Paraná), and to the upper Tatuí Formation (in
São Paulo).
The Palermo succession contains the second-order maximum
flooding surface of the sequence stratigraphic framework of Milani
et al. (1994).
The Tatuí Formation is mainly formed of a succession of mud-
stones and fine-grained sandstones with hummocky cross bedding,
pointing to a shallow marine origin, interbedded with minor
coarse-grained sandstones and conglomerates. Assine et al.
(2003) interpreted the facies association of sandstones with sig-
moidal stratification and hummocky cross bedding as the result
of the progradation of a coastal alluvial fan system onto a marine
shelf. At northern São Paulo State, the progradation of a coarse-
grained clastic wedge (the ‘‘Ibicatu Conglomerate”) indicates tec-
tonic uplifts and reactivation of source areas during the deposi-
tional time of the Tatuí Formation (e.g., Stevaux et al., 1986).
Paleocurrents indicate depositional dip towards the south,
paleoshoreline with an approximate east–west direction and sedi-
ment provenance from the North (Assine et al., 2003).
The Tatuí Formation correlates southwards with the Rio Bonito
and Palermo formations, as already recognized by several authors
(e.g., Gordon Jr., 1946; Barbosa and Almeida, 1949; Soares, 1972).
5.2. Fossils and biostratigraphy
Besides silicified wood logs, palynological and paleobotanical
data are scarce in this unit. Fragments from fresh and salt-water
fishes and possible tetrapod remains, concentrated in wave-re-
worked transgressive lags, are described by Assine et al. (2003)
and Chahud (2007).
 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399 387

Fig. 6. Schematic correlation section showing that the fluvial and coastal sandstones of the topmost Rio Bonito (=Siderópolis Member) are laterally equivalent to the marine
Palermo Formation. A – Base level fall and progradation of fluvial to coastal sands (=topmost Rio Bonito Formation) are coeval to marine deposits, B – resulting sequence
stratigraphy: the sequence boundary in proximal setting has the typical ‘‘fluvial over marine” signature, whereas in the distal zone a pebbly, transgressively reworked lag can
be found. C – Outcrop expression of the ‘‘fluvial over marine” signature of sequence boundary SB-4, D – distal expression of sequence boundary SB-4: offshore mudstones
with lenses of transgressively reworked sandstone, E – detail of the coarse massive sandstone lenses. Modified from Holz et al. (2006).

5.3. Sequence stratigraphy unconformity SB-3 is also recognized in the northern part of the basin,
where the contact between the Itararé Subgroup and the overlying
The base of the Tatuí unit is delimited by the same sequence bound- Tatuí Formation is marked by a prominent erosional surface inter-
ary as its lithostratigraphic equivalent, the Rio Bonito unit, because the preted as an unconformity (e.g., Soares, 1972; Assine et al., 2003).
388 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399

At the top, the transition between the Tatuí and Irati formations
is interpreted as a base level fall followed by a transgressive event
(Assine et al., 2003), separating a highstand systems tract of the
Tatuí succession from a transgressive systems tract represented
by the Taquaral Member of the Irati Formation. The contact is
marked by a discontinuous but widespread centimeter-thick level
of a pebbly lag, characterized by extraclasts, silex grains and bio-
clasts (mainly fish teeth, bones and scales). This lag characterizes
a sequence boundary which is marked in the stratigraphic chart
(SB-5), and is overlying the entire Tatuí in São Paulo, including
the coarse-grained prograding wedge historically known as the
‘‘Ibicatu Conglomerate” of the Tatuí Formation.
Within the Tatuí succession, Soares (1972) recognized a discon-
tinuity labeled L2, characterized by fluvial sandstones with petri-
fied wood logs.
This surface has also been described and recognized as a
sequence boundary by Assine et al. (2003). Therefore, under a
sequence stratigraphic viewpoint, the Tatuí unit would be formed
by two depositional sequences (Fig. 7).
Data on high resolution correlation are not available, but
a comparison between Tatuí’s southern counterpart – the
Rio Bonito/Palermo – suggests that the discontinuity mapped
within the Tatuí Formation by Soares (1972) may be correl-
ative to the unconformity SB-4 mapped within the Rio Bonito
Formation in the southern part of the study area (e.g., Holz
et al., 2006), as tentatively shown in the stratigraphic chart.
Hence, the Tatuí Formation embraces two Late Paleozoic third-
order sequences (LPTS 03 and 04, Fig. 7) with boundaries
correlatable southwards, as depicted in the stratigraphic
chart.
This would indicate that the tectonically controlled base level
fall and the resulting paleorelief inversion and reactivation of
source areas, as described by Holz et al. (2006), was a basin-
scale event which affected the entire eastern margin of the

Fig. 7. Correlation of representative composite profiles of the Tatuí Formation mapped in São Paulo. In terms of sequence stratigraphy, the Tatuí Formation is formed by two
depositional sequences, delimited by regional unconformities. Data are from Assine et al. (2003), incorporating information from Soares (1972).
 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399 389

Paraná Basin during the final Sakmarian. However, the precise
correlation of SB-4 through the entire basin’s margin is still a
matter of investigation.
6. Irati Formation (Early Permian: Late Artinskian)
6.1. Main facies, depositional systems and lithostratigraphy
The Irati Formation, a well-known unit for its oil-prone rocks
and famous mesosaurid fossils, is the basal part of the Permian
Passa Dois Group and extends almost throughout the entire Paraná
Basin. It has an average thickness of 40 m, with peaks of about
70 m in the southern part of the basin.
The contact with the underlying Palermo Formation is marked
by the appearance of dark mudstone.
Formally, the Irati Formation is divided into the lower Taquaral
Member, comprising siltstones and gray to black mudstones, and
the upper Assistência Member, formed by organic-rich mud-
stones and shales interbedded with limestones (packstones,
wackestones).
The Taquaral Member was deposited in a shallow marine envi-
ronment (epicontinental sea) with very restricted connection to
the open ocean, and with relatively good water circulation in com-
parison to the overlying Assistência Member.
The depositional system of the Assistência Member was com-
posed of internal, intermediary and distal ramps tilted to south-
west, admitting a possible connection to the Pantalassa Ocean
only at the southernmost region of South America. This very
large and shallow sea, according to the latitude and the influx
of continental water, could have presented some marginal re-
gions dominated by fresh water (e.g., favorable for the preserva-
tion of Botryococcus), whereas other marginal regions presented
hypersaline conditions (Araújo, 2001).
In the northeastern part of the basin, the basal portion of the
Assistência Member records the most proximal parts of the ramp,
characterized by evaporitic conditions or exposition of carbonate
muds (gipsite and almost autochtonous carbonate breccias) (Araú-
jo, 2001). Cyclic alternation of dry and humid climates coupled
with minor sea level changes are evidenced by rhythmites of dolo-
mite and betuminous shales. Relatively deeper depositional condi-
tions are interpreted for the southern parts of the basin, where

Fig. 8. Typical core log showing facies associations of the Palermo/Irati transiton in the southern study area. (A) Shows the lithostratigraphic contact between Palermo and
Irati formations (a flooding surface under sequence stratigraphic viewpoint), (B) displays the breccias marking sequence boundary SB-5, and (C) illustrates the wave-
influenced facies of basal Irati Formation.
390 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399

organic-rich shales predominate, but even there bone rich carbo-
natic tempestites occur.
6.2. Fossils and biostratigraphy
The unit is characterized by the L. virkkiae Interval Zone and
the Polysolenoxylon–Glossopteris flora which, differently from
underlying floras, is mainly composed of fossil logs, including
elements with probable glossopterid, cordaitalean and conifer
alliances (Iannuzzi and Souza, 2005). A Glossopteris leaf and a
conifer branch were also found (Ricardi-Branco et al., 1999).
The plants are partially equivalent to the Taphoflora ‘‘D” as de-
scribed by Rösler (1978), and include fossil logs of the genus
Barakaroxylon (Alves, 2006). Rare acritarchs and Botryococccus al-
gae were found in the Taquaral and Assistência members (Araú-
jo, 2001; Lages, 2004).
Besides palynomorphs and plants, the fossil content of the Irati
is characterized by the mesosaurid reptiles preserved as articu-
lated skeletons and disarticulated and scattered remains, which
are typical in carbonatic, shaly and bone bed facies in the State
of São Paulo, in carbonatic tempestite facies in Rio Grande do Sul
and also in the black shales of Santa Catarina and Paraná (Lavina,
1991; Soares, 2003). Crustaceans of the genus Clarkecaris are rela-
tively common in the Taquaral Member and other pyg-
ocephalomorph genera occur in the Assistência Member. Insects
as a dragonfly from São Paulo and representants of Mecoptera,
Neuroptera and Homoptera of Rio Grande do Sul are significant
(Rösler et al., 1981; Pinto and Ornellas, 1981).
Scattered fish scales are relatively common in the non-bitumi-
nous siltstone in the middle part of the Assistência Member, but
abundant fragmented and abraded scales, teeth and bony parts
from several types of fishes, as well as from possible tetrapods
are found at the base of the Taquaral Member (e.g., Castro et al.,
1993; Assine et al., 2003; Lages, 2004; Chahud, 2007).
Cyanophyta and Chlorophyta microfossils were discovered in
early diagenetic silex formed in the basal contorted carbonatic
interval of the Assistência Member in São Paulo (Calça and Fair-
child, 2005; Calça, 2008). In the same interval, microbialites were
recognized by Araújo (2001). Finally, other important fossils are
the large stromatolites in the most northeastern outcrop region
of the Passa Dois Group (Suguio and Sousa, 1985; Ricardi-Branco
et al., 2006), as well as stromatolites in the northern part of the ba-
sin (Fairchild et al., 1985). Stromatolites associated to mesosaur
fossils were also found in equivalent levels of the Huab Basin in Na-

Fig. 9. Late Paleozoic third-order sequence 5 (equivalent to the Irati Formation) as occurring in the northern part of the study area (Paraná and São Paulo). Note the thickness
compensation of the Taquaral and Assistência members in the Ponta Grossa Arch region, which evidences distinct tectonic tendencies during the deposition of each member
and their probable separation by an unconformity. Datum for correlation is the base of the Irati Formation (modified from Rohn, 2007).
 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399 391

mibia, which was formerly connected to the Paraná Basin (Holzför-

ster et al., 2000).

6.3. Sequence stratigraphy

The base of the Irati records a base level fall followed by a trans-
gressive event separating a highstand systems tract of the Tatuí
succession from a transgressive systems tract represented by the
Taquaral Member of the Irati Formation in São Paulo (Assine
et al., 2003; Araújo, 2001; Rohn et al., 2003a; Lages, 2004). The
base of the Taquaral Member of the Irati Formation corresponds
to an unconformity which separates the highstand systems tract
of the Tatuí succession from a transgressive systems tract (Assine
et al., 2003; Araújo, 2001; Rohn et al., 2003a; Lages, 2004).
This level, marked by a pavement composed of fish and possible
tetrapod remains, is conspicuous in the eastern margin of the ba-
sin. From northern Paraná towards northeast, this pavement
grades to a decimeter-scale pebbly sandstone with abundant
vertebrate fragments (Mezzalira, 1957; Soares, 1972; Castro
et al., 1993; Assine et al., 2003; Chahud, 2007). In Rio Grande do
Sul, the boundary is marked by a few centimeter thick breccia beds
at the base of the typical siltstones and gray to black mudstones of
the Taquaral Member (Fig. 8). The beds are an indication of an
overall sea level drop and reworking of the sedimentary material
of the exposed marginal zone of the basin (Holz, 1997).
In summary, the above described features record a regional base
level fall, labeled SB-5 in the stratigraphic chart.
A minor sequence boundary is suggested at the Taquaral–
Assistência members’ interface, according to their relative thick-
nesses or respectively distinct subsidence rates/tectonic tenden-
cies in the Ponta Grossa Arch and in the neighboring areas
(Fig. 9) (Lages, 2004; Rohn, 2007). The abrupt replacement of silt-
stones and mudstones (Taquaral Member) by limestones and or-
ganic-rich mudstones (Assistência Member) is another evidence
of total change of the depositional systems, respectively from a
siliciclastic intracratonic to a mixed carbonatic-anoxic siliciclastic
ramp.

7. Serra Alta Formation (Early Permian: Kungurian)

7.1. Main facies, depositional systems and lithostratigraphy

The 60–90 m thick Serra Alta Formation is formed of laminated

dark gray mudstones and black shales, besides carbonatic concre-
tions, decimeter-thick layers of fine grained sandstones and occa-
sional layers of micritic carbonates and thin fish bone-beds
(Meglhioratti et al., 2005). The thickness of this unit decreases very
quickly in the northeastern region of the basin and the dark shales
give place to red mudstones. The boundary with the overlying
Teresina Formation is transitional in most of the basin margin
and is characterized by gradual increase of fine-grained sandstone
interlaminations with lenticular to wavy bedding.
The Serra Alta Formation is interpreted to be formed in a marine Fig. 10. Representative well log for the Santa Catarina/Rio Grande do Sul area. Note
environment below storm wave base, under mainly dysoxic condi- the retrogradational to progradational pattern of the Serra Alta/Teresina transition,
tions (Schneider et al., 1974; Araújo, 2001). However, no fossils and the arrow pointing high gamma ray values which mark the second-order
maximum flooding surface of the Permian succession, within the Palermo
prove a true marine origin. In comparison to the Assistência Mem-
Formation.
ber, the depositional environment changed to less stagnant or less
stratified water bodies, the climate became more humid, the pri-
mary productivity declined, organic matter was more destroyed
by oxidation and the accommodation space increment turned 7.2. Fossils and biostratigraphy
more stable at a relatively high rate (Araújo, 2001). There are no
proximal lithofacies represented in the Serra Alta Formation and Although palynomorphs are very scarce in this unit, guide spe-
it may be inferred that the relatively deep sea surpassed widely cies of palynomorphs assign the Serra Alta Formation to the L. Virk-
the present eastern margin of the basin. kiae Interval Zone (Souza and Marques-Toigo, 2003). Bivalves occur
392 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399
in siltstones some meters above the base of the formation and cor-
respond to the Barbosaia angulata Zone (Rohn and Rösler, 2000). In
micrites near to the transition to the Teresina Formation, bivalves
of the Pinzonella illusa Zone were identified (Meglhioratti, 2006).
Fish scales and teeth, as well as coprolites, are found in bone-beds
or loosely dispersed in the mudstone of the Serra Alta Formation.
7.3. Sequence stratigraphy
The change from Irati to Serra Alta units is marked by a base le-
vel fall which is marked not by exposure, fluvial deposition or
extensive and clear facies shifts, but by a thin fish bone-bed or
breccias, by the disappearance of the bituminous shales, and by
tiny layers of breccia, intraformational conglomerates or sand-
stones. This level is in general separating a more progradational
pattern of sedimentation below from a more retrogradational pat-
tern above, and is interpreted as a transgressive lag (Etgeton, 1997;
Holz, 1997; Menezes, 2000; Lages, 2004; Rohn, 2007). Therefore, in
the stratigraphic chart we indicate a sequence boundary separating
the Irati and Serra Alta units (SB-6).
The transition from Serra Alta to Teresina is gradational in most
of the basin margin, therefore these two lithostratigraphic units
form the LPTS-6 sequence. That sequence begins with the Serra Alta
Formation, marked by a clear retrogradational pattern; with the
gama-ray values in bore-holes reaching a maximum near the top
of the formation in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina (Fig. 10).
Northwards, the gama-ray logs suggest that the maximum flooding
surface is placed to a gradually lower position in the formation
(Meglhioratti, 2006), and a minor sequence boundary seems to oc-
cur at the basal portion of the Teresina Formation in the northern
part of the study area, as described in the next section.
8. Teresina Formation (Early to Mid Permian: Late Kungurian-
Rodian)
8.1. Main facies, depositional systems and lithostratigraphy
The Teresina Formation is about 280–330 m thick in the central
to the eastern portion of the Paraná Basin. The main facies of this
unit are gray mudstones usually interlaminated with very fine
sandstones, showing linsen and flaser bedding, hummocky cross
stratification and wavy bedding, sometimes with small mud
cracks. An abnormally thick sandy interval is observed in the lower
part of the formation in the northern study area. Centimeter to
decimeter thick carbonatic rocks (mainly micrites sometimes with
mudcracks and brecciated intervals, oosparites and stromatolitic
biolitites), as well as bivalve coquinas and fish bone-beds, fre-
quently occur interbedded with siliciclastic successions. Planolites
ichnofacies occurs profusely in the muddy rocks.
In the northern/northeastern part of the basin, the stratigraphic
interval equivalent to the Serra Alta and Teresina formations is
usually designated as Corumbataí Formation (e.g., Schneider
et al., 1974), taking into consideration that the mudstones become
red, the total thickness of the units decreases, the proportion of
sandstones, coquinas and bone-beds apparently increases, and car-
bonatic rocks reduce gradually. In subsurface, the mudstones con-
tinue gray for a considerable interval above the Irati Formation and
there are no clear reasons for the usage of distinct stratigraphic
names for the Serra Alta and Teresina formations in the north-
ern/northeastern part of the basin. It is opportune to note that
the same stratigraphic interval, including the lower part of the
overlaying Rio do Rasto Formation, is designated as ‘‘Estrada Nova
Formation” by some authors (e.g., Maranhão and Petri, 1997).
The Teresina depositional system is interpreted as the result of
sedimentation in storm-influenced offshore to coastal plain set-
tings, with low carbonate contribution in comparison to siliciclas-
tic sedimentation. In the past, it was interpreted as a shallow
marine system and, in part, associated to wide coastal areas with
tidal flats (e.g., Schneider et al., 1974; Sousa et al., 1991). However,
the adequately identified fossils do not evidence a connection be-
tween the epicontinental sea of the Paraná Basin and the Panta-
lassa Ocean (e.g., Mendes, 1984; Rohn, 1994, 2007; Simões et al.,
1998). The general low diversity of the fossils is evidence against
a normal marine environment. Ghilardi and Simões (2002) specu-
late that the bivalves lived in shallow water habitats, frequently af-
fected by storms, and punctuated by episodes of intense
evaporation and hypersalinity with influence of local freshwater
inputs, denoting a situation of high environmental stress. Sum-
ming up all sedimentological and paleontological evidence, the
paleosalinity of the Teresina Formation depositional environment
seemed to have been varying from one extreme (freshwater) to
the other (hypersalinity). The lycophytes – the most abundant
megaplants found in the Teresina Formation – probably lived par-
tially in the water and tolerated saline conditions.
The carbonatic rocks may correspond to the phases of high
water salinity, which may have taken place during relatively dry
climatic intervals (Rohn, 1994; Meglhioratti, 2006). The wide-
spread distribution of oosparites during apparently certain time
intervals (according to correlations of cores and geophysical well
logs) indicate that the ooid shoals were not formed only near to
the coast, but also in more central areas of the basin (Rohn,
1994, 2001; Rohn et al., 2003b; Meglhioratti, 2006). Mud cracks
show the same large geographic distribution. These facts indicate
that shallow water conditions predominated in the basin, with
occasional exposure of large areas.
8.2. Fossils and biostratigraphy
Bivalves are common in carbonatic rocks (micrites and oospa-
rites) and sometimes in sandstones (mainly in the northeastern
part of the basin), keeping in mind that bivalve coquinas also occur.
Mendes (1949, 1952) proposed the first formal biostratigraphic
zones for bivalves of São Paulo – the Pinzonella illusa–Plesiocyprinel-
la carinata Zone and the Pinzonella neotropica–Jacquesia brasiliensis
Zone. Many other authors considered these biozones valid, also
extending their geographic range further south (Rohn, 1994). The
bivalves are endemic to the Paraná Basin (Simões et al., 1998),
but they are not typical freshwater mollusks (Ghilardi and Simões,
2002).
Ostracods are relatively frequent in the micrites, but they were
not thoroughly studied. Sohn and Rocha-Campos (1990) and Mar-
anhão (1995) ascribed them to freshwater environments. Never-
theless, Almeida and Do Carmo (2005), according to a short
published abstract, considered some ostracods from the northern
part of the basin as marine and cosmopolite. Some other ‘‘marine”
microfossils were announced, as rare foraminifers, sponge spicules
and even conodonts, but they were never formally presented in
publications.
Fish scales, teeth, dental plates and other fish remains occur in
bone beds or scattered in various lithologies. Rare amphibian teeth
were also found in bone beds. Some of these vertebrate remains
indicate freshwater living environments (e.g., petalodonts,
amphibians), but they could have been transported to more saline
depositional environments (Toledo, 2001).
Few palynological studies were done for the Teresina Forma-
tion. The assemblages may be ascribed to the L. virkkiae Interval
Zone. Fern spores predominate in core samples from the central–
north region of the State of Paraná (Neregato, 2007; Neregato
et al., in press), although lycophyte macrofossils are more abun-
dant. Other plants are glossopterids, very rare conifers branches
(Fanton et al., 2006) and gymnospermous petrified stems. The
ferns (Marattiales) are known as leaf (impressions or rare petrifica-
 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399
tions) or as petrified stems. Carophytes, normally related to conti-
nental lakes, are abundant in some localities. The plants of the
Teresina Formation correspond to the Lycopodiopsis derbyi Zone,
which is defined as the interval of total range of L. derbyi and re-
lated lycopod stems (Rohn and Rösler, 2000).
Other remarkable fossils of the formation are stromatolites
found in several stratigraphic levels (Rohn, 1994; Rohn et al.,
2003b; Meglhioratti, 2006).
8.3. Sequence stratigraphy
In terms of sequence stratigraphy, in the southern part of the
study area, the Teresina succession can be considered as a high-
stand systems tract of LPTS-6, i.e., a progradational sedimentary
unit where the facies succession reflects overall shoaling upwards
conditions, which is clearly reflected by the stacking pattern of the
strata as shown in the gama-ray curve in Fig. 10.
In the northern part (São Paulo, Paraná), however, LPTS-6
apparently embraces two minor sequence boundaries (Fig. 11).
Fig. 11. Detailed correlation in the northern part of the study area has revealed minor sequence boundaries within the Serra Alta–Teresina succession. These boundaries are
only mapable in São Paulo and northern Paraná (modified from Rohn, 2007).
393
One is formed of meter-scale thick sandy beds in the lower part
of the Teresina Formation (Fig. 10), appearing after a short inter-
val with the first coarsening upward successions, intercalated
with micritic rocks (Rohn, 2001, 2007; Meglhioratti, 2006). The
other minor sequence boundary is formed of carbonate breccias
and is apparently coincident with the top of the P. illusa Zone/
base of the P. neotropica Zone. This faunal change may have been
caused by a large exposure of the basin in the northern part of
the study area.
9. Rio do Rasto Formation (Mid to Late Permian: Wordian to
Wuchiapingian)
9.1. Main facies, depositional systems and lithostratigraphy
The Rio do Rasto Formation is a succession with an overall
coarsening upwards trend, subdivided into the 150–250 m thick
Serrinha Member formed dominantly of mudstones and fine-
grained sandstones at the base, and 250–300 m thick Morro
394 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399
Pelado Member formed mainly of fine- to medium-grained sand-
stones. The basal part may be distinguished from the Teresina
Formation mainly by a substantial increasing of sandstone beds,
the reduction of the wavy and lenticular bedding and the color
change of the mudstones from gray to green, violet or red (Rohn,
1994).
Borehole data from the northeastern region of the Ponta Grossa
Arch (center-north of the State of Paraná), show that the typical
siliciclastic and carbonatic rocks of the Teresina Formation are
abruptly superposed by 1–1.5 m thick sandstones with interca-
lated 0.5–1.5 m thick massive mudstones (Rohn et al., 2003b; Meg-
lhioratti, 2006). The sandstone beds are massive or show incipient
ripple drift laminations; they may present granules at the base and
a slight tendency of fining upwards. The gamma ray values of the
borehole decrease abruptly at the base of the Rio do Rasto
Formation.
The depositional systems of the Serrinha Member are inter-
preted mainly as shallow lakes, sometimes influenced by storm
waves or by fluvial incursions which produced hyperpicnal or
rarely homopicnal flows (Rohn, 1994). The depositional system of
the Morro Pelado Member had many distinct interpretations, vary-
ing from meandering fluvial to mixed lacustrine, deltaic and aeo-
lian environment (e.g., Castro and Medeiros, 1980; Lavina, 1991;
Rohn, 1994). Recently, a new interpretation has risen: the Morro
Pelado Member may have been deposited in very distal alluvial
fan conditions with laterally extensive coalescent fluvial plains,
including the deposition of crevasse splay deposits, inundites and
occasional shallow fluvial channels (Rohn et al., 2005).
In outcrops of the central–east region of the Paraná Basin, the
Serrinha Member is apparently transitional to the Morro Pelado
Member in view of the gradual increase of lenticular, sigmoidal
or lobed sandy beds with ripple drift laminations or with large
tangential cross stratifications and intercalated red mudstones.
Southwards, in Santa Catarina, the Serrinha Member becomes
thinner and is easier distinguished from the typical Morro Pelado
Member.
In the northeastern region of the Ponta Grossa Arch, the Rio do
Rasto Formation is unconformable overlain by the Triassic aeolian
and fluvial redbeds of the Pirambóia Formation (e.g., Soares et al.,
in press, 2008). In central and southern Santa Catarina, the Pira-
mbóia Formation is missing and the Rio do Rastro Formation has
an unconformable contact with the Early Cretaceous Botucatu For-
mation, not shown in the chart. In Rio Grande do Sul, the unconfor-
mity is marked by the contact with the Triassic Sanga do Cabral
Formation, a fossil-bearing unit described by Andreis et al. (1980).
9.2. Fossils and biostratigraphy
The L. derbyi Zone does not pass the Teresina-Rio do Rasto tran-
sition. In the State of Paraná and north of Santa Catarina, the Serr-
inha Member shows a notable increase of megaplant occurrences
and the assemblages are dominated by several glossopterid spe-
cies, some pecopterids, rare fertile fern leaves and abundant sphe-
nophyte stems, all preserved as impressions or molds.
Sphenophyllum specimens are not very abundant, but their strati-
graphic range was used for the definition of the Sphenophyllum par-
anaense Zone (Rohn and Rösler, 2000). In the transitional portion
from the Serrinha to the Morro Pelado members, Sphenophyllum
gives place to another important Gondwanan sphenophyte – Schiz-
oneura gondwanensis – which range defines the second megaplant
zone (Rohn and Rösler, 2000). The fossil occurrences become grad-
ually rarer towards the top of the formation and the diversity
decreases.
Palynomorphs were recently recorded in the lower part of the
Serrinha Member in cores from the mentioned borehole in cen-
tral–north Paraná (Neregato, 2007; Neregato et al., in press). The
fern spore rich associations were correlated to the L. virkkiae Zone.
The bivalves are completely different from those of the Teresina
Formation. In the carbonate rocks and coquinas at the north of the
Ponta Grossa Arch, they are recrystalized or silicified; in other re-
gions and in other stratigraphic intervals, they are preserved as
molds. Most part of the Serrinha Member corresponds to the Lein-
zia similis Zone (still an informal zone, defined by Rohn, 1994); the
transitional Serrinha-Morro Pelado deposits and great part of the
Morro Pelado Member encompasses the Palaeomutela? platinensis
Zone (also still an informal zone, defined by Rohn, 1994). The spe-
cies L. similis was also found in the Gai-As Formation in Namibia;
volcanic ashes located few meters above the last occurrence of this
species in Africa indicate an absolute age of 265.5 ± 2.2 Ma, corre-
sponding approximately to the Wordian–Capitanian boundary
(Stollhofen et al., 2000a).
Conchostraceans are the most abundant fossils of the Rio do
Rasto Formation and suggest fresh-water conditions for the depo-
sitional environment. Rohn and Rösler (1990) presented a bio-
stratigraphic scheme for the conchostraceans, which was
improved in Rohn (1994) and in Ferreira-Oliveira (2007). Some
identified genera are coherent with a Mid to Late Permian age of
the Rio do Rasto Formation. Hemicycloleaia mitchelli, only found
at three localities in the upper part of the formation, is particularly
important for correlations and suggests a Wuchiapingian age (early
Late Permian or early Lopingian; Ferreira-Oliveira and Rohn, 2009).
Fish scales are relatively common in the Rio do Rasto Forma-
tion, but tetrapods are especially remarkable because they can
be used, in part, for correlations with South African paleofaunas.
In Rio Grande do Sul (Aceguá, Posto Queimado), the assemblages
may be correlated to the South African Tapinocephalus Zone
(Malabarba et al., 2003) of probable Wordian age (Langer
et al., in press). In the Ponta Grossa Arch region, a reptile and
amphibians were found, but their real affinities are under discus-
sion. Their age may be a little younger, perhaps Capitanian (Lan-
ger et al., in press).
Many deposits of the Rio do Rasto Formation show bioturbation
(mainly the Cruziana ichnofacies).
9.3. Sequence stratigraphy
The unclear transition between the two formations as visual-
ized in outcrops would be used as an argument that they are not
separated by an unconformity. However, according to available
borehole core data of the Serrinha Member, the lithofacies change
is too abrupt to consider it as a simple lateral shift of the deposi-
tional environments (Walther’s Law). The lithostratigraphic
boundary probably corresponds to a superposition of two distinct
depositional systems and, therefore, may be interpreted as a se-
quence boundary. The coarse lag and the angular unconformity
at the base of the formation in Rio Grande do Sul corroborate this
interpretation (e.g., Lavina, 1991; Menezes, 2000). In borehole logs,
this stratigraphic level is characterized by a clear shift of the gam-
ma-ray pattern accompanied by a sharp color shift from medium
grey to light red facies at the Teresina-Rio do Rasto transition. This
third-order sequence boundary is labeled SB-7 in the stratigraphic
chart.
The carbonatic interval of the Serrinha Member northeast from
the Ponta Grossa Arch may be possibly correlated to the lithologies
with carbonatic cement at the south and probably represent a time
span of relatively dry climate, without aeolian dune deposition, re-
lated to a lowstand system tract of the lake.
The Morro Pelado Member shows a coarsening upwards lithof-
acies succession from red mustones to sandstones which may be
interpreted as a gradual shallowing of a waterbody (as a flooded
area or a lake), caused by water evaporation and/or sedimentary
 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399
infilling. The sandstones in the upper part are sometimes aeolian
deposits, obviously indicating that the waterbody dried up. These
successions represent regressive intervals of relatively high order
sequences (i.e., higher than 3rd order). The aeolian dune deposits
may have been deposited during time spans of low accommoda-
tion space, but the fact that they were preserved indicates that,
after accumulation, the relative phreatic level has risen anew.
These successions were probably mainly controlled by climate.
In the upper part of the Morro Pelado Member in the Ponta
Grossa Arch region, large intraclasts and some apparently erosive
surfaces, including angular relationships between strata, probably
indicate other important sequence boundary, marked as a minor
sequence boundary in the chart.
The top of the Rio do Rasto Formation is marked by a wide-
spread erosional surface, labeled SB-8 in the chart. In the southern-
most part of the study area (i.e., Rio Grande do Sul), this surface
separates the Late Permian strata (labeled Pirambóia Formation)
from the Early Triassic strata known as Sanga do Cabral Formation.
However, the definitive stratigraphic relationship of Sanga do Cab-
ral and Pirambóia is still unclear: for some authors the base of
these units are of Late Permian age (e.g., Lavina, 1991; Milani
et al., 2007), while for others the Sanga do Cabral Formation is
exclusively Triassic (e.g., Cisneros, 2008), and Pirambóia Formation
has a Middle Triassic age (e.g.; Soares et al., in press, 2008).
The SB-8 unconformity encloses a variable hiatus, because in
Rio Grande do Sul, the Rio do Rasto Formation has a Guadalupian
age, based on tetrapod faunas, while northwards, in Santa Catarina,
the age of Rio do Rasto Formation is Early Lopingian (Cisneros et al.,
2005). Further northwards (i.e., towards São Paulo), the hiatus in-
creases and Pirambóia Formation occurs in direct contact with
the Teresina Formation (e.g., Rohn, 2007, see also Fig. 11)
SB-8 is also a second-order sequence boundary, separating the
Gondwana I and II supersequences in the stratigraphic framework
of Milani et al. (2007).
10. Geochronology
Radiometric datings are scarce for the Gondwanan Paleozoic
strata. In addition, marine faunal assemblages with index species
suitable for intercontinental correlation are missing. Then, only
the meager data on absolute ages are discussed herein, reinforcing
remarks presented by Santos et al. (2006) and Césari (2007).
Shales and tuffs of the studied interval have been target of
radiometric dating by several authors in the last decade, but until
the present moment, the most reliable data were obtained for the
Irati shales by Santos et al. (2006) and Rocha-Campos et al. (2007),
in the Brazilian portion of the Paraná Basin, which indicated an age
of 279.9 ± 4.8 Ma and 278 ± 2.2 Ma (Artinskian), respectively.
These data are used in the chronostratigrahic chart proposed here-
in, as well as correlation of palynozones across Gondwana, as sum-
marized below.
Table 1
Statistic overview on the Late Paleozoic stratigraphic units discussed in the paper. Note variable thicknesses and different sedimentation rates. LPTS = Late Paleozoic Third-order
Sequences, m = meter, m.y. = millions of years, m/m.y. = meters per million of years.
Lithostratigraphic units Aproximate maximum thickness
Rio do Rasto 650 m
Teresina 400 m
Serra Alta 100 m
Irati 70 m
Palermo 280 m
Rio Bonito 270 m
Itararé 1500 m
395
Absolute ages were also obtained from several tonsteins within
the coal seams of the Rio Bonito Formation. However, some of
them are from a single locality, which present controversial results.
As example, analysis from tonsteins of the Candiota Coalfield re-
sulted ages of 267.1 ± 3.4 Ma (Matos et al., 2001), 290.6 ± 1.5 Ma.,
296.9 ± 1.65 Ma and 296 ± 4.2 Ma (Guerra-Sommer et al., 2008a,
2008b), while those from Faxinal Coalfield indicated an age of
285.4 ± 8.6 Ma (Guerra-Sommer et al., 2008c). According to these
last authors, the glaciogenic strata related to the Itararé Group,
must be restricted to the Late Pennsylvanian. This interpretation
is not accepted herein, based on the following data.
No radiometric data are available from the A. cristatus Zone and
the C. monoletus Zone (Paraná Basin) and the P-L (Chacoparaná Ba-
sin) palynozones. Their ages are supported by palynological corre-
lation with Late Carboniferous strata in Argentina (e.g., Paganzo
Basin), Africa and Australia.
In Australia, Gondwanan palynostratigraphic schemes have
been established and partially calibrated with marine faunas.
There, the Pseudoreticulatispora confluens and Striatopodocarpites
fusus Zones were assigned to the Early Permian: Asselian/Tastubian
(Archbold et al., 2004; Césari, 2007). These palynozones are equiv-
alent, in the studied basins, to the V. costabilis Zone (Paraná Basin)
and the Cristatisporites Zone (Chacoparaná Basin), taking into ac-
count the stratigraphic ranges of the two mentioned species. Then,
the underlying biozones (A. cristatus, C. monoletus and P-L palynoz-
ones) must be older than the Permian. Furthermore, absolute ages
obtained from the Dwyka Group in Africa (Bangert et al., 1999), the
regional equivalent of the Itararé Group, where the A. cristatus Zone
and the C. monoletus Zone were recognized, supporting a Pennsyl-
vanian age for most of the glacial event in Western Gondwana, rep-
resented by the Itararé Group in Brazil, which bears those
palynozones.
The Fusacolpites fusus-Vittatina subsaccata Assemblage Biozone
of western Argentina occurs within a sedimentary sequence equiv-
alent to a sedimentary one bearing interbedded basalts dated as
302 ± 6 Ma and 288 ± 7 Ma. This biozone is correlated with the V.
costabilis Zone of the Paraná Basin, corroborating an Early Permian
age for both palynozones (see Césari, 2007), that includes the
uppermost Itararé Group and the base of the Rio Bonito Formation.
Geochronological analysis based on Gondwana sections in Afri-
ca reveals significant results. An absolute age of 270 Ma was ob-
tained from tuff beds of the Collingham Formation, in South
Africa, which overlies the Whitehill Formation (Stollhofen et al.,
2000b). The latter is the regional equivalent of the Irati Formation
in the Paraná Basin, which bears the L. virkkiae Interval Zone. Con-
sidering that there is no marked diachronism between these two
lithostratigraphical units, the Irati Formation should likewise be
regarded as older than 270 Ma, reinforcing the absolute age ob-
tained for this unit by Santos et al. (2006).
These data corroborate intercontinental correlations estab-
lished from the Eurydesma marine fauna throughout Gondwana,
regarded as Early Permian (Asselian/Sakmarian) in age, on the
Aproximate time span (duration) Mean sedimentation rate Sequences
14 m.y. 46 m/m.y LPTS -7
4.5 m.y 90 m/m.y. LPTS -6
3.5 m.y. 30 m/m.y. LPTS -6
3 m.y. 23 m/m.y. LPTS -5
3 m.y. 90 m/m.y LPTS -4
8 m.y 30 m/m.y. LPTS -3
22 m.y. 70 m/m.y. LPTS -1 and 2
396 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399
top of the glacial sequence (Itararé Group). In the Brazilian Paraná
Basin, equivalent marine elements occur in the upper Itararé,
where the V. costabilis Zone occurs.
The table below (Table 1) gives a statistic overview on the
stratigraphic units discussed herein, showing ciphers on maximum
thicknesses and using the geochronological data as shown above.
The obtained rates of sedimentation are noteworthy variable and
probably reflect several tectonic pulses during the Late Paleozoic
(e.g.; Holz et al., 2006) which caused base level variations and reju-
venation of source rock areas and overprinted its signature to the
trans-regressive second-order cycle represented by the Gondwana
Supersequence 1 of Milani et al. (2007).
11. Conceptual comments and conclusions
The issue of the paper is to show an updated and integrative
overview of both published and new data and interpretations on
the geological evolution of the Late Paleozoic succession of the
Paraná Basin, and to summarize that information into an integra-
tive and comprehensive stratigraphic chart.
All available biostratigraphic data, acquired by the authors and
enriched by compiling published data, were updated and corre-
lated to the stratigraphic data.
At the eastern border of the Paraná Basin, the Late Carbonifer-
ous/Permian succession, bounded by basinwide unconformities,
records a huge trans-regressive cycle with a time span of aprox.
67 m.y., hence representing a second order depositional sequence,
as pointed out elsewhere (e.g. Milani et al., 1994, 1998). This huge
depositional sequence encloses several unconformities which al-
low a subdivision into several higher order sequences, which are
herein labeled Late Paleozoic third order Sequences (LPTS). Based
on the regional occurrence of features that indicate base level fall
(e.g. marine to fluvial facies shift, pebbly lags, bonebeds) seven
LPTS’s were recognized and are shown in the stratigraphic chart,
the core of the present paper. Some sequences certainly need fur-
ther subdivisions (e.g. the huge LPTS-2 has an approximately
11 m.y. duration, which is the upper limit of duration of third order
sequences according to Krapetz (1996), but kind of extrapolates
‘‘traditional” third order duration), while others have a relatively
short duration (e.g. LPTS-5).
We want to close this paper with a conceptual comment.
Analyzing the data herein present under a conceptual view-
point, the main conclusion is that there is a very strong correlation
between biostratigraphic limits and third-order sequence bound-
aries. This is particularly evident for the following limits:
 between LPTS-1 and 2 (within the pro-glacial succession),
marked by palynomorphs;
 between LPTS-2 and 3 (the ‘‘Itararé-Rio Bonito transition”),
marked by plants;
 between LPTS-3 and 4 (within the Rio Bonito unit), marked by
palynomorphs;
 between LPTS-5 and 6 (the ‘‘Irati-Serra Alta transition”), marked
by the appearance of bivalves and disappearance of a plant zone;
 between LPTS-6 and 7 (the ‘‘Teresina-Rio do Rasto transition”),
marked by bivalves and plants.
Actually, the only sequence boundary dissociated from any
biostratigraphic marker is SB-5, linked to the Irati unit. Hence,
from the six sequence boundaries which are exclusively of
third-order hierarchy (SB-2 to SB-7), five are coincident with
major breaks in the biostratigraphic scheme. This seems to
indicate that the FADs (i.e., first appearance datum) and LADs
(i.e., last appearance datum) of fossils used for the biostrati-
graphic zonation have a stratigraphic rather than biotic/eco-
logic control.
However, there are biostratigraphic zones which fall within dif-
ferent LPTS. This is the case of the transition from the A. cristatus
Zone to the C. monoletus Zone: the limit of this palynomorph zones
is coincident with a third-order maximum flooding surface. An-
other example is the appearance of the L. virkkiae Zone, which is
not linked to a base level fall, but to a transgression. These exam-
ples seem to indicate that some biostratigraphic zonation is con-
trolled by depositional environment and ecologic conditions,
outruling in this case any stratigraphic control.
Why does this happen is a matter of controversy and investi-
gation. In the past, very few attention has been paid to strati-
graphic control, but since advent and popularization of
sequence stratigraphy as a key tool for understanding the gene-
sis of the sedimentary record, investigation of the stratigraphic
control on fossil preservation has shown that the history of a
sedimentary basin influences strongly the distribution of fossils
and introduces a bias towards preservation. FADs and LADs of
fossils within a geologic section are strongly controlled by base
level changes (Holland and Patzkowsky, 1999; Holland, 2000;
Holz and Simões, 2004). The detailed integration of biostrati-
graphic data and sequence stratigraphic analysis shown herein
seems to corroborate this statement.
Acknowledgments
M. Holz, P.A. Souza and R. Iannuzzi acknowledge the Brazilian
National Research Agency (CNPq) for research support (Grants
300866/2008-9, 305265/2007-5 and 309322/2007-3, respec-
tively). R. Rohn acknowledges ‘‘Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa
do Estado de São Paulo” (FAPESP -05/55027-4; 04/11215-9)
and the National Agency of Petroleum (ANP-PRH-05) for research
grants. Data from wells presented in sequence stratigraphy sec-
tions and figures are due to CPRM-Serviço Geológico do Brasil,
who provided access to sample material and well cores. Many
thanks to the two anonymous reviewers who improved the
manuscript with many suggestions and helpful comments, and
to Regional Editor Reinhardt Fuck for his considerable editorial
effort.
 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399 397

Appendix A
398 M. Holz et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 29 (2010) 381–399

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