Abstract The central equatorial Brazilian margin is divided into the Amazon and Barreirinhas divergent segments separated by the Pará-Maranhão transform segment. Analysis of regional 2D seismic lines allowed the definition of the crustal architecture of the margin. In the study area, the Barreirinhas segment has a proximal domain with a 30–35 km-thick continental crust, a 20–40 km-wide necked domain where the crust thins to 10 km, and an outboard domain with hyperextended continental crust. The Pará-Maranhão and Amazon segments consist of exhumation domains and their transition to ocean crust. Their structural styles indicate that this is a magma-poor passive margin with oceanic crust formed in a slow spreading centre. The Pará-Maranhão segment is bounded by two branches of the Saint Paul Fracture Zone that displace crustal domains with structures that document the transition from the distal part of a transform margin to an oceanic fracture zone. Two groups of post-rift volcanic complexes have been identified in the exhumation and oceanic domains, and whose distribution is controlled by the fracture zones. Late Cretaceous–Recent gravitationally-driven slide systems and mass-transport deposits indicate long-lived margin collapse and sediment redistribution fundamentally controlled by the underlying crustal structure of this part of the northeastern Brasilian passive margin.

ABSTRACT Different depositional environments (fluvial, deltaic, lacustrine, tidal-marine) have been proposed for the Upper Miocene to Pliocene Madre de Dios Formation exposed in the upper reaches of the Amazon River catchment in the Andean retroforeland region. This study constrains the stratigraphy, depositional environment, and drainage evolution in southwestern Amazonia through petrographic and provenance analysis of the sand and mud fractions of the three recognized members (A–C) of the Madre de Dios Formation at three stratigraphic sections measured previously along riverbank outcrops: Cerro Colorado, Piedras River, and Candelaria. Petrographic analyses of thin sections of sand separates from 32 sandy samples showed them to be litho-quartzose to quartzo-lithic in composition, with variable feldspar content and a recycled-orogen provenance. Sand components were predominantly monomineralic to polymineralic quartz, and sedimentary and metamorphic lithic fragments. Muscovite, potassium feldspar, plagioclase, and volcanic lithics were less abundant. These sand components are consistent with derivation from the Andean range to the west. Quartz and feldspar content generally increased up section from member A to member B. Sand composition in member C is similar to the modern river sand composition, consistent with recycling of Madre de Dios Formation sand into the modern river system. Petrographic analyses of 144 smear slides of the mud fractions showed no significant changes in silt composition, i.e., mainly quartz, feldspar, and mica, among the three members. X-ray diffraction of eight mud samples showed their clay mineralogy to be dominated by kaolinite and illite, with some smectite and chlorite in member B. None of the 144 smear slides or the 32 thin sections contained marine or marginal-marine biogenic debris. Mud-rich samples from the Madre de Dios Formation exhibit six main colors that characterize distinct intervals (designated I to VI) that occur in the same stratigraphic order in each measured section, from I at the base to VI at the top. The boundaries of these intervals do not correspond directly to member (A, B, C) boundaries; therefore, the colors are at least partly secondary. If primary, the red to orange to brown mudstone (which is dominant in Madre de Dios Formation members A and C) would suggest development in oxidizing environments, consistent with fluvial systems. Based on its light olive-gray color and smectite content, interval IV in member B may have been deposited in, or subjected to, a more reducing environment, such as a lacustrine-deltaic setting, with low-lying topography and poor drainage. In sum, the Madre de Dios Formation exhibits up-section compositional and thickness trends that are consistent with changes in depositional environment from fluvial (member A) to lacustrine/deltaic (member B) to fluvial (member C), as proposed by previous workers.

Ethnogeology, the scientific study of geological knowledge of groups such as indigenous peoples, can be combined with mainstream geological sciences to enhance our understanding of Earth systems. The Amazon rain forest has been extensively studied by both mainstream scientists and indigenous researchers. We argue that knowledge of Amazonian geology and hydrology held by indigenous Uitoto experts is valid, empirically based, and, in many cases, more nuanced than mainstream scientific knowledge. We also argue that knowledge sharing between mainstream and indigenous researchers can improve geological and environmental knowledge on both sides and provide solutions for current environmental problems such as increased pressure on water resources and global warming. We applied methods from ethnography and earth science to examine the traditional ecological knowledge of an Amazonian tribe in Colombia, the Uitoto, about water, and how that knowledge correlates with that of mainstream earth scientists. The study demonstrates how ethnogeology can be applied in a water-rich environment to: (1) compare knowledge about the natural history of an area, (2) study the geological resources available and their uses, and (3) examine the bases of native classification schemes using mainstream science methods. We found parallels and complementary concepts in the two bodies of knowledge. Our results suggest that the Uitoto have a meticulous taxonomy for water and wetlands—knowledge that is essential for protecting, conserving, and managing their water resources.