Sepetiba Formation

The Sepetiba Formation is a geological formation of the Santos Basin offshore of the Brazilian states of Rio [de Janeiro (state)|Rio de Janeiro], São [Paulo (state)|São Paulo], Paraná and Santa Catarina. The predominantly coquina formation dates to the Pleistocene period to recent and has a variable but maximum thickness of. The formation is the uppermost unit of the Santos Basin.

Etymology

The formation is named after Sepetiba, a neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro.

Description

The Sepetiba Formation is the uppermost formation of the Santos Basin stratigraphy. It has a variable thickness, with a maximum of, due to the proximal erosion of the uppermost part. The formation consists of whitish grey fine to coarse grained carbonitic sands. They are feldspar-rich, glauconitic coquinas consisting of bivalve fragments and foraminifera. The depositional environment is thought to be coastal.