Geobios 35 (2002) 687–698

www.elsevier.com/locate/geobio

Biostratigraphy of Lower Cretaceous microfossils from the Araripe

basin, northeastern Brazil
Biostratigraphie (microfossiles) du Crétacé inférieur du Bassin
de Araripe, nord-est du Brésil
João Carlos Coimbra a,*, Mitsuru Arai b, Ana Luisa Carreño c
a
Departamento de paleontología e estratigrafia, instituto de geociências, universidade federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Cx.P. 15001, CEP. 91501–970,
Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
b
Petróleo Brasileiro S. A./CENPES/PDEP/BPA, Ilha do Fundão-Quadra 7, CEP. 21949–900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
c
Instituto de geología, circuito exterior, C.U., delegación de Coyoacán, 04510 D. F. , Mexico

Received 4 September 2001; accepted 8 April 2002

Abstract

A biostratigraphic study was carried out in the Lower Cretaceous Araripe basin, northeastern Brazil, allowing the recognition of several
chronostratigraphic units: the Dom João (Jurassic?–Lower Cretaceous?), the Rio da Serra (Neocomian) and the Alagoas (Aptian/Albian)
local stages. For the first time a large hiatus between the Rio da Serra and Alagoas local stages is carefully documented. The palynomorphs
and the ostracode associations throughout the Jurassic?–Aptian/Albian sequence allow the interpretation of the paleoenvironmental
evolution of the Araripe basin which otherwise confirms that a polycyclical sedimentation occurred in the basin, being one of the controlling
factors on the distribution of ostracodes and palynomorphes. © 2002 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Résumé

L’analyse biostratigraphique dans le Crétacé Inférieur du Bassin d’Araripe, au nord-est du Brésil, a permis la reconnaissance de plusieurs
unités chronostratigraphiques : l’étage Dom João (Jurassique ?-Crétacé inférieur ?), l’étage Rio da Serra (Néocomien) et l’étage Alagoas
(Aptien/Albien) et la mise en évidence d’un considérable hiatus entre les étages des Rio da Serra et Alagoas. La répartition du Jurassique
jusqu’à l’Albien/Aptien des ensembles des palynomorphes et ostracodes a permis de montrer l’évolution des paléomilieux, laquelle
confirme de plus qu’une sédimentation polycyclique arrive dans le bassin, celle-ci étant un des facteurs déterminants de la distribution des
ostracodes et palynomorphes. © 2002 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS. Tous droits réservés.

Keywords: Ostracoda; Palynomorphs; Lower Cretaceous; Araripe basin; Biostratigraphy; Northeastern Brazil

Mots clés: Ostracoda; Palynomorphes; Crétacé inférieur; Bassin d’Araripe; Biostratigraphie; Nord-est du Brésil

1. Introduction Santana lagerstätten that contains an excellently preserved

The Araripe basin occupies an area of 8000 km2 and is
located on the crossing of the co-ordinates 7°02'–7°49' S
and 38°30'–40°55' W (Fig. 1), in the border region between
the Ceará, Pernambuco and Piauí states, northeastern Brazil.
This basin includes the world famous Lower Cretaceous
* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: coimbra@if.ufrgs.br (J. Carlos Coimbra).
© 2002 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 0 1 6 - 6 9 9 5 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 0 8 2 - 7
diverse fossil assemblage, such as ostracods with preserved
appendages and eggs (Smith, 1999, 2000). Besides the
importance of the taxonomic study of the entire biota, this
mother lode is one of the most beautiful and complicated
puzzles to resolve, and for this reason it is also important to
locate these deposits in a lithological and chronostrati-
graphic regional context. As a part of a long-term project
conducted by CENPES (Centro de Pesquisas Leopoldo
Miguez de Mello, at PETROBRAS), which includes an
688 J. Carlos Coimbra et al. / Geobios 35 (2002) 687–698
Fig. 1. Location map of the Araripe basin, north-eastern Brazil.
Fig. 1. Carte de localisation du bassin d’Araripe, nord-est du Brésil.
extensive geological research of the Mesozoic sedimentary
basins of northeastern Brazil, the present paper, based on the
Ostracoda and palynomorph distribution throughout the
sedimentary sequence, represents a contribution to the
chronostratigraphic framework of the Araripe basin.
The Ostracoda and palynomorphs studied in the present
research were obtained from numerous superficial samples
given by PETROBRAS (Petróleo Brasileiro, S.A.), IPT
(Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São
Paulo) and Assine (1992). From the 115 samples collected
in several outcrops of the Araripe basin, palynomorphs were
recovered from 44 samples and ostracodes from 52 samples.
The presence of conchostracans was registered in 96
samples. Also, cutting and drill-hole samples of the well
2-AP-1-CE (Araripe Estratigráfico No. 1) were used in the
present study. Information about maximum depths attained
during drilling, maximum core lengths recovered, number
and type of cores, as well as the detailed lithology of the
2-AP-1-CE drill-hole can be found in Ponte and Ponte-Filho
(1996). Fig. 2 presents the majority of these data. The
interval with the best layers for the preservation of palyno-
morphs was situated between 390 and 1450 m; 21 drill-
holes and seven cutting samples were studied. On the other
hand, the interval sampled for ostracodes was situated
between 30 m and the base; 15 drill-holes and 38 cutting
samples were studied. All samples were prepared according
to technical procedures of the BPA (Department of Bios-
tratigraphy and Palaeoecology, at CENPES).
Ostracoda and/or palynomorphs were recovered from the
Brejo Santo, Missão Velha, Abaiara, Rio da Batateira and
Santana formations. The Arajara Formation was barren in
ostracodes in this study, but palynomorphs are the same as
described in previous palynological studies carried out by
Fig. 2. Lithostratigraphic subdivisions and ages of the well 2-AP-1-CE
(After Ponte and Ponte-Filho, 1996, modified).
Fig. 2. Lithostratigraphie et âges de sondage 2-AP-1-CE (D’après Ponte
and Ponte-Filho, 1996, modifié).
Lima (1978a, 1978b, 1978c, 1978d). All microfossils were
absent from the Mauriti and Exu formations. The palyno-
morphs were recorded throughout the Jurassic? to the
Aptian–Albian sequence at the Araripe basin. From these,
37 species have some biostratigraphic value; 14 were left in
open nomenclature and only Dicheiropollis sp. A has not
been previously recorded in other nearby basins by PETRO-
BRAS. Afropollis DOYLE, JARDINÉ and DOEREN-
KAMP includes several species that could not be identified
with confidence due to their scarcity and/or poor preserva-
tion. Twenty-three species of Ostracoda were recorded
throughout the sequence. From these, Ostracode 207 gen. et
sp. indet., Looneyellopsis sp. and Pattersoncypris sp., are
scarce and/or present poor preservation. The ostracodes
have been photographed using SEM. The complete list of
microfossils as well as their distribution throughout the
sequence is shown in the Fig. 3. All ostracodes and
palynomorphs are illustrated in the Figs. 4–8.
2. Geological framework
Extensive geological work has been carried out in this
area. Unfortunately, much of it remains unpublished in
PETROBRAS technical reports or published only as con-
densed papers in congresses. Nevertheless, it is well estab-
lished that the origin and evolution of the Araripe basin is
related to the break-up of Gondwanaland and the opening of
the South Atlantic Ocean.
 J. Carlos Coimbra et al. / Geobios 35 (2002) 687–698
Fig. 3. Correlation of the ostracodes biozones and palynozones in the Araripe basin, north-eastern Brazil.
Fig. 3. Corrélation des biozones et des palynozones d’ostracodes dans le Bassin d’Araripe, nord-est du Brésil.

689
690 J. Carlos Coimbra et al. / Geobios 35 (2002) 687–698

According to Ponte and Ponte-Filho (1996), this basin
includes three tectonostratigraphic sequences: (1) a pre-rift
stage, (2) a syn-rift stage; (3) a rift stage. According to Ponte
and Ponte-Filho (1996), it is possible to recognize a Beta
terrigenous tectonostratigraphic sequence at the Araripe
basin, which might be delimited by two regional unconfor-
mities: a lower pre-Silurian unconformity which separates
the underlying Precambrian basement complex, and an
upper pre-Mesozoic unconformity that separates the over-
lying pre-rift sequence.
For the sequence studied here, several chronostrati-
graphic and lithostratigraphic schemes have been proposed
earlier (Ghignone et al., 1986; Cavalcanti and Viana, 1992,
and unpublished technical reports by PETROBRAS). Nev-
ertheless, the data here, recorded based on ostracodes and
palynomorphs, are in agreement with the scheme proposed
by Ponte and Appi (1990), with the exception of a large
hiatus here documented between the Abaiara and Rio da
Batateira formations, and that was earlier inferred by Ponte
and Ponte-Filho (1996).
According to Ponte and Appi (1990), the stratigraphic
sequence at the Araripe basin is represented by a Precam-
brian complex basement cover by eolian–fluvial rocks of the
Silurian–Devonian (?) Mauriti Formation, which is in turn
overlain by the lacustrine, fluvial and eolian Upper Jurassic
(?) rocks of the Brejo Santo and by the Upper Jurassic
(?)–Neocomian Missão Velha formations, both in a transi-
tional contact. Up section and unconformable, fluvial and
lacustrine rocks of the Neocomian–Barremian Abaiara For-
mation are exposed and unconformable overlain by the
Cretaceous (mostly Aptian–Albian) Rio da Batateira, San-
tana and Arajara formations constituting lacustrine, fluvial,
transitional and very shallow marine deposits. Unconform-
able, at the top, fluvial rocks of probable post Aptian/Albian
age of the Exu Formation are exposed (Figs. 2 and 3).
3. Biozonation
The microfossil distribution throughout the Upper Juras-
sic (?) to the Aptian/Albian sequence (Fig. 3), reflects the
numerous unconformities encountered at the Araripe basin.
For this reason, and due to the use of cutting samples in
some intervals, it was not possible to establish with confi-
dence the first and last appearance either of Ostracoda or
palynomorphs. In particular, the base of the sequence (Brejo
Santo Formation) has an unconformable lower boundary
that precludes establishment of the first appearance data of
the recorded species. Also, the absence of ostracodes in the
upper conformable Missão Velha Formation does not permit
the determination of last appearance data of those species.
Therefore, the age assigned to this part of the sequence is
based on the complete stratigraphic range of ostracodes and
palynomorphs and in the stratigraphic information previ-
ously reported (Ponte and Ponte-Filho, 1996), that strongly
suggested that this unit, as well as the conformable Missão
Velha Formation, are Late Jurassic in age.
The ostracode biozones recognized in the present study
correspond, at least in part, to the Upper Jurassic (?)–Neo-
comian (NRT–001 to NRT–004 zones) and the Aptian–Al-
bian (NRT–011), which were informally established during
the decade of 1960 by PETROBRAS within the
Recôncavo/Tucano and Sergipe/Alagoas basins, in the
northeastern Brazil. The first four biozones were later
named and formally and extensively described by Viana et
al. (1971). In the same sense, the Aptian/Albian NRT–011
Zone was originally described in PETROBRAS unpub-
lished technical report from a non-marine sequence in the
Sergipe/Alagoas basins and, later, formally published by
Schaller (1969). In contrast with the ostracodes, the palyno-
morphs have been extensively studied in the Araripe basin,
particularly those belonging to the Aptian–Albian (Lima,
1978a, 1978b, 1978c, 1978d, 1979a, 1979b, 1980, 1989;
Lima and Perinotto, 1984; Hashimoto et al., 1987; Pons et
al., 1990, 1996). For the Jurassic (?) and Neocomian, scarce
work has carried out and excepting for some unpublished
reports by PETROBRAS, this paper represents an important
palynological contribution in particular, in which concerns
the recognition of the palynozones correspondents to the
Dom João (Jurassic?) and Rio da Serra (Neocomian) local
stages.
From the Araripe basin, some Ostracoda index species of
the PETROBRAS zonation are missing. In a similar way,
four very rare species (Ilyocyprimorpha sp., Ilyocypris sp.,
“Vlakomia” ? sp., Zonocypris sp.) and two more common
ostracodes (Cultella sp., Therisynoecum quadrinodosa
SILVA) identified by Berthou et al. (1994) from outcrops of
the Crato lithologic unit (lower member of the Santana
Formation, Upper Aptian) are absent in the present study.
Although they have not figured Cultella sp., some charac-

Fig. 4. Ostracodes. 1, 2. Darwinula gr. oblonga (ROEMER). 3, 4. Bisulcocypris pricei KRÖMMELBEIN. 5, 6. Theriosynoecum quadrinodosum
KRÖMMELBEIN and WEBER. 7, 8. Theriosynoecum miritiensis KRÖMMELBEIN and WEBER. 9, 10. Looneyellopsis sp. 11, 12. Reconcavona incerta
KRÖMMELBEIN and WEBER. 13, 14. Bisulcocypris uninodosa PINTO and SANGUINETTI. 15, 16. Cypridea gr. vulgaris KRÖMMELBEIN. 17, 18.
Cypridea sellata VIANA. 19, 20. Cypridea (M.) candeiensis KRÖMMELBEIN. 21, 22. Tucanocypris camposi KRÖMMELBEIN. 23, 24. Theriosynoecum
laciniatum (KRÖMMELBEIN). 25, 26. Cypridea (Morininoides) grekoffı KRÖMMELBEIN. 27, 28. Cypridea tucanoensis KRÖMMELBEIN. 29.
Pattersoncypris angulata angulata KRÖMMELBEIN and WEBER. 30. Pattersoncypris angulata symmetrica KRÖMMELBEIN and WEBER. 31. Ostracode
sp. 207. 32. Darwinula martinsi SILVA. 33. Cypridea araripensis SILVA. 34, 35. Theriosynoecum silvai SILVA. 36, 37. Theriosynoecum munizi SILVA.
Scale bar = 200 µm. Palynomorphs: S = spore, P = pollen, A = green algae, D = dinoflagellate, F = fungal remains.
Fig. 4. Palynomorphes : S = spore, P = pollen, A = algue verte, D = dinoflagellés, F = restes fongiques. Barre d’échelle = 200 µm.
J. Carlos Coimbra et al. / Geobios 35 (2002) 687–698 691
692 J. Carlos Coimbra et al. / Geobios 35 (2002) 687–698

Fig. 5. Palynomorphs of the Dom João Stage (Upper Jurassic?/Lower Cretaceous). 1. Leptolepidites major COUPER (S). 2. Verrucosisporites sp. (S). 3.
Deltoidospora sp. (S). 4. Densoisporites sp. (S). 5. Klukisporites sp. (S). 6. Cedripites sp. (P). 7. Podocarpidites sp. (P). 8. Cycadopites sp. (P). 9.
Botryococcus sp. (A).
Fig. 5. Palynomorphes de l’étage Dom João (Jurassique supérieur ?/Crétacé inférieur).

teristics pointed out by them show great similarity between
this species and Ostracode sp. 207, an informal fossil-index
of the continental Aptian/Albian in the northeastern Brazil-
ian basins. Nevertheless, the aforementioned absences, it is
possible to recognize the Upper Jurassic (?) Bisulcocypris
pricei Zone (NRT–001) by the presence of the former
species together with B. uninodosa PINTO and SAN-
GUINETTI, Darwinula gr. oblonga (ROEMER), D. legu-
minella (FORBES), Reconcavona? incerta KRÖMMEL-
BEIN, Theriosynoecum miritiensis KRÖMMELBEIN and
 J. Carlos Coimbra et al. / Geobios 35 (2002) 687–698 693

Fig. 6. Palynomorphs of the Dom João Stage (Upper Jurassic?/Lower Cretaceous). 1, 2. Eucommiidites sp. (P). 3. Monosulcites sp. (P). 4. Equisetosporites
sp. (P). 5, 6. Sergipea sp. (P). 7. Tetrad of Sergipea sp. (P). 8. Exesipollenites tumulus BALME (P). 9. Tetrad of Classopollis sp. (P). 10, 11. Dyad of
Dicheiropollis sp. A (P).
Fig. 6. Palynomorphes de l’Étage Dom João (Jurassique supérieur ?/Crétacé inférieur).
694 J. Carlos Coimbra et al. / Geobios 35 (2002) 687–698

Fig. 7. Palynomorphs of the Rio Da Serra Stage (Neocomian). 1, 2, 3. Fungal spores (F). 4. Concavisporites sp. (S). 5. Dictyophyllidites sp. (S). 6.
Echinatisporis varispinosus (POCOCK) (S). 7. Pilosisporites trichopapillosus (THIEGART) (S). 8. Aequitriradites sp. (S). 9, 10. Eucommiidites sp. (P). 11,
12. Cycadopites sp. (P). 13. Gnetaceaepollenites sp. (P). 14. Sergipea sp. (P). 15. Circulina sp. (P). 16. Dicheiropollis etruscus TREVISAN (P)
Fig. 7. Palynomorphes de l’étage Rio da Serra (Néocomien).

WEBER, T. quadrinodosum KRÖMMELBEIN and WE- throughout the Brejo Santo Formation. Up section, no
BER and Looneyellopsis sp. This biozone corresponds to ostracodes were recovered from the conformable Missão
the lower Dom João local stage, and might be recognized Velha Formation, which is also included in the Dom João
 J. Carlos Coimbra et al. / Geobios 35 (2002) 687–698 695

Fig. 8. Palynomorphs of the Alagoas Stage (Aptian). 1. Klukisporites sp. (S). 2. Gnetaceaepollenites uesuguii LIMA (P). 3. Equisetosporites aff. albertensis
SINGH (P). 4. Classopollis classoides (PFLUG) (P). 5. Tetrad of Classopollis alexi PFLUG (P). 6. Sergipea variverrucata REGALLI, UESUGUI and
SANTOS (P). 7. Spiniferites seghiris BELLOW (D). 8, 9. Subtilisphaera sp. (D).
Fig. 8. Palynomorphes de l’étage Alagoas (Aptien).
696 J. Carlos Coimbra et al. / Geobios 35 (2002) 687–698
local stage, due to the presence in the Brejo Santo and in the
Missão Velha formations of a palynomorphic associations
indicative of the Dicheiropollis sp. A/Leptolepidites spp.
Zone, equivalent to the Upper Jurassic Dom João local
stage.
Following a regional unconformity, the ostracodes recov-
ered from the base of the Abaiara Formation are scarce and
sparse and, therefore, age assignment must be taken with
some caution. In this part of the sequence any index species
occurs in abundance; nevertheless, the record of Cypridea
sellata VIANA and Cypridea (Morininoides) candeiensis
KRÖMMELBEIN, is indicative of the Cypridea (Morini-
noides) candeiensis Zone (NRT–003). Here there is a hiatus
represented by the absence of the Theriosynoecum varietu-
beratum varietuberatum Zone (NRT–002).
Up section, Ostracoda become abundant but of extremely
low diversity. The co-occurrence of Theriosynoecum lacin-
iatum (KRÖMMELBEIN), Cypridea (Morininoides)
grekoffı KRÖMMELBEIN, Tucanocypris camposi KRÖM-
MELBEIN, and Cypridea tucanoensis KRÖMMELBEIN
situates this part of the sequence in the base of the
Paracypridea brasiliensis Zone (NRT–004). The isolated
record of Cypridea vulgaris KRÖMMELBEIN in the upper-
most part of the section is difficult to assess. According with
PETROBRAS technical reports this species has a distribu-
tion from the base of Paracypridea brasiliensis Zone
(NRT–004) to the Paracypridea obovata obovata Zone
(NRT–005) in the nearby Recôncavo and Tucano basins
and, therefore, might be considered as index of this interval.
Nevertheless, C. vulgaris has strong affinities with C. am-
bigua KRÖMMELBEIN, C. ellipsoidea KRÖMMELBEIN
and WEBER and with other closed related species observed
in the Recôncavo basin where they are very abundant.
Personal observations of Paulo Milhomem (micropalaeon-
tologist at PETROBRAS, Brazilian Oil Company) and J.C.
Coimbra concerning the stratigraphical distribution of
C. vulgaris s.s. throughout Lower Cretaceous strata in
Brazil strongly suggest that the stratigraphical range for this
species corresponds from the Paracypridea maacki subzone
(NRT–004.4) to the Paracypridea elegans elegans subzone
(NRT–005.2), being the upper and lower range given by
PETROBRAS technical reports occupied by other very
closed related species. Unfortunately, at the Araripe basin
C. vulgaris is not an abundant species and any other index
species associated to these subzones occurred. Therefore, it
is not possible to confirm the observations made elsewhere,
but considering the different species which have been
misinterpreted, we consider that as a group, C. vulgaris may
range from the Paracypridea brasiliensis to the Paracyp-
ridea obovata obovata zones, and in the strict sense, the
former species in this paper is ranging from the P. maacki to
the P. elegans elegans subzones. Thus, the Abaiara Forma-
tion in this part includes the base of the Cypridea (Morini-
noides) candeiensis Zone, to the top of the Paracypridea
brasiliensis Zone. As a whole the Abaira Formation corre-
sponds to the Neocomian Rio da Serra local stage. The
palynomorphic associations that occur throughout the Abai-
ara Formation do not allow subdivisions into subzones.
Nevertheless, based on the occurrence of the former species,
the Neocomian Dicheiropollis etruscus range zone is rec-
ognized, confirming the age based on the ostracode zones.
Besides, the palynomorph assemblages encountered in this
part of the sequence strongly constrain an age equivalent to
the Rio da Serra local stage.
Unconformably the sequence that corresponds to the
Araripe Group including the Rio da Batateira, the Santana
and the Arajara formations, contains a long-range ostracode
association (Fig. 3). No index species were found, excepting
the continuous and abundant presence of Ostracode sp. 207,
those not allow subdivision into subzones. Therefore, the
whole sequence is assigned to the Cytheridea? spp. 201–208
Zone (NRT–011). The rich and diverse palynomorphs, in
contrast, allow the recognition of two palynozones: an under
Aptian Sergipea variverrucata Zone, that occurs throughout
the Rio da Batateira Formation and at least the lower Crato
Member of the Santana Formation; and the upper Aptian/
Albian Cicatricosisporites avnimelechi Zone, which occurs
in the middle Ipubi and upper Romualdo members of the
Santana Formation, as well as in the upper Arajara Forma-
tion. No microfossils were recorded from the unconform-
able Exu Formation and, therefore, no age assignment could
be inferred.
4. Discussion and conclusions
With the exception of the Mauriti and the Exu formations
that contain no microfossils and, therefore, no age assign-
ment was possible, for the Brejo Santo, the Missão Velha,
the Abaiara, the Rio da Batateira, the Santana, and the
Arajara formations, the ostracode and palynomorph distri-
butions facilitate testing of the age assignment given previ-
ously by other authors. Also, the micropaleontological
content allows the establishment and calibration of these
lithostratigraphic units in several stages of local use.
For this reason, according to Ponte and Appi (1990), the
Mauriti Formation was left as deposited during the Siluri-
an–Devonian in spite of the fact that Carvalho et al. (1994,
1995a, 1995b) have reported the occurrence of dinosaurs
that strongly suggests a Mesozoic younger age. Therefore,
there is one possibility that at least the uppermost part of the
Mauriti Formation was deposited during the Mesozoic and
that those rocks may be assigned to another lithostrati-
graphic unit. As no new occurrence has been recently
recorded and no stratigraphic work has been done to test the
provenance of the fossils recorded by Carvalho et al. (1994,
1995a, 1995b), the scheme proposed by Ponte and Ponte-
Filho (1996) is used.
For the Brejo Santo and the Missão Velha formations,
their assignment to the Dom João local stage equivalent to
the Upper Jurassic (?)–Lower Cretaceous is confirmed;
whereas the Abaiara Formation is restricted to the base of
 J. Carlos Coimbra et al. / Geobios 35 (2002) 687–698
the Neocomian and, therefore, to the Rio da Serra local
stage. Due to the absence of the Paracypridea obovata
obovata (NRT–005) to the Limnocythere? troelseni
(NRT–010) zones, for the first time a large hiatus is
documented in the Brazilian Lower Cretaceous sequence,
between the Rio da Serra and Alagoas local stages. Micro-
fossil occurrence in the Rio da Batateira and Santana
formations as well as palynomorphs of the Arajara Forma-
tion, strongly suggest that the Alagoas local stage is upper
Albian for the first two formations and Aptian/Albian for the
Ipubi and Romualdo members of the Santana Formation and
for the Arajara Formation, correlating well with the nearby
basin of the northeastern Brazil.
It is confirmed that in the pre-rift stage at the Araripe
basin, the lithostratigraphic sequence is characterized from
the base to the top by fluvial reddish pelitic terrigenous
deposits, followed by fluvial coarse-grain sandy. Otherwise,
during the rift stage, the sedimentation was confined to the
grabens and semigrabens formed by the Wealdenian tec-
tonism (Ponte and Ponte-Filho, 1996), constituting the
tectono-sedimentary record of the crust breaking-off, which
represents the initial formation of the Brazilian continental
margin. The lithostratigraphic sequence observed in the
outcrops as well as in subsurface (Core 2-AP-1-CE), shows
for the Cypridea (Morininoides) candeiensis Zone a litho-
facies association characteristic of a lacustrine deposit, in a
similar way to those observed in the South Tanganyika
troughs complex in the western region of East African rift
(Tiercelin et al., 1989).
The base of the post-rift stage at the Araripe basin, is
bound by a pre-Aptian regional unconformity that repre-
sents a large hiatus between the Neocomian or at least to the
middle Rio da Serra local stage and the Alagoas Aptian local
stage, being absent in the Aratu, Buracica, and Jiquiá local
stages, which are recorded in the Recôncavo/Tucano and
Sergipe/Alagoas nearby basins. The post-rift stage is con-
stituted by a transgressive/regressive cycles, represented by
three depositional systems: (1) an Aptian carbonated
fluvial/lacustrine system, which corresponds to the Rio da
Batateira Formation and to the Crato Member of the
Santana Formation; (2) an early to middle Albian
transitional/evaporitic and littoral marine system repre-
sented by the Ipubi and Romualdo members of the Santa
Formation as well as by the Arajara Formation, character-
ized by the presence of rare conchostracans, molluscs,
dinoflagellates and microforaminifers; (3) an Albian-
–Cenomanian (?) meander system represented by the Exu
Formation.
According to Arai and Coimbra (1990), core samples
from the Santana Formation section of well 2-AP-1-CE
present a microfossil assemblage composed by pollen
grains, spores, dinoflagellate cysts, ostracodes, foraminifers,
and micromolluscs typical from mixohaline coastal environ-
ments such as lagoons and estuaries. The occurrence of the
dinoflagellate genera Spiniferites MANTELL and Subtil-
isphaera JAIN and MILLEPIED suggests an undoubted
697
marine influence. The authors emphasized that the samples
presenting high amount of dinoflagellates (more than 50%
in the total counting of palynomorphs sensu latu), contained
ostracodes typical of Alagoas local stage, as Ostracode sp.
207. In the samples with only moderate frequency of
dinoflagellates, the ostracodes, when present, form a mono-
fauna of Pattersoncypris micropapillosa BATE. They con-
cluded that the marine ingression was pulsative, sustaining
a mixohaline environment that prevented the development
of high diversity ostracode faunas.
Acknowledgements
Authors are indebted with PETROBRAS that furnished
the sample collection for this study. We wish to thank the
petroleum geologists Paulo Milhomem, Augusto C. Silva-
Telles Jr., and Jarbas V.P. Guzzo for their encouragement
and discussions. Dr. David Horne and Dr. Heuriette Méon
reviewed the last manuscript and suggested valuable im-
provements. Also we thank Mr. M. Alcayde-Orraca from
IGL/UNAM, for English revision and editorial suggestions,
and Mr. Luis Flávio P. Borges from UFRGS, for his help in
the photographs. The help of Dr. Gerson Fauth in the Fig. 2
was invaluable. The first author gratefully acknowledges the
CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e
Tecnológico) process number 520309/99–5.
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