Petrology and geochronology of the Cacapava do Sul batholith, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

The batholith of Cacapava do Sul, Brazil, is composed of granitic rocks represented by leucogranites, syenogranites, monzogranites and granodiorites, arranged in a complex way. These rocks represent a calcalkaline suite of compressional tectonic setting. The general characteristics described with respect to it's petrography, chemical composition and geological setting show similarities with mesozone plutons. The pluton intruded the metamorphic rocks of the Vacacai Formation and the type of emplacement mechanism was forceful. According to the Rb-Sr total rock isochron age determinations, its consolidation took place throughout the Cambrian period. This result agrees with previous K-Ar age determinations. The intrusion occurred at the end of the Brasiliano orogenic cycle, when the metamorphic and folding phenomena had already ceased and the morphogenesis was in progress, since the temperature for radiometric argon retention was reached rapidly. (D.J.M.)