ESPINHAÇO - QUO VADIS ? (ONDE ESTÁ? - AONDE VAI?) A EVOLUÇÃO DOS CONHECIMENTOS SOBRE A CORDILHEIRA DO ESPINHAÇO MERIDIONAL EM MINAS GERAIS ENTRE 1979 E 1995

Abstract

In this paper a brief review is given of master and doctoral thesis as well of articles published duringthe last 16 years, concerning the geology of the Serra do Espinhaço in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The differentproposals of a subdivision of the Archean basement and sedimentary sequences of Pre-Espinhaço age arereviewed. The existing geochronological data are insufficient for a complete understanding of these units.The Espinhaço rift started its evolution about 1800 Ma ago with continental sediments with intercalationof acidic and basic volcanics evolving in the upper part of the sequence to shallow marine sedimentation.Aspects of stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Espinhaço Supergroup as well as those of structuraland economic geology are briefly discussed. Diamonds washed in the Sopa-Brumadinho conglomeratesand in alluvials remains the principal mineral resource as about 160 years ago predicted by L.W. vonEschwege. In recent years exploration work was successful to identify the gold deposit at Riacho dosMachados in the northern extension of the Serra do Espinhaço.A chapter resumes the geodymamic models presented during the considered period. Finally, suggestionsfor future investigations are listed.