Syn- and Post-collisional Granitoids Geosites of the Rio Doce Magmatic Arc, Espírito Santo State, Southeastern Brazil

Geosites in syn- and post-collisional granitoid rocks of the Rio Doce Magmatic Arc are important markers of the tectonic environments associated with the amalgamation of the western portion of Gondwana during the Neoproterozoic. Another aspect that stands out in these geosites is the relief that resulted from the breakup of Pangea with the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean and the action of the climate propitiating the alteration of the rocks and the soil erosion during the Cenozoic, leaving a landscape full of inselbergs that allow us to reach minerals, rocks, and structures that were formed between 630 and 480 Ma. The morphology of syn-collisional granitoid geosites is controlled by NNW-SSE fractures of Colatina lineament, and secondarily, by a shear fracture pair of WNW-ESE and WSW-ENE directions. In post-collisional granitoid geosites, the main control is the shape of the intrusion, and secondarily, a pair of shear fractures of WNW-ESE and WSW-ENE directions. The State of Espirito Santo has a strong connection between rural communities and cities with the local geology. Several initiatives to preserve this landscape can be noticed in the different tourist areas, such as the Pontoes Capixabas Natural Monument and Pedra Azul State Park. Espirito Santo is a good example of geoconservation in Brazil, but at the same time, it needs to be aware of its geotourism potential, which can contribute to the local rural communities. For this, actions are needed to spread geological knowledge in schools, by training guides and taking this information to rural communities through new routes and using existing routes combined with geological knowledge, geodiversity, and cultural manifestations of the region.

Automated summary

The geosites in the Rio Doce Magmatic Arc are important markers of the tectonic environments during the amalgamation of Gondwana. These geosites are characterized by a relief formed by the breakup of Pangea and the erosion caused by climate change. The State of Espirito Santo in Brazil has a strong connection between rural communities and cities through its geology and there are initiatives to preserve the landscape and develop geotourism in the region.