Some remarks on the evolution of sedimentary basins along the Eastern Brazilian continental margin

This work provides a general overview of the tectano-stratigraphic evolutio n of the Eastern Brazilian Margin, discussing the main phases of subsidence and sedimentation and in particular, the structural styles and depositiona l megasequences of selected basins. The Mesozoic sedimentation along the Br azilian continental margin started with the breakup of Western Gondwana in the Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous. The rifting of the southern-most parr o f South America Flare was heralded by the extrusion of flood basalts in the Parana, Campos and Santos basins. The syn-rift phase is associated with sy nthetic and antithetic faults forming several half-grabens filled with fluv ial-deltaic sediments of the Continental Megasequence. The Transitional Meg asequence is characterized by evaporite deposition from the Santos towards the Sergipe/Alagoas Basin, and salt movements constitute one of the most im portant controls on stratigraphic and structural features, being responsibl e for several exploratory plays in deep wafer regions. The drift Marine Meg asequence, presently bearing mast of the hydrocarbon production and reserve s, may be subdivided into a carbonate Restricted Marine Supersequence (Albi an to Turonian) and a siliciclastic Open Mar-ins Supersequence (Late Cretac eous to Quaternary). The interpretation of deep water depositional systems and the rift architecture at the transition from continental to oceanic cru st constitute the major challenges for petroleum exploration in the next ce ntury.