Cretaceous succession of the Cambambe basin, Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil

This paper aims to show the filling and stratigraphy of the units that constitute the Cambambe Basin, that is located at the mid-southern portion of the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The rocks of this vulcano-sedimentary unit have been deposited during Upper Cretaceous, between the Santonian and Maastrichtian Stages. The scientific literature has been associated these units to different basins, such as the Paraná Basin, the Parecis Basin and the Bauru Basin and also to other different lithostratigraphic units. Such confusion was the motivation to carry out this study in which the description and interpretation of facies associations was the main tool to clarify some of the aspects related to the Cambambe basin evolution. It has been observed five facies: Polymytic Conglomerate (PCF), Oligomitic Conglomerate (OCF), Siltstone and Mudstone (SMF), Litharenite (LF), Quartzarenite Facies (QF). This facies points to an alluvial fan system, with facies associations interpreted as corresponding to three portions: proximal, immature plains and mature plains. Such facies associations corresponds to the lithostratigrphic units that constitutes the Cambambe basin: the lower portion is the Ribeirão Boiadeiro Group, consisting of the interfingering Quilombinho and Cachoeira do Bom Jardim formations and the upper portion is the Cambambe Formation. An erosive unconfomity separates both portions. The sedimentary record exceeds 400 m in thickness and demonstrates a long-term deposition marked by numerous non-deposition surfaces, including paleosols. •Contributes to the understanding of Cretaceous stratigraphy.•Presents a proposal for the evolution of the Cambambe Basin.•Displays the distribution of facies by lithostratigraphic units.•Interprets four paleoenvironments for Cambambe Basin.