Tectono‐Metamorphic Evolution of the Central Ribeira Belt, Brazil: A Case of Late Neoproterozoic Intracontinental Orogeny and Flow of Partially Molten Deep Crust During the Assembly of West Gondwana

Abstract Recent advances in understanding the plate tectonics, intracontinental deformation, and flow of partially molten crust have significantly improved our knowledge of collisional tectonics and the way in which we understand complex ancient orogens. The Central Ribeira Belt represents a Neoproterozoic fold‐and‐thrust belt formed in the Brasiliano Orogenic Cycle associated with the assembly of West Gondwana. This fold‐and‐thrust belt is currently interpreted as a result of recurrent collisions and amalgamation of terranes against large cratons. Based on an integrated structural, petrological, and geochronological study in two metamorphic complexes of the Central Ribeira Belt (Embu and Costeiro complexes), we challenge the current model that involves multiple terrane collisions. Our data show for the first time metamorphic ages older than 600 Ma for samples from Costeiro and Embu complexes and suggest that both geological units experienced an intermediate‐P metamorphism (M1) at circa 620 Ma and a low‐P metamorphism (M2) at circa 575 Ma. Our proposed tectonic model is consistent with an M1 event related to an intracontinental orogeny, formed in response to the collision between the São Francisco Craton and the Paranapanema Block. On the other hand, the later M2 metamorphism records extensional and wrench tectonics associated with orogenic collapse, constrained by the decompression paths of the metasedimentary sequences and M2‐related S3 mylonitic foliation. The M2 metamorphism is associated with wide, right‐lateral strike‐slip shear zones and voluminous peraluminous magmatism in the Embu Domain and widespread partial melting of the middle crust forming migmatitic rocks and peraluminous leucogranites in the Costeiro Domain.