São Francisco craton

geology

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July 13, 2026

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The S\u00e3o Francisco craton is a stable block of Earth's crust that formed during Precambrian time, approximately 4.6 billion to 541 million years ago. It is one of the five core cratons that make up the ancient foundation of South America. Rocks within the S\u00e3o Francisco craton include metamorphosed igneous and sedimentary rocks, with some dating back as far as 3.4 billion years old, making them among the oldest rocks found on the continent. This craton played a role in the formation of supercontinents like Gondwana and Pangea.12

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South America
The Precambrian
…the Amazonia, Luis Alves, and São Francisco cratons, although precisely dated rock samples are scarce. Ages older than 3 billion years have been reported in the Imataca Complex of Venezuela and in the Xingu area of Brazil, both in the Amazonia craton. The oldest rocks found so far—with ages of…
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…the Amazonia, Luis Alves, and São Francisco cratons, although precisely dated rock samples are scarce. Ages older than 3 billion years have been reported in the Imataca Complex of Venezuela and in the Xingu area of Brazil, both in the Amazonia craton. The oldest rocks found so far—with ages of…
Read More