Rhythms of Colluvial Deposition on Hillslopes of Crystalline and Metamorphic Massifs in the Semi-Arid Region of Alagoas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22456/1807-9806.154098Keywords:
colluvium, hillslope dynamics, semi-arid Northeast Brazil, accumulation rates, luminescence datingAbstract
The colluvial record of hillslopes in the semi-arid region of Alagoas reveals successions of fine and coarse facies, commonly associated with short-duration gravitational flows and alternating periods of surface stability and sediment mobilization. However, few studies have addressed the rhythmicity of colluvial cycles across different hillslope sectors and their temporal variability with the aim of identifying accumulation rates. This study aimed to characterize the rhythm of colluvial deposition from the Late Pleistocene to the present through an integrated analysis of stratigraphy, facies thickness, and apparent accumulation rates. Based on facies profiles and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages, three chronofacies cycles (A, B, and C) were identified, defined by recurring successions of fine and coarse facies, with chronological boundaries around 7,331 and 4,486 years BP. Fine facies predominate in cycles A and C, whereas cycle B records a greater contribution of coarse sediments, reflecting changes in the energy regime of hillslope processes. Apparent accumulation rates show a progressive decrease from the present toward the past, allowing the identification of phases of high, medium, and low depositional efficiency. The results indicate that colluvial deposition occurred cyclically, alternating between diffuse low-energy sedimentation and more concentrated events of greater magnitude. We conclude that the colluvial deposits preserve rhythmic cycles of accumulation and erosion, confirming the proposed hypothesis. The results also indicate the progressive evolution of hillslopes toward more stable conditions throughout the Late Quaternary, establishing these deposits as key records of regional morphosedimentary dynamics.
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