2.1 – Geology

The Federal District is located in the central portion of the Brasilia Folds and Thrusts Zone. Its regional geological context is constituted by four distinct lithological sets: Canastra and Paranoá groups (the Meso-Neoproterozoic Age) and the Araxá and Bambuí groups (the Neoprotereozoic Age).

• Paranoá Group: covers about 65% of the Federal District and is composed of the following rocks: Fine Conglomerate Quartzite, Metasiltstone, Slates, Sandy Metaritmite, Medium Quartzite, Clay Metaritmite and a unit of Psamo-pelito-carbonate.
• Canastra Group: equivalent to 15% of the area of the Federal District, distributed through the vales of the São Bartolomeu and Maranhão rivers, essentially constituted by phyllites and, subordinately, by lenticular bodies of marble and quartzites.
• Bambuí Group: is distributed over about 15% of the Federal District, being found the northern area, and east along the Preto River valley. The main rocks in this group are laminated siltstone, clay siltstone and arkose.
• Araxá Group: occupies 5% of the Federal District, located in the southeast of the territory. It is composed of varied schists, with an ample predominance of muscovite and schists.