The Rio Grande Rise: Current Knowledge and Future Frontiers for Deep-Sea Science, Mineral Resources and Governance

The Rio Grande Rise (RGR) is the largest oceanic plateau in the South Atlantic and represents a key natural laboratory for understanding oceanic plateau formation, deep-sea circulation, ecosystem functioning, and ferromanganese crust development. This study presents a critical synthesis of current scientific knowledge on the RGR, integrating geological, geophysical, oceanographic, biological, and geochemical evidence published over the last two decades. Geophysical data reveal a complex tectono-magmatic evolution involving Late Cretaceous plume-related volcanism, crustal thickening, rifting, and subsequent subsidence. The structural framework of the plateau is dominated by the Cruzeiro do Sul Rift, which plays a central role in controlling sedimentation, magmatism, and seawater circulation. Oceanographic studies demonstrate that the interaction between the southern branch of the South Equatorial Current and the complex topography of the RGR generates intense internal tides and bottom currents, strongly influencing sediment transport and benthic habitats. Biological investigations indicate that the RGR hosts diverse deep-sea communities, including sponge grounds, cold-water corals, and associated fauna, whose distribution is tightly linked to geomorphology and hydrodynamics. Ferromanganese crusts occurring on the plateau preserve valuable geochemical records of oceanographic and redox conditions, although their spatial distribution, thickness, and metal budgets remain incompletely constrained. Despite major advances, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding crustal structure, sedimentary evolution, ecosystem functioning, and mineral formation processes. This review highlights these uncertainties and outlines research priorities necessary to improve understanding of oceanic plateaus and deep-sea systems in the South Atlantic.

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Publication Details

Journal
Minerals
Published
2026-04-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/min16040418
Primary Topic
Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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The Rio Grande Rise: Current Knowledge and Future Frontiers for Deep-Sea Science, Mineral Resources and Governance

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The Rio Grande Rise: Current Knowledge and Future Frontiers for Deep-Sea Science, Mineral Resources and Governance

Fábio Rodrigues, Frederico Pereira Brandini, Elisabete de Santis Braga, Izabel King Jeck, Alexander Turra, Gabriel T. Tagliaro, Marcelo Cecconi Portes, Vivian H. Pellizari, Carina Ulsen, Nélia C. Mestre, Carina Costa de Oliveira, Márcio Yamamoto, Luigi Jovane, Muhammad Bin Hassan, S. R. Mello, Douglas Galante, Gustavo Martineli Massola, Renata Regina Constantino, Valdecir de Assis Janasi, Simone Bernardini, Ronaldo Carrion, Luciano de Oliveira Júnior, Natascha Menezes Bergo, David Lopes de Castro, Roberto Ventura Santos, Javier González, Simone Marques, Marco Antônio Couto, Fabíola A. Lima, Lucas C. V. Rodrigues, Paulo Y.G. Sumida, Ilson C.A. da Silveira, Jules M. R. Soto, Webster Mohriak, Solange Teles da Silva, Eduardo F. Monlevade, Pedro Walfir Souza-Neto, Adriane G. P. Praxedes
article en

Abstract

The Rio Grande Rise (RGR) is the largest oceanic plateau in the South Atlantic and represents a key natural laboratory for understanding oceanic plateau formation, deep-sea circulation, ecosystem functioning, and ferromanganese crust development. This study presents a critical synthesis of current scientific knowledge on the RGR, integrating geological, geophysical, oceanographic, biological, and geochemical evidence published over the last two decades. Geophysical data reveal a complex tectono-magmatic evolution involving Late Cretaceous plume-related volcanism, crustal thickening, rifting, and subsequent subsidence. The structural framework of the plateau is dominated by the Cruzeiro do Sul Rift, which plays a central role in controlling sedimentation, magmatism, and seawater circulation. Oceanographic studies demonstrate that the interaction between the southern branch of the South Equatorial Current and the complex topography of the RGR generates intense internal tides and bottom currents, strongly influencing sediment transport and benthic habitats. Biological investigations indicate that the RGR hosts diverse deep-sea communities, including sponge grounds, cold-water corals, and associated fauna, whose distribution is tightly linked to geomorphology and hydrodynamics. Ferromanganese crusts occurring on the plateau preserve valuable geochemical records of oceanographic and redox conditions, although their spatial distribution, thickness, and metal budgets remain incompletely constrained. Despite major advances, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding crustal structure, sedimentary evolution, ecosystem functioning, and mineral formation processes. This review highlights these uncertainties and outlines research priorities necessary to improve understanding of oceanic plateaus and deep-sea systems in the South Atlantic.

MineralsVol. 16(4)
Roma Tre University (IT), Universidade de Brasília (BR), Universidade Federal Fluminense (BR), Universidade de São Paulo (BR), Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (BR), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (BR), Instituto Butantan (BR), Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (ES), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (BR), Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (BR), National Maritime Research Institute (JP), Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (BR), Instituto de Geofísica y Astronomía (CU), University of Algarve (PT)
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 13%
Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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