Full Professor at the Institute of Geosciences (IG) of the University of Brasília (UnB), where he contributes to the education of undergraduate students in Geophysics and Geology, in addition to mentoring and teaching in the Graduate Program in Geology. With a solid academic background that includes a degree in Physics from UFMT (2000), a Master's (2003) and a Ph.D. (2008) in Sciences (Geophysics) from USP—the latter including an internship in Barcelona, Spain—he combines academic experience with practical application, having worked as a quality control geophysicist and coordinator at the Georadar Company (2007-2009). His leadership is also evident in administrative roles, serving as Head of the UnB Seismological Observatory (2018-2022) and, currently, as the Coordinator of Research and Innovation for the IG/UnB (since 2023). His expertise in Geosciences is centered on Geophysics, with a special emphasis on Seismology and Seismic methods.
EDUCATION
Degree in Physics (Licenciatura Plena) - Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), Brazil
Master's Degree in Geophysics - University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil
Ph.D. in Geophysics - University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Earth and Planetary Sciences, Geophysics
40
Scopus Publications
1210
Scholar Citations
18
Scholar h-index
26
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Characterization of the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the São Francisco Craton (Brazil) and adjacent areas from Rayleigh wave tomography Estevão Vasconcello Campos Tadeu, Marcelo Peres Rocha, André Vinícius de Sousa Nascimento, Marcos Vinícius Ferreira, Reinhardt Adolfo Fuck, et al. Geophysical Journal International, 2026 SUMMARY This study investigates the crustal and uppermost mantle architecture beneath the São Francisco Craton (SFC), which constitutes the core of the broader São Francisco Paleocontinent (SFP), and its surrounding tectonic provinces through Rayleigh wave tomography, integrating ambient-noise (periods of 6–50 s) and earthquake-derived (periods of 9–180 s) dispersion curves. 2-D phase and group velocity maps were regionalized using adaptive parametrization, with the resolution assessed from checkerboard tests. A pseudo-3-D shear-wave velocity (VS) model was generated down to 70 km depth, from which crustal thickness was also derived using the maximum velocity gradient method. Results at shallow depths (2–10 km) identify the Paraná, Parnaíba and Tucano–Jatobá basins as low-velocity anomalies, while the São Francisco Basin is not fully resolved because its reduced thickness falls below the model’s resolution limit, despite its broad surface extent. In the middle-to-lower crust (20–40 km) inside SFC, a low VS corridor characterizes the Paramirim Aulacogen, highlighting the role of inherited rift structures and subsequent thermal reworking within the cratonic interior. At greater depths (60–70 km), the Borborema Province exhibits low velocities that contrast with the high velocities of the stable SFC root. The Moho map derived from tomography indicates crustal thickening beneath the Paraná and Parnaíba basins and the Brasília Belt, in good agreement with receiver-function estimates. Overall, the VS anomalies and Moho geometry in the regions neighbouring the SFC reveal high-velocity corridors with relatively thin crust (32–36 km) extending across the Tocantins, Mantiqueira and Borborema provinces, and projecting northwestward beneath the Parnaíba Basin. These results demonstrate that the boundaries of the São Francisco Paleocontinent extend significantly beyond its exposed surface limits within the crust and uppermost mantle. These boundaries are clearly discernible mainly at lower crustal depths and likely reach the upper crust. Furthermore, marginal deformations are primarily restricted to shallower levels of the crust, suggesting the preservation of a mechanically strong and continuous cratonic foundation beneath the surrounding orogenic belts and intracratonic basins. The main exception occurs along the southwestern margin, where the absence of a clear seismic boundary between the SFP and the Paranapanema Block suggests deep lithospheric integration or a boundary too narrow to be resolved by the present station geometry.
Study of the lithospheric structure beneath Northeast Brazil with P-wave multiple frequency seismic tomography Guilherme Manno Penna Crepaldi Affonso, Marcelo Peres Rocha, Jordi Julià, Aderson Farias do Nascimento, Reinhardt Adolfo Fuck, et al. Geophysical Journal International, 2025 SUMMARY We used the multiple-frequency seismic tomography method to image the upper mantle beneath Northeast Brazil by processing P-wave broad-band seismograms in six frequency passbands. The data comprised 87 896 relative traveltime residuals for P and PKIKP phases, simultaneously inverted to obtain 3-D models of P-velocity anomalies. We conducted resolution tests using checkerboard patterns with horizontal dimensions of 312 × 312 km and 390 × 390 km. For the 312 km × 312 km structures, we observed good horizontal recovery beneath the areas of the Borborema province and northern São Francisco craton at the depths of 136 and 226 km, with the areas of the São Luís craton and Parnaíba basin also presenting recovery, albeit with reduced amplitudes. For the 390 km × 390 km structures, we observed good horizontal and amplitude recovery throughout the entire study area. Our model was unable to recover the sharp vertical transitions between the anomalies. We present the preferred model for Parnaíba basin and Borborema province. The model shows a fragmented basement for the Parnaíba basin, with two strong high-velocity anomalies consistent with the Parnaíba and Granja blocks, and another slight high-velocity anomaly north of the basin, consistent with the São Luís craton. To the west of the basin, the Parnaíba block appears separate from another high-velocity anomaly associated with the Amazonian craton. A strong high-velocity anomaly south of the Borborema province is interpreted as the northern portion of the São Francisco craton. The São Francisco craton anomaly presents strong high-velocity anomalies, interpreted as a thickening of certain portions of the craton, separated by a weaker positive anomaly, interpreted as the Paramirim Aulacogen. The Borborema province is characterized by a low-velocity anomaly. The central and northeastern portions of this anomaly presented even lower velocities, which was interpreted as lateral flow in the asthenosphere, originating from the passage of a plume to the north of the province. A low-velocity anomaly located west of the Borborema province strikes roughly NE–SW and separates the São Francisco craton from the Parnaíba block and the Amazonian craton. It is interpreted as the Transbrasiliano Lineament. To test the capability of our data to resolve the limits of large-scale structures, we created four synthetic models simulating the presence of different cratonic nuclei. The models show good horizontal recovery, with the fourth model, based on our findings, presenting the best correlation between the real and recovered models. Seismicity in the study region is mainly correlated to low-velocity anomalies.
Influence of upwelling mantle magmas on cratonic crust implied from Vp/Vs beneath South America platform Meijian An, Mei Feng, Marcelo S Assumpção, Marcelo B Bianchi, George S França, et al. Geophysical Journal International, 2024 SUMMARY The crust of the South American platform recorded imprints of dynamic processes related with the opening of the Central and South Atlantic but has not been well measured. Crustal structure can be retrieved from teleseismic receiver functions using H–κ stacking, but nearly parallel stripes of high stacking values existing in stacking images for seismic stations in sedimentary area cause difficulties in identifying solutions. We show that some seemingly spurious stripes that do not point to any layer solution are helpful in the identification of the solution position. With the aid of the auxiliary stripes, we retrieved thicknesses and Vp/Vs of sedimentary and crystalline crust for 65 permanent stations of the Brazilian Seismographic Network and six new portable seismic stations in Brazil and Uruguay. The resulted sedimentary thickness and Vp/Vs exhibit a good correlation with the Phanerozoic sediments in the South American basins. The crust of Paraná–Etendeka Large Igneous Province (LIP) had been expected to be more mafic since it had ever been penetrated by mantle magma in the Cretaceous related to the south Atlantic opening. However, we found very low Vp/Vs (1.67) in the crystalline crust beneath the LIP, implying a more felsic crust and that no significant mafic intruding/underplating has occurred in the region. The more felsic crust may be formed in a special evolution early than the magmatic event, or during the magmatic event by releasing crustal volatiles. The resulted sedimentary thickness and Vp/Vs ratios exhibit a good correlation with the Phanerozoic sediments in the South American basins, which implies that Triassic–Jurassic and Cretaceous magmatism did not cause significant metamorphism in sediments formed before the magmatic events.
Dynamic evolution of West Gondwana inferred from crustal anisotropy of the South American platform Mei Feng, Meijian An, Hulin Zang, Marcelo S Assumpção, Marcelo B Bianchi, et al. Geophysical Journal International, 2024 SUMMARYThe amalgamation and breakup of the West Gondwana shaped the South American platform. The dynamics during the processes can be reflected by crust anisotropy of the platform, but there are no specialized crustal anisotropic measurements yet. Splitting analysis of Moho-converted shear waves in P-wave receiver functions (Pms) can reveal crustal-scale anisotropy, which is important for understanding the dynamic evolution of the crust and for the interpretation of mantle anisotropy from splitting analysis of core–mantle refracted shear waves (XKS phases). This study measured crustal anisotropy for the old and stable South American platform by Pms splitting analysis. The splitting times vary mainly in the range of 0–0.5 s, with a regional mean of 0.2 s, slightly lower than that observed in tectonically active regions. The detected crustal anisotropy shows distinct characteristics and spatial zoning, providing insights into tectonic processes. (1) Fast polarization directions at stations close to the Transbrasiliano Lineament (TBL) are oriented NNE–SSW, generally consistent with the strike of the TBL but inconsistent with the maximum horizontal compressive stress, implying that they might be formed by dynamic metamorphism during the formation of the TBL. (2) Crustal anisotropy along the passive continental margin in the east and northeast is weak. Still, the fast polarization directions tend to be oriented along the margin, implying the existence of fossil extensional crustal fabrics formed during the continental rifting of West Gondwana. (3) The Paraná Basin, one of the world's largest Large Igneous Provinces (LIP) covered by continental flood basalts, shows distinctively strong anisotropy, with fast polarization directions highly aligned with mantle anisotropy, implying that synchronous crust–mantle deformation occurred in these regions as a result of magmatism during the breakup of West Gondwana.
Destruction of the Lithosphere beneath the SW Margin of the São Francisco Craton Evidenced by Refertilized and Deformed Mantle Xenoliths Luisa Gomes Braga, Tiago Jalowitzki, Fernanda Gervasoni, Rodrigo Freitas Rodrigues, Maurizio Mazzucchelli, et al. Journal of Petrology, 2024 The destruction of the cratonic root has been documented for multiple cratons worldwide and is characterized by severe lithospheric thinning, extensive extensional deformation, and intense thermal activity. Here, we present detailed petrography accompanied by comprehensive geochemical and isotopic data for peridotites, pyroxenites, and eclogites from the SW margin of the São Francisco Craton that has also been severely thinned. The diamond-bearing Canastra-1 kimberlite represents a Cretaceous intrusion from the Alto Paranaíba Igneous Province and hosts garnet-bearing mantle xenoliths from different mantle sources, revealing a complex history of metasomatism/refertilization related to superimposed tectonic events since the cratonic consolidation. Eclogites (T = 978–982°C; P ~ 4.0 GPa) and pargasite-bearing websterites (T = 875–926°C; P = 2.0–3.0 GPa) represent the shallower and colder cratonic lithosphere. Mantle-derived high-MgO eclogitic clinopyroxenes show a light rare earth element (LREE)-enriched pattern (Ce/YbN = 60.90–93.63) while both clinopyroxene and garnet present high 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.70842–0.70912) and negative εNd values (−5.6 to −7.3). These features, supported by the reconstructed whole-rock composition, suggest a mafic protolith probably metasomatized by fluid/melt derived from the overlying sedimentary rocks. Pargasite websterites are cumulates from an evolved (SiO2-rich) and hydrated basaltic andesitic magma. These xenoliths are characterized by high concentration of LREE relative to heavy-REE (HREE) in clinopyroxene (Ce/YbN = 10.52–50.61) and pargasite (Ce/YbN = 10.26–57.06), and by the presence of Al-rich orthopyroxene. As observed in eclogites, clinopyroxene and garnet from pargasite websterites display high 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.70894–0.71094) and strong negative εNd values (−7.2 to −13.3). Trace elements (i.e. Zr, Ti, and Y) in garnets of both rock types indicate the role of a depleted component affected by a metasomatic agent. Although we were unable to date the formation of these rocks or the metasomatic events, we suggest a possible relationship with the consolidation of Gondwana during the Neoproterozoic. Sheared lherzolites, clinopyroxenites, anhydrous websterites, and dunite are deeper fragments from the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB: 1191–1290°C; 5.3–5.6 GPa). They have abundant kelyphitic rims around garnet grains, which indicate metasomatism promoted by the percolation of a high-temperature proto-kimberlite melt enriched in Ti, Zr, and Y. The presence of kelyphitic phlogopite with high-Ti-Cr contents reinforces this assumption. LREE-enriched clinopyroxenes (Ce/YbN = 12.06–48.02) confirm the enriched character of the silicate melt responsible for the refertilization process within the cratonic root. The proto-kimberlite metasomatism is further supported by the preferential enrichment of 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.70560–0.70869) accompanied by positive εNd values (+1.8 to +10.10). Two-point clinopyroxene-garnet Sm–Nd isochrons yielded an average age of 120 ± 5 Ma, representing the kimberlite eruption/emplacement age of the host kimberlite. These deeper LAB xenoliths reveal intense lithospheric thinning triggered by percolation of a high-temperature proto-kimberlite melt since the early stages of Gondwana break-up during the Cretaceous, shortly before the kimberlite emplacement at 120 Ma. Therefore, they provide remarkable evidence of the destruction of the São Francisco Craton through thermal-mechanical erosion that triggered its rejuvenation.
Scalable compression of multibeam echo sounder data R. L. de Queiroz, D. C. Garcia, L. E. N. Fonseca, E. M. Hung, M. P. Rocha 2017 IEEE Oes Acoustics in Underwater Geosciences Symposium Rio Acoustics 2017, 2017
Characterization of the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the São Francisco Craton (Brazil) and adjacent areas from Rayleigh wave tomography EVC Tadeu, MP Rocha, AVS Nascimento, MV Ferreira, RA Fuck, J Julià, ... Geophysical Journal International 245 (3), ggag128 , 2026 2026
Seismicity and Stresses in the Eastern part of the Amazon Craton: Implications for the Intraplate Stress Field in South America M Assumpção, M Rocha, C Trindade, P Azevedo, J Carvalho, M Bianchi, ... Geophysical Journal International, ggag194 , 2026 2026
The RSBR-Mar Project: Monitoring Offshore Small-Magnitude Earthquakes in Southeastern Brazil with Marine and Land-Based Instrumentation GL Neto, A Nascimento, D Coelho, S Fontes, Í Maurício, A Alfonzo, ... EGU26 , 2026 2026
Study of the deep structure of the eastern portion of the Amazonian Craton using seismological methods MP Rocha, EVC Tadeu, AV de Sousa Nascimento, PA de Azevedo, ... AGU25 , 2025 2025
New Initiative: EarthProbe Consortium H Thybo, IMM Artemieva, R Carbonell, MP Rocha AGU25 , 2025 2025
Passive-source Seismology in the Western Amazon Region of Brazil J Julià, MP Rocha, A Pinheiro, J Carvalho, R Luz AGU25 , 2025 2025
Study of the lithospheric structure beneath Northeast Brazil with P -wave multiple frequency seismic tomography GMPC Affonso, MP Rocha, J Julià, AF Nascimento, RA Fuck, ... Geophysical Journal International 243 (1), ggaf304 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Rifting style of the SW Atlantic margin determined by lithospheric strength, as revealed by seismic tomography and receiver functions V Sacek, M Assumpção, G Gosling, R Monteiro da Silva, M Rocha, ... EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, EGU25-5053 , 2025 2025
Influence of seismometer misorientation on crustal thickness and Vp/Vs estimated with teleseismic P-wave receiver functions DF Albuquerque, MP Rocha, GS Franca, M Bianchi, RA Fuck Tectonophysics 895, 230577 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Investigating the Lithosphere Under Brazil Using S-wave Multiple Frequency Seismic Tomography DF Albuquerque, MP Rocha, G Affonso, ISL Costa, RA Fuck AGU24 , 2024 2024
Investigating the Lithosphere Under Brazil Using S-wave Multiple Frequency Seismic Tomography D Farrapo Albuquerque, MP Rocha, G Affonso, ISL Costa, RA Fuck AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2024 (3278), T41D-3278 , 2024 2024
Study of the lithospheric structure of the southeastern margin of the Amazonian Craton in Brazil using finite-frequency seismic tomography MP Rocha, G Affonso, EVC Tadeu, C Trindade, PA Azevedo, ... AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2024 (3279), T41D-3279 , 2024 2024
Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves based on Common Virtual Source Gathers of Seismic Ambient Noise Cross-Correlations: A Case Study at an Earth Dam in Brazil VJCB Guedes, STR Maciel, MP Rocha, WR Borges, LS da Cunha Journal of Applied Geophysics 230, 105529 , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
Dynamic evolution of West Gondwana inferred from crustal anisotropy of the South American platform M Feng, M An, H Zang, MS Assumpção, MB Bianchi, GS França, ... Geophysical Journal International 239 (1), 201-217 , 2024 2024 Citations: 3
Influence of upwelling mantle magmas on cratonic crust implied from Vp / Vs beneath South America platform M An, M Feng, MS Assumpção, MB Bianchi, GS França, MP Rocha, ... Geophysical Journal International 239 (1), 258-275 , 2024 2024 Citations: 6
Destruction of the lithosphere beneath the SW margin of the São Francisco Craton evidenced by refertilized and deformed mantle xenoliths LG Braga, T Jalowitzki, F Gervasoni, RF Rodrigues, M Mazzucchelli, ... Journal of Petrology 65 (9), egae087 , 2024 2024 Citations: 10
Pristine helium from the Karoo mantle plume within the shallow asthenosphere beneath Patagonia T Jalowitzki, H Sumino, RV Conceição, ME Schilling, GW Bertotto, ... Nature Communications 15 (1), 6402 , 2024 2024 Citations: 11
Estimating seismometer component orientation of the Brazilian seismographic network using teleseismic P-wave particle motion analysis and directional statistics DF Albuquerque, MP Rocha, M Ianniruberto, GS França, RA Fuck, ... Journal of South American Earth Sciences 134, 104754 , 2024 2024 Citations: 5
Influence of upwelling mantle magmas on cratonic crust implied from Vp/Vs beneath South America platform A Meijian, M Feng, MS Assumpçao, MB Bianchi, GS França, MP Rocha, ... Geophysical Journal International, 2024, 239 (1): 258-275. , 2024 2024
Destruction of the Lithosphere beneath the SW Margin of the São Francisco Craton Evidenced by Refertilized and Deformed Mantle Xenoliths L Gomes Braga, T Jalowitzki, F Gervasoni, R Freitas Rodrigues, ... Oxford University Press , 2024 2024
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Intraplate seismicity in SE Brazil: stress concentration in lithospheric thin spots M Assumpçao, M Schimmel, C Escalante, J Roberto Barbosa, M Rocha, ... Geophysical Journal International 159 (1), 390-399 , 2004 2004 Citations: 138
Upper-mantle seismic structure beneath SE and Central Brazil from P - and S -wave regional traveltime tomography MP Rocha, M Schimmel, M Assumpçao Geophysical Journal International 184 (1), 268-286 , 2011 2011 Citations: 115
Deep crustal structure of the Paraná Basin from receiver functions and Rayleigh‐wave dispersion: Evidence for a fragmented cratonic root J Julià, M Assumpção, MP Rocha Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 113 (B8) , 2008 2008 Citations: 97
Seismic studies of the Brasília fold belt at the western border of the São Francisco Craton, Central Brazil, using receiver function, surface-wave dispersion and teleseismic … M Assumpçao, M An, M Bianchi, GSL França, M Rocha, JR Barbosa, ... Tectonophysics 388 (1-4), 173-185 , 2004 2004 Citations: 89
The Brazilian seismographic network (RSBR): improving seismic monitoring in Brazil MB Bianchi, M Assumpção, MP Rocha, JM Carvalho, PA Azevedo, ... Seismological Research Letters 89 (2A), 452-457 , 2018 2018 Citations: 85
Detailed Structure of the Subducted Nazca Slab into the Lower Mantle Derived From Continent‐Scale Teleseismic P Wave Tomography DE Portner, EE Rodríguez, S Beck, G Zandt, A Scire, MP Rocha, ... Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 125 (5), e2019JB017884 , 2020 2020 Citations: 73
Delimiting the Neoproterozoic São Francisco Paleocontinental Block with P -wave traveltime tomography MP Rocha, PA Azevedo, M Assumpção, AC Pedrosa-Soares, R Fuck, ... Geophysical Journal International 219 (1), 633-644 , 2019 2019 Citations: 48
Thin lithosphere between the Amazonian and São Francisco cratons, in central Brazil, revealed by seismic P -wave tomography PA de Azevedo, MP Rocha, JEP Soares, RA Fuck Geophysical Journal International 201 (1), 61-69 , 2015 2015 Citations: 48
Lithospheric features of the São Francisco craton M Assumpção, PA Azevedo, MP Rocha, MB Bianchi São Francisco craton, Eastern Brazil: tectonic genealogy of a miniature … , 2016 2016 Citations: 41
Teleseismic P Wave Tomography Beneath the Pantanal, Paraná, and Chaco‐Paraná Basins, SE South America: Delimiting Lithospheric Blocks of the SW … MP Rocha, M Assumpção, G Affonso, PA Azevedo, M Bianchi Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 124 (7), 7120-7137 , 2019 2019 Citations: 38
Mantle dynamics of the Andean Subduction Zone from continent-scale teleseismic S -wave tomography EE Rodríguez, DE Portner, SL Beck, MP Rocha, MB Bianchi, ... Geophysical Journal International 224 (3), 1553-1571 , 2021 2021 Citations: 34
Lithospheric Architecture of the Paranapanema Block and Adjacent Nuclei Using Multiple‐Frequency P ‐Wave Seismic Tomography G Affonso, MP Rocha, ISL Costa, M Assumpção, RA Fuck, ... Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 126 (4), e2020JB021183 , 2021 2021 Citations: 33
Causes of intraplate seismicity in central Brazil from travel time seismic tomography MP Rocha, PA de Azevedo, GSA Marotta, M Schimmel, R Fuck Tectonophysics 680, 1-7 , 2016 2016 Citations: 33
The forensic geophysical controlled research site of the University of Brasilia, Brazil: results from methods GPR and electrical resistivity tomography MM Cavalcanti, MP Rocha, MLB Blum, WR Borges Forensic science international 293, 101. e1-101. e21 , 2018 2018 Citations: 32
Refrapy: A Python program for seismic refraction data analysis VJCB Guedes, STR Maciel, MP Rocha Computers & Geosciences 159, 105020 , 2022 2022 Citations: 31
An exotic Cretaceous kimberlite linked to metasomatized lithospheric mantle beneath the southwestern margin of the São Francisco Craton, Brazil LDV Carvalho, T Jalowitzki, R Scholz, GO Gonçalves, MP Rocha, ... Geoscience Frontiers 13 (1), 101281 , 2022 2022 Citations: 25
Lithospheric structure of the southern Amazonian Craton from multiple-frequency seismic tomography: Preliminary insights on tectonic and metallogenic implications ISL Costa, MP Rocha, EL Klein, ML Vasquez Journal of south American earth sciences 101, 102608 , 2020 2020 Citations: 24
Recycling process and proto-kimberlite melt metasomatism in the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary beneath the Amazonian Craton recorded by garnet xenocrysts and mantle … F Gervasoni, T Jalowitzki, MP Rocha, RK Weska, E Novais-Rodrigues, ... Geoscience Frontiers 13 (5), 101429 , 2022 2022 Citations: 21
Calibration of the local magnitude scale ( M L ) for Peru C Condori, H Tavera, GSA Marotta, MP Rocha, GS França Journal of Seismology 21 (4), 987-999 , 2017 2017 Citations: 18
Urban seismic monitoring in Brasília, Brazil STR Maciel, MP Rocha, M Schimmel Plos one 16 (8), e0253610 , 2021 2021 Citations: 17
