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This paper describes tectonic and metamorphic features of Precambrian rocks from the Guaxupe  Complex and Varginha Shear Zone (VSZ) near the city of Guaxupe  in the southern part of the Sa Äo Francisco Craton, southeastern Brazil. The VSZ separates the metasediments of Araxa  Group to the north from the granulites of Guaxupe  Complex to the south. The sinistral transcurrent VSZ crosses the entire area striking approximately E±W, bending towards SE in the eastern part. Because of this bend, transpressional movement occurred, facilitating the exhumation of the garnet-rich rocks of the deepest exposed part of the granulitefacies terrane.In the garnet granulites the highest pressure±temperature conditions recorded are approximately 1040 C and 14.4 kbar. The rocks underwent decompression from 14.0 kbar to 8.0 kbar, cooling from 980 C to 710 C, the retrograde path following the boundary between the kyanite and sillimanite stability ®elds. This interval is interpreted to record the uplift of the lower crustal granulite-facies terrane and re-equilibration during magmatic intrusions. For the felsic granulites an interval of 700±810 C and 8.0±11.5 kbar was attained, also pointing to regional decompression.The granulites of the Guaxupe  Complex comprise a medium-to high-pressure lower-crustal terrane, with local occurrences of higher-pressure garnet-rich gneisses, which were uplifted along a transpressional segment of the VSZ. Figure 1. Schematic geological map and location of the research area (adapted from Fonseca et al. 1979).232e. a. del lama et al.

the reviewed and integrated geoheritage inventory of the northern coast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, resulted in 43 geosites distributed in eight geological frameworks. the selected geosites are representative of a geological history from the Neoproterozoic (Brasiliano-Pan African Cycle) to the recent, covering a minimum 700-Ma timespan. Considering the dynamic character of geoheritage inventories, the results presented in this work were based on previous local, town-based surveys, which were reviewed under the light of new geological data and geoconservation methods. Both qualitative and quantitative geosites assessments were used to discuss their geological representativeness and relevance, as well as legal aspects regarding protection and perspectives for future use. this resulted in a detailed inventory that reflects the current geological knowledge in the northern coast of the state of São Paulo, and may be used to make a general diagnosis of the scientific value, state of conservation, risk of degradation and potential use of the geoheritage. Moreover, it reinforces the importance of locally-and regionally-relevant sites for sustainable land management using geoheritage and to direct the decisions related to the conservation and use of this abiotic part of nature in the region.