The Ipiaú region located in the High Grade Metamorphic Province of southern Bahia, Brazil has been investigated by means of geologic photointerpretation using aerial photographs, Radar and satellite imagery, followed by field reconnaissance and petrographic studies. These activities resulted in a 1:100,000 scale geologic map and the identifícation of a several favourable sites for mineral prospecting. The data led to divide the area into three main domains: (i) The Atlantic Coast, in the eastern portion, is composed essentially of metatonalites and trondhjemites with metagabbro intercalations, supracrustal rocks and occasional pyroxenite and charnockite bodies; (ii) The Ipiaú, the central domains of the area, is represented by granitic/granodioritic/tonalitic orthogneisses with subordinate amphibolite bands, as well as typical granites, such as those of Itajibá and Dário Meira, and (üi) The Jequié-Mutuipe in the northwestern part of the area which is basicaily composed of charaockites with subordinate charno-enderbites. The lithologies of the first and latter domains were metamorphosed up to the granulites facies, whereas the second is in the amphibolite facies. Two main ductile deformational regional events took place in the area. We suggest that the first phase (F1) could represent low-angle tectonics, most of those evidence was erased by the second phase (F2). The last event generated tight to isoclinal folds with subvertical axial planes. This phase evolved to transposition and included a strike-slip component. Kinematic criteria indicate left-lateral movement The associated granulitic metamorphism is of Transamazonic age. Finally, it should be emphasized that this study also identified the structural setting of mafic/ultramafic bodies that bear prospected to PGE and sulfides. This fact lead to new perspectives related to prospection of such mineralizations not only in this area but ali along the granulitic belt of southeast Bahia.
