The following broad subdivision of geological units is applicable to the whole region:
Archean and/or Paleoproterozoic basement, older than 1.75 Ga;
Metasedimentary sequences of intracontinental basins, with ages between 1.75 Ga and 1.0 Ga;
Neoproterozoic metasedimentary and metavolcanic sequences, including rift and passive margin sequences, arc related sequences (back-arc and fore-arc basins) and collisional sequences (molasse and foreland basins).
Neoproterozoic pre-collisional magmatic arc granitoids, either intra-oceanic or from active continental margins;
Neoproterozoic syn-collisional granitoids;
Neoproterozoic to Cambrian cover units related to late orogenic basins and post-collisional magmatism of Cambrian to Ordovician age.
Geographically the region is subdivided into three segments:
The northern segment that corresponds to the Araçuaí Orogen;
The central segment that includes the Ribeira Orogen, the interference zone between the Ribeira and southern Brasília Orogens, and the Apiaí-Guaxupé and Embú Terranes;
The southern segment including the Dom Feliciano and São Gabriel Orogens.