a b s t r a c t The deep structure of the northern part of the Paraná Basin has been investigated through the analysis of a SWeNE magnetotelluric (MT) profile composed of 24 broadband stations with periods from 0.001 to w1000 s that are regularly spaced w10 km apart. The SW portion of the profile crosses a negative Bouguer anomaly with amplitudes of w20 mGal. Our analyses show that there are two lithospheric domains with different gravity and electric conductivity properties. In the regularized two-dimensional MT inversion model the mid-to-lower crust in the SW part of the profile is almost two orders in magnitude more conductive compared to the NE portion. This difference in conductivity extends to the uppermost mantle depths, suggesting the existence of a major lithospheric discontinuity in the north-central Paraná Basin, locally coincident with the position of the Aporé River. We interpret this discon-tinuity as a juxtaposition of terranes with distinct natures and ages, possibly as result of tectonic accretion during the formation of Western Gondwana.