The results of this study, together with available data from the literature, allow the following conclusions: (a) The Sertânia Complex is a Neoproterozoic sequence, and not Paleoproterozoic, as previously thought; (b) The similarity in lithological associations, detrital zircon populations and C isotope signature between the Sertânia and Surubim complexes suggest that they belong to the same lithostratigraphic unit; (c) Although the Rio Una Complex can be older than the Sertânia/Surubim Complex, the lack of zircons younger than 900 Ma can also result from insufficient sampling or absence of young rocks alongside the drainage system that collected detritus to this complex; (d) The regional metamorphism related to the Brasiliano Orogeny attained its climax at 630–600 Ma; (e) The age spectra of detrital zircons require their derivation from erosion of rocks formed not only during known geological events in the Borborema Province and in the nearby São Francisco/Congo Craton, but also from the Amazonian Craton, suggesting accumulation in an intracratonic setting within a preexisting large continent; (f) The short timespan between deposition and orogenic deformation may explain the overall medium- to high-temperature metamorphism due to maintenance, in the subsequent compressional event, of the elevated geothermal gradients produced during broad-scale lithosphere extension.