Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt

Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt
Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt
Stratigraphic range: Eoarchean–Hadean (disputed)
	A map showing geological formations in the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt
Type	Geological formation
Area	Approx. 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi)
Location
Coordinates	58°17'18"N 77°36'42"W
Region	Northern Quebec
Country	Canada

The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt (NGB; Inuktitut: [nuv.vu.a.git.tuq]) is a sequence of metamorphosed mafic to ultramafic volcanic and associated sedimentary rocks (a greenstone belt) located on the eastern shore of Hudson Bay, 40 km southeast of Inukjuak, Quebec. These rocks have undergone extensive metamorphism, and represent some of the oldest surface rocks on Earth.

Two papers dating the age of the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt have been published. One paper gave an age of c. 3,750 million years (Ma),^[2] while the other gave an age of c. 4,388 Ma.^[3] In March 2017, the age of the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt was still unresolved.^[4]

In March 2017, a published report gave evidence for fossils of microorganisms in these rocks, which would be the oldest trace of life yet discovered on Earth.^[4] However, these traces may be abiogenic.^[5]

^ Nadeau, P. Structural Investigation of the Porpoise Cove Area, Northeastern Superior Province, Northern Quebec. (2003).
^ Cite error: The named reference cates was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference oneil was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference nature was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Lan, Zhongwu; Kamo, Sandra L.; Roberts, Nick M.W.; Sano, Yuji; Li, Xian-Hua (August 2022). "A Neoarchean (ca. 2500 Ma) age for jaspilite-carbonate BIF hosting purported micro-fossils from the Eoarchean (≥3750 Ma) Nuvvuagittuq supracrustal belt (Québec, Canada)". Precambrian Research. 377: 106728. doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2022.106728.

[nadeau-1] Nadeau, P. Structural Investigation of the Porpoise Cove Area, Northeastern Superior Province, Northern Quebec. (2003).

[cates-2] Cite error: The named reference cates was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[oneil-3] Cite error: The named reference oneil was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[nature-4] Cite error: The named reference nature was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[5] Lan, Zhongwu; Kamo, Sandra L.; Roberts, Nick M.W.; Sano, Yuji; Li, Xian-Hua (August 2022). "A Neoarchean (ca. 2500 Ma) age for jaspilite-carbonate BIF hosting purported micro-fossils from the Eoarchean (≥3750 Ma) Nuvvuagittuq supracrustal belt (Québec, Canada)". Precambrian Research. 377: 106728. doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2022.106728.

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