Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt | |
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Stratigraphic range: Eoarchean–Hadean (disputed) | |
Type | Geological formation |
Area | Approx. 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi)[1] |
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]
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