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)[1] |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 58°17'18"N 77°36'42"W |
| Region | Northern Quebec |
| Country | Canada |
The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt (NOO-voo-AG-it-tuck) (NGB) 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 rocks on Earth. Using uranium-lead dating on zircons, these rocks have been dated to be no younger than 3.7 billion years.[2] More recently, measurements were made using samarium-neodymium dating that suggest a formation age of 4.3 billion years ago. These measurements, however, remain controversial.
History and geography
Formerly called the Porpoise Cove Greenstone Belt, the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt was first mapped in 1965 by the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources. The area remained more or less unexamined until the 2000s when preliminary reports of U-Pb zircon dating in the area of the belt found zircons with ages up to 3750 Ma.[2] Since then, the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt has become the focus of intense study. There is still considerable disagreement between scientists regarding the history and age of this structure.[2][3][4] The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt is part of a mafic unit called the Ujaraaluk unit, both of which are in the Inukjuak subprovince of the Minto Block.[1]
Age controversy
As mentioned above the Nuvvuagittuq was measured to have a minimum age of 3750 Ma.[2] This measurement was made using uranium-lead dating on detrital zircons found within granitic intrusions that cut portions of the belt, and are therefore younger than the features it cuts. This measurement is widely accepted, however it alone does not provide a maximum age.
In 2012 samarium-neodymium dating and neodymium isotope fractionation was used to establish an age of 4321 Ma for the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt.[3] This was done by dating intruding gabbros and measuring neodymium isotope fractionation in less-deformed members of the Ujaraaluk unit. The age of 4321 Ma would make the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt the oldest known rocks on Earth.
In 2012, further studies of zircons taken from quartz-biotite schists in the NGB reported a maximum age of 3780 Ma.[4] The latter study states that the 4321 Ma age is not reflective of the NGB, but rather reflects isotope ratios inherited from Hadean crust that was melted to form the parent rocks of the NGB.
Geology
The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt contains 3 major components:[5]
- Cummingtonite amphibolite, which forms most of the belt
- Mafic and ultramafic sills that intrude the amphibolites
- Banded iron formations
The cummingtonite amphibolite that dominates the belt is unusual that sections of the rock have a grayish-beige color, compared to the dark green of typical amphibolites, giving it the nickname “faux-amphibolite”. The cummingtonite amphibolite displays gneissic foliation, with cummingtonite, quartz, biotite and plagioclase feldspar being the primary components. The cummingtonite amphibolites range from garnet-rich to garnet-poor and are interpreted to be highly metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary rocks.[1]
Ultramafic and gabbroic sills appear commonly on the northern portion of the belt. These sills range from 5 to 30 m (16 to 98 ft) in width, and have serpentine and talc rich interiors with amphibole rich margins. They represent a significant intrusion event in the history of the NGB.[1]
The banded iron formation can be traced continuously across the northern portion of the belt. The formation is composed mainly of quartz, magnetite, and grunerite.
Alteration history
The history of alteration and metamorphism in the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt remains poorly understood in many regards, however attempts have been made to constrain the history using structural techniques.[1] and geochronometric[3] high-pressure deformation is evident throughout the belt as one of the earliest periods of deformation.[1] This period caused significant foliation and meter-scale folding in the faux-amphibolite and banded iron formations. The work of Nadeau and O'Neil both agree on a thermal event after the first phase of deformation,[1] and it is dated by O'Neil to be 2.7 Ga.[3] This event is recorded by igneous intrusions in the NGB, and the formation of the nearby Boizard Suite, an intrusive igneous formation.[1] This event is followed by a period of meter-scale folding that affects all parts of the belt.
It has also been proposed that the NGB represents a zone of paleo subduction.[6] Similarities between the NGB and the Izu-Bonin-Mariana forearc, a modern subduction zone, suggest that the NGB may have experienced episodic subduction in its lifetime. This theory does not depend on the timing of the formation of the belt, and either ages would represent subduction occurring at a remarkable age.
Implications for early Earth
Banded iron formation
The banded iron formation bears many similarities to similar formations found in Algoma-type iron deposits.[5] It has been suggested that Algoma-type iron deposits can precipitate due to bacterial activity in an anoxic environment, as you would find in the very early Earth.[7] So these iron formations may well be one of the oldest fingerprints of life, showing that there may have been biological activity at the time that the NGB was being formed.
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Nadeau, P. Structural Investigation of the Porpoise Cove Area, Northeastern Superior Province, Northern Quebec. (2003).
- 1 2 3 4 Cates, N. L. & Mojzsis, S. J. Pre-3750 Ma supracrustal rocks from the Nuvvuagittuq supracrustal belt, northern Québec. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 255, 9–21 (2007).
- 1 2 3 4 O’Neil, J., Carlson, R. W., Paquette, J.-L. & Francis, D. Formation age and metamorphic history of the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt. Precambrian Res. 220-221, 23–44 (2012).
- 1 2 Cates, N. L., Ziegler, K., Schmitt, A. K. & Mojzsis, S. J. Reduced, reused and recycled: Detrital zircons define a maximum age for the Eoarchean (ca. 3750–3780Ma) Nuvvuagittuq Supracrustal Belt, Québec (Canada). Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 362, 283–293 (2013).
- 1 2 O’Neil, J. et al. in Earth’s Oldest Rocks, Chapter 3.4,Vol. 15, (Elsevier, 2007).
- ↑ Turner, S., Rushmer, T., Reagan, M. & Moyen, J.-F. Heading down early on? Start of subduction on Earth. Geology 42, 139–142 (2014).
- ↑ Konhauser, K. O. et al. Could bacteria have formed the Precambrian banded iron formations? Geology 30, 1079 (2002).
Coordinates: 58°18′N 077°45′W / 58.300°N 77.750°W