Protocrustal evolution of the Nuvvuagittuq Supracrustal Belt as determined by high precision zircon Lu–Hf and U–Pb isotope data

Abstract

The Nuvvuagittuq Supracrustal Belt (NSB) in northern Quebec, Canada, represents one of the oldest known crustal fragments preserved in the Earth's crust. Its age has, however, been disputed and different authors present crustal formation ages varying from ca. 3.8 Ga to 4.4 Ga (e.g. O'Neil et al., 2012; Guitreau et al., 2013). Here we report new high precision U–Pb geochronological and coupled Lu–Hf isotope data from zircons that reveal the age of the NSB and provide new constraints on the source rocks to this piece of early crust. Two rocks have been analysed, a felsic schist, interpreted to represent a volcanite, and a mylonitic tonalite that is intrusive into the NSB. The felsic schist was emplaced at 3771+5/−3 Ma, dating the formation of the NSB. The Lu–Hf model age indicates that the parental melt to the felsic schist was extracted from the mantle at this age or within a few tens of million years, but no more than 300 m.y., before its extrusion. This mantle extraction age provides an absolute maximum age for the NSB, but the most probable age of its protocrust is ca. 3.8 Ga. The mylonitic tonalite was emplaced at 3667+3/−1 Ma. Its Lu–Hf isotopic composition reveals the presence of an older crustal component than that of the NSB, requiring that its precursor melt formed from a Hadean source that was older than the NSB. Based on recent models for Archean TTG formation, we propose that this source represents re-melted Hadean hydrated crust that must have been translated below the NSB at ca. 3667 Ma.