Final answer:
The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt was formed by ancient sediments and volcanic materials undergoing metamorphism due to heat and pressure, with plate tectonics influencing the creation of greenstone belts through continental collisions and other geological processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt was formed through a complex process involving various tectonic activities. Initially, ancient sediments and volcanic materials were subjected to extreme heat and pressure deep within Earth's crust, leading to metamorphism. During the course of Earth's geological history, these metamorphic rocks were further transformed. Events such as continental collision added weight to the lithosphere, causing bending and the formation of basins and mountain ranges through isostatic adjustment. Plate tectonics played a significant role, as movements of the Earth's plates led to the creation of conditions necessary for the formation of greenstone belts, which are typically found in the oldest parts of the Earth's crust. Moreover, the materials that make up quartzite and similar rocks have gone through several transitions, from igneous to sedimentary and finally to metamorphic states, influenced by both tectonic and volcanic forces.