The first identification of early Paleoproterozoic (2.46–2.38 Ga) supracrustal rocks in the Daqingshan area, northwestern North China Craton: Geology, geochemistry and SHRIMP U-Pb dating

•The Lower Wulashan Group in Daqingshan, northwestern NCC records magmatic zircon ages of 2455–2382 Ma.•Intrusive rocks intruding the Lower Wulashan Group have magmatic zircon ages of 2436–2362 Ma.•It is for the first time to identify early Paleoproterozoic supracrustal rocks in the area.•The Lower Wulashan Group and related intrusive rocks formed in a continental environment.•Three main magmatic episodes of the late Neoarchean to late Paleoproterozoic have been identified.