Continental Drift & Plate Tectonics
Continental Drift Theory First proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912: –250 million years ago, all of the continents were combined into one super-continent called “Pangaea” –The continents gradually drifted apart to where they are today Wegner didn’t make up this theory out of the blue – like all scientists, he based it on evidence
Evidence Summary Geographic fit of South America and Africa Fossils match across oceans Rock types and structures match across oceans Ancient glacial features
Geographic Fit Continents look like they could be part of a giant jigsaw puzzle Here’s how they moved apartHere’s how they moved apart
Fossils Match Plant and animal fossils found on the coastlines of different continents
Fossil Fuel in Antarctica Tropical plant remains (coal deposits) found in Antarctica –t–this is evidence that Antarctica was once much warmer and much closer to the equator, since tropical plants don’t grow in Antarctica today
Rock Structures Match Across Oceans Same rock patterns found in South America, India, Africa, Antarctica and Australia
Rock Structures Match Across Oceans
Ancient Glacial Features Glaciation in Africa, South America, India, and Australia during the same time
Ancient Glacial Features
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