Chapter 10, Section 2 Chapter 10, Section 3

Key Terms Create a flashcard for each of the following terms (found on p.255 in your text book).  Rifting  Terrane  Supercontinent cycle  Pangaea  Panthalassa If you finish early, study your flashcards!

Rifting The process by which Earth’s crust breaks apart. New, smaller continents may form as a result.

Terranes A TERRANE is a piece of lithosphere that has a unique geological history. – Contains rocks and fossils that differ from nearby terranes. – Major faults at the boundary of a terrane. – Magnetic properties of a terrane do no match nearby terranes.

Terranes When a Terrane on a subducting plate converges with a plate of continental crust the terrane is scraped off the subducting plate and is added to the continental plate. Some terranes form mountains, some just add more surface area. This process is called ACCRETION.

The Supercontinent Cycle SUPERCONTINENT= when all of the landmasses form one large continent (scientists believe there have been at least 5 different supercontinents since the first crust formed on Earth). SUPERCONTINENT CYCLE = the process by which supercontinents form and break apart over time. PANGAEA= the supercontinent that formed 300 million years ago and began breaking up 250 million years ago which led to our modern continents. PANTHALASSA= the single, large ocean that covered the Earth’s surface during the time of PANGAEA.

Quick Check!! 1.What is a supercontinent? ____________________________________ ____________________________________ 2.___________ was the most recent supercontinent.

Geography of the Future As tectonic plates continue to move Earth’s geography will change dramatically. East Africa will rift and separate from Africa, North and South America will collide with Africa, Los Angeles will be North of San Francisco!

Assessment Drawing of one of the stages of the formation of Pangaea on p Include color and labels.

Daily Quiz