Where can we find continental drift?

Where can we find continental drift?

The east coast of South America and the west coast of Africa seem to fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, and Wegener discovered their rock layers “fit” just as clearly. South America and Africa were not the only continents with similar geology.

What are the parts of continental drift?

In the early part of the 20th century, scientists began to put together evidence that the continents could move around on Earth’s surface. The evidence for continental drift included the fit of the continents; the distribution of ancient fossils, rocks, and mountain ranges; and the locations of ancient climatic zones.

What is the strongest piece of evidence for continental drift?

One of the strongest pieces of evidence is the jig-saw like fit between all of the continents. This evidence for continental drift gave geologists renewed interest in understanding how continents could move about on the planet’s surface.

Which layer of the earth is responsible for continental drift?

After much further investigation, the scientific community has found that the Earth’s crust is broken into major areas called tectonic plates, and their movements were responsible for continental drift.

What are the 4 evidence of continental drift?

They based their idea of continental drift on several lines of evidence: fit of the continents, paleoclimate indicators, truncated geologic features, and fossils.

What are the 4 types of plate tectonics?

There are four types of boundaries between tectonic plates that are defined by the movement of the plates: divergent and convergent boundaries, transform fault boundaries, and plate boundary zones.

What was the first evidence of continental drift?

Wegener used fossil evidence to support his continental drift hypothesis. The fossils of these organisms are found on lands that are now far apart. Grooves and rock deposits left by ancient glaciers are found today on different continents very close to the equator.

What are 5 pieces of evidence of continental drift?

The evidence for continental drift included the fit of the continents; the distribution of ancient fossils, rocks, and mountain ranges; and the locations of ancient climatic zones.

What are the two main types of tectonic plates?

The two types of tectonic plates are continental and oceanic tectonic plates.

What are the 2 tectonic plates called?

There are two main types of tectonic plates: oceanic and continental. Oceanic – Oceanic plates consist of an oceanic crust called “sima”. Sima is made up primarily of silicon and magnesium (which is where it gets its name). Continental – Continental plates consist of a continental crust called “sial”.

How did scientists find out about continental drift?

This evidence for continental drift gave geologists renewed interest in understanding how continents could move about on the planet’s surface. In the early part of the 20th century, scientists began to put together evidence that the continents could move around on Earth’s surface.

Where can you find layers of continental crust?

Similar, but much older, layers are found in NPS sites in the Keweenawan Rift of the Lake Superior region, where divergent plate boundary forces tried, unsuccessfully, to rip the North American continent apart 1.1 billion years ago. Continental crust is thick and buoyant, and therefore sticks up above sea level.

Why is the continental crust thick and buoyant?

Continental crust is thick and buoyant, and therefore sticks up above sea level. As the plate stretches and thins, the underlying asthenosphere flows upward and expands like a hot-air balloon, lifting the region to higher elevations. The continental crust breaks along faults, forming long mountain ranges separated by rift valleys.

Where is the continental rift zone in the United States?

If the plate is capped by thick continental crust, the resulting continental rift zone rises high above sea level. The Basin and Range Province is thus a high-elevation region that includes all of Nevada and portions of Wyoming, Utah, California, and Arizona, and extends into southern Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.