1. CONTINENTAL DRIFT *

2. Alfred L. Wegener
Geologist Alfred Wegener noticed similar rocks & fossil remains were found on continents which seemed to fit together
He called this “super” continent called Pangaea
In 1912 Wegener published the first version & died defending his theory *

3. PANGAEA
the large landmass that included all of Earth’s present day continents *

4. Continental Movement Alfred Wegener 1900’s
Continents were once a single land mass that drifted apart.
Fossils of the same plants and animals are found on different continents
Called this supercontinent Pangea, Greek for “all Earth”
245 Million years ago
Split again – Laurasia & Gondwana 180 million years ago

5. Support for Continental Drift
1. SHAPE OF THE CONTINENTS
Continents fit together like puzzle pieces *

6. Support for Continental Drift
1. SHAPE OF THE CONTINENTS
Wegener was not the only one to notice the fit of the continents.
1858: Antonio Pelligrini depicted Africa and South America connected.
He was one of the first scientists to publish maps depicting the apparent fit of the continents. *

7. Support for Continental Drift
2. FOSSIL EVIDENCE
SAME FOSSILS: DIFFERENT CONTINENTS
Mesosaurus was incapable of swimming across a large ocean. *

8. Support for Continental Drift
3. ROCK EVIDENCE – Mountain ranges
SAME ROCK: DIFFERENT RANGE Existing mountain ranges separated by vast oceans contain rocks of identical mineral content.
A prime example are the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern U.S and the Caledonian Mountains in the British Isles. *

9. SAME SCARS: DIFFERENT CONTINENTS
Support for Continental Drift
4. GLACIAL SCARS
SAME SCARS: DIFFERENT CONTINENTS *

10. 5. LOCATION OF COAL DEPOSITS
Support for Continental Drift
5. LOCATION OF COAL DEPOSITS
Coal deposits have been found in temperate and polar regions; however, coal is formed in tropical regions. *

11. CONTINENTAL DRIFT IN DOUBT
Why didn’t people believe in continental drift?
People couldn’t image how the earth could be millions of years old
People couldn’t image a force great enough to move the continents
BUT by the 1960’s evidence would prove continental drift is TRUE and…. The story continues (as does all good science!) *