Distribution of Oceans And Continents

Question

What are the evidences in support of the continental drift theory ?

Answer

The evidences in support of continental drift theory are :

(i)The matching of continents :  The shorelines of Africa and Sout America facing each other have a remarkable and unmistakable match.

(ii)Rocks of same age across the oceans :The belt of ancient rocks of 2000 millions years ages from Brazil coast matches with those from western Africa.

(iii)Tillite: These are the sedimentary rocks formed out of deposits of glaciers. The Gondwana system of sediments from India is known to have its counterparts in six different landmasses Southern Hemisphere. The glacial tillites provide unambiguous evidences of palaeoclimates and also of drifting of continents.

(iv)Placer deposits : The occurrence of rich placer deposits of gold in Ghana coast and the complete absence of source rock in the region is an amazing fact. The gold bearing veins are in Brazil and it can be inferred that the gold deposits of Ghana were derived from the Brazil Plateau when the two continents lay side by side.

(v)Distribution of fossils : The similar species of plants and animals are found in different parts of Gondwanaland. The observations that Lemurs occur in India, Madagascar and Africa led some to consider a contiguous landmass “Lemuria” linking these three landmasses.

 

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