5 points
Continental Fit
QUESTIONS: 3 points each Answer questions # 1 – 4 in complete sentences.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. A B C D
6. A B C D
7. A B C D
8. A B C D
9. A B C D
10. A B C D
Construct Pangaea on this page (15 points for each set of data plotted, 20 points for putting Pangaea back together)
Lab #19 Continental Fit
Introduction:
Alfred Wegener first introduced the idea of continental drift in the early part of the 1900's. Wegener noticed that Africa and South America seemed to fit together. He then began to collect data to support the theory that the continents were moving around and were probably all together at one time in history. Wegener could not find a cause for this movement, which was the only downfall to some brilliant scientific work. Of course Wegener was publicly ridiculed and died after a sad, depressing life.
In the 1960's, scientists found the mechanism to support "Crazy Alf's" (as he was known) theory. Hot, molten rock was pushing up along a crack in the Atlantic Ocean, thus splitting the Atlantic's floor, pushing the continents away from each other. The closer to the continents, the older the bedrock. The closer to the mid-ocean ridge, the younger the rocks.
In this lab you will plot out some of the data that support's the theory of continental drift and try to create the supercontinent, Pangaea, that scientists believe once existed.
Procedure:
Draw the data given on each of the maps on the attached continents. 45 points
Cut out the continents and paste them back together as they were 300 million years ago. Use the right hand side of page 9 in the Earth Science Reference Tables to locate where the continents were. Page 479 of the textbook provided may also help position the continents.
20 points
The various letters on this map represent evidence for the location of climate zones during the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian periods. Scientists have been able to determine the location of these zones after studying rocks, fossils, and other evidence. Each letter represents a different type of mineral deposit. Use a pen or a pencil. 15 points
The shaded areas on this map, represent areas where there is evidence of glaciation during the late Paleozoic Era. Color these in BLUE or PURPLE. 15 points
The lines on this map show Paleozoic mountain belts on either side of the Atlantic Ocean. Matching letters represent matching mountain belts. Color these in BROWN. 15 points
Questions:
Answer these questions in complete sentences.
1. Which form of evidence seemed to match up the best?
2. Using the Earth Science Reference Table, during what geologic period was the initial opening of the Atlantic Ocean?
3. Why don't the coastlines of the various continents match up perfectly when you put them back together?
4. Why is all the evidence used from the late Paleozoic, which includes the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian Epochs?
5. Which evidence does not support the theory that Africa and South America were once part of the same large continent?
A) correlation of living animals on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean
B) correlation of rocks on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean
C) correlation of fossils on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean
D) correlation of coastlines on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean
6. According to the Earth Science Reference Tables, on what other landmass would you most likely find fossil remains of the late Paleozoic reptile called Mesosaurus shown below?
7. Which is the best evidence supporting the concept of the ocean floor spreading?
A) Igneous rocks along mid-ocean ridges are younger than rocks farther from the ridges.
B) Earthquakes occur at greater depths beneath continents than beneath oceans.
C) Sandstones and limestones can be found both in North America and Europe.
D) Volcanoes appear at random within the ocean crust.
8. Based on page 5 of the Earth Science Reference Tables, which statement is best supported by the relative movement shown by the arrows in the diagram?
A) North American and South American are moving toward each other
B) The Indian-Australian Plate is moving away from the Eurasia Plate
C) The African Plate and Eurasian Plate are moving away from the American Plate
D) The Antarctic Plate is moving away from the American Plate
9. Based on page 5 of the Earth Science Reference Tables, which statement is best supported by the relative movement shown by the arrows in the diagram?
A) The Atlantic Ocean is getting bigger and the Pacific Ocean is getting smaller.
B) The Atlantic Ocean is getting bigger and the Pacific Ocean is getting bigger.
C) The Atlantic Ocean is getting smaller and the Pacific Ocean is getting bigger.
D) The Atlantic Ocean is getting smaller and the Pacific Ocean is getting smaller.
10. Which statement best supports the theory of continental drift?
A) Basaltic rock is found to be progressively younger at increasing distances from the mid-ocean ridge.
B) Marine fossils are often found in deep-well drill cores.
C) The present continents appear to fit together as pieces of a larger landmass.
D) Areas of shallow water seas tend to accumulate sediment, which gradually sinks.