Continental Drift

Theory of Plate TectonicsAlfred Wegener’s 1915 drawing of Pangaea

Continental Drift

How do Plates Move?

Good Fit

What is some Evidence to support his Theory

Rocks & Mountains

Fossils

Sea Floor Spreading

Age of the Sea Floor

Evidence for the Theory

1. Continental shelves seem to fit together2. Rock units and mountain ranges fit Pangaea3. Fossil types fit Pangaea4. Ocean research uncovered sea floor spreading5. Radio-geology allowed us to date the age of rocks6. Polarity of Rocks-Magnetic Evidence

Why do we Care?

• Curiosity• Explain landforms• Find valuable minerals• Explain and predict potential hazards