Continental Drift Theory

1
Continental Drift Theory

• Proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912
• 250 million years ago, all of the continents were
  combined into one super-continent called
  Pangaea
• The continents gradually drifted apart to where
  they are today

2
Puzzle Pieces

• Continents look like they could be part of a
  giant jigsaw puzzle

3
Distribution of Fossils

• Plant and animal fossils found on the coastlines
  of different continents

4
Continental Drift Evidence
Correlation of mountains with nearly identical
rocks and structures
5
Sequence of Rocks

• Same rock patterns found in South America, India,
  Africa, Antarctica and Australia

6
Ancient Climates

• Tropical plant remains (coal deposits) found in
  Antarctica
• Glaciation in Africa, South America, India, and
  Australia during the same time

7
Problems With The Theory

• No mechanism for movement of continents
• Wind and currents could possibly move fossils
• Theory was not accepted by scientists