Geologist Alfred Wegener noticed that fossils and rock formations found on different continents seemed to match up and fit together, as if the continents had once been joined together. He proposed that all the continents were once part of a single supercontinent, which he called Pangaea. Wegener observed similar mountain ranges, glacial deposits, and plant and animal fossil remains on continents now separated by oceans, providing evidence for his theory of continental drift and the existence of the ancient supercontinent Pangaea.

2. Alfred L. Wegener
In 1910, Mr. Wegener formed a
hypothesis which stated all the
continents were once joined
together in a giant landmass, he
refer as the Super Continent or
“PANGEA”
Geologist Alfred Wegener noticed similar rocks
& fossil remains were found on continents which
seemed to fit together, matching of glacial
deposits, mountain ranges of the same age and
Paleo-Climate zones.

3. The large landmass that included all
of Earth’s present day continents

4. HAPE OF THE CONTINEN
North America
South America
Africa

6. TRIVIA!
 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. Similarity of Mountain
Ranges-Rock Sequence
SAME ROCK, DIFFERENT RANGE Existing mountain ranges
separated by vast oceans contain rocks of identical mineral
content.

8. Matching of Glacial Deposits

9. Fossil Remains
• Wegener mapped the locations of Fossils of several
species of plants and animals that could not swim.
It will be a long
swim for
Mesosaurus…

11. Paleoclimate Evidence

12. The Seafloor Spreading Theory
• Proposed in 1960 by a geologist named Harry
Hess.
• Seafloor was moving outward Mid-0ceanic
ridge, when Mid-oceanic ridge is pushed away
toward the continents, more new oceanic
crust is produced.

13. 10/09/14
• During subduction, oceanic crust is pushed against,
and finally underneath, continental or oceanic crust.
• Subduction zones are often marked by overlying
chains of volcanic islands called island arcs.
• Seafloor spreading results from convection in the
mantle and lower crust.
• During convection, the hotter it is the more plastic
material are brought up towards the surface while
the colder it is the more sediment sink toward
mantle.
This convective forces break the ocean crust apart at
the mid-ocean ridges forming a Rift Valley.
Rift Valley is marked by high-angle faults, basaltic
lavas, and high heat flows.

14. 10/09/14
• Ocean trenches develop over the subduction
zone where subducted plate begins to bend
and descend.
• Subduction causes contact and friction with
the overlying plate which results in andesitic
volcanoes and earthquakes.
• The youngest oceanic crust is formed at the
crest of a mid-oceanic ridge, and the crust
becomes older as they move away from the
ridge.