Continental Drift to Plate Tectonics: From Hypothesis to Theory 1.
Plate tectonics theory
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Transcript of Plate tectonics theory
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Learning Objectives Study the evidence supporting the
continental drift theory Discuss how the ideas of continental
drift and seafloor spreading Explain how plate movements are
affected by volcanic activities and earthquakes
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Continental Drift Proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912 Stated that the continents we know
today had once been joined together in a single landmass (Pangaea)
People during his time thought that this idea was radical too radical so Wegener came up with a list of evidences to support his contention
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Continental Drift: Evidences The fits of the continents The similarity of fossils in different
continents The similarity of rock type and age
along matching coastlines The continuity of geologic features
from continent to continent The presence of coal seams in
Antarctica Tillites
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Continental Drift: Rejection The mechanism presented of Wegener
wasn’t found plausible. The mechanism centered on using the
gravitational pull of the moon as the main reason that caused the motion the continents.
The explanation provided was not accepted.
What could be wrong?
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Before we proceed to talking about SEAFLOOR SPREADING, we first talk about PALEOMAGNETISM…
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Paleomagnetism Some rocks contain magnetic
minerals known are magnetite. The mineral is made of the elements
iron and oxygen. The magnetite found in the rocks are
capable of recording the magnetic field of earth.
Such record proved that continents did move somewhere in the past… But how?
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Deep Discoveries (1950 – 1960) Presence of a belt of underwater
mountains (oceanic ridges) that encircles the globe
Presence of a central valley (rift valley) at the summit of the oceanic ridges
Oceanic ridges (composed of volcanic rocks) give off an abnormally high amount of heat
Earthquakes in the deep sea areas were found to be associated with trenches
The seafloor is just 170 million yrs old
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All of the discoveries listed in the previous slide were duly accounted
by a theory proposed by Harry Hess… the
SEAFLOOR SPREADING
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PLATE TECTONICS THEORY
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The Theory Holds that the outermost rigid layer
of the earth is broken into several segments called plates, and these plates are in motion.
The movement of the plates are described by the three types of plate boundaries; Divergent plate boundary Convergent plate boundary Transform boundary
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Divergent Boundary Place where two plates are moving
apart from each other just like the boundary found in the eastern part of Africa
Creates huge cracks or valleys that would later be filled up with water from rain or nearby streams (narrow and elongated lakes are created)
Explains the formation of Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika and the Red Sea
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Transform Boundary Two neighboring plates are neither
spreading apart nor colliding with each other
The two interacting plates slide past each other i.e. San Andreas Fault
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Convergent Boundary Place where two plates move toward
each other Three possible cases could happen
long these boundaries; Two continental plates may collide Two oceanic plates me collide A continental plate and an oceanic plate
may collide
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Transform Boundary Two neighboring plates are neither
spreading apart nor colliding with each other
The two interacting plates slide past each other i.e. San Andreas Fault
But what is causing all these movements?
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Rock Deformation
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Types of Deformation Fracture (break) Fold (bend)
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Fracture Common on the uppermost part of
the crust Promoted by conditions of low
pressure and temperature Comes in two types – faults and joints
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Faults Breaks along which there is
considerable movement Are of two types:
Dip-slip (involves the movement of blocks of rock mainly in the vertical direction)
Strike-slip (movement is in horizontal direction)
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Folding Bending of rocks Happens deep within the crust Rocks deep within become thicker as
they are squeezed, or become thinner when pulled apart
Promoted by high pressures and temperatures