What is the Evidence of Continental Drift Theory?
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: November 9th, 2023
The matching of continents, rocks of the same age across oceans, tillite, placer deposits, and fossil distribution are all Evidence of Continental Drift Theory. One type of evidence used to support the Theory of Continental Drift is the fossil record.
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Evidence in Support of the Continental Drift Theory
Continental Drift is the theory that the Earth’s continents have moved relative to one another over geologic time, giving the appearance of “drifting” across the ocean floor. On the coastlines of continents, fossils of similar plants and animals have been discovered, indicating they were connected. The following provides support for the notion of continental drift:
The Matching of Continents:
The shorelines of South America and Africa are perfectly aligned with one another.
Boulders of the Same Age Across the Oceans:
A belt of 2,000 million-year-old rocks off the coast of Brazil matches those in western Africa.
Tillite:
- The Indian Gondwana system of deposits has known equivalents in six distinct Southern Hemisphere landmasses.
- This succession includes the Falkland Islands, Madagascar, Antarctica, and Australia, in addition to India.
Placer deposits:
- Along Ghana’s coast, rich gold placer deposits can be found.
- However, there is no source rock in the area.
- When the two continents are compared, it is clear that Ghana’s gold reserves are derived from the Brazil plateau due to gold-bearing veins there.
Distribution of Fossils:
On either side of the marine barriers, identical species of plants and animals that can live on land or in freshwater can be found.
Summary:
What is the Evidence of Continental Drift Theory?
The Evidence in Support of the Continental Drift Theory is rocks of the same age across oceans, matching continents, placer deposits, tillite, and fossil distribution. Alfred Wegener hypothesized that tidal force and pole-fleeing force were responsible for the movement that caused the continents to drift.
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