Module 7
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New Mexico State University *
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111G
Subject
Geology
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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Uploaded by DoctorCheetahPerson1995
GEOL 1110G
Module 7 Learning Assignment
Continental Drift & Sea Floor Spreading
1.
Reconstructing Pangaea
Alfred Wegener suggested that a supercontinent he called
Pangaea had existed in the past, broke up starting about 240 million years ago, and that
the pieces ``drifted'' to their present positions. He cited the fit of South America and
Africa, ancient climate similarities, fossil evidence, and similarity of rock structures. Using
the provided worksheets put Pangaea back together and answer the following questions.
(
Note
: F=fossils; M=mountain belts; G=glacial deposits (arrows show the orientation of
glacial striations). Print out the pieces and cut them out. Put them into the
supercontinent of Pangea. Using your map reconstruction answer the following
questions:
a.
Copy/paste a photo/scan of your reconstruction.
b.
Did you have trouble making your reconstruction? Why or why not?
Yes, I had
some trouble with the accuracy of feature alignment and the difficulty of
fitting the pieces.
c.
Explain how you used the mountain chains (Ms) for your reconstruction of
Pangaea.
For the reconstruction of Pangaea, mountain chains' (Ms)
alignment its important.
Mountain chains share geological properties,
continents can assist in reassembling the continents
.
d.
Explain how you used the fossils (Fs) for your reconstruction of Pangaea.
Fossils
(Fs) provide evidence of past connections between continents.
Similar
fossils discovered on continents that are today divided by seas suggest that
these landmasses were once part of a larger supercontinent.
e.
Using your reconstruction, explain why India has evidence of glaciers that are >240
million years old even though it is currently located on the equator.
India's glacier evidence
GEOL 1110G
Module 7 Learning Assignment
Continental Drift & Sea Floor Spreading
may be explained by the country's former location on Pangaea. India may have gathered
evidence of glaciers if it were situated nearer the South Pole or in an area where there
were glaciers during the period Pangaea was active.
2.
Sea Floor Spreading
. Use Google Earth to answer the following questions and fill in the
table provided below.
a.
Download the attached (Age of Sea Floor) kmz file for Google Earth and add it
under Projects.
b.
Record the ages of the sea floor off the eastern shore of the US (Cape Island,
South Carolina) and the coast off northwestern Africa (Casablanca, Morocco) in
the table below. You may have to approximate. The ages should be the same for
each location.
b.
Use the Ruler tool to measure the distance between Cape Island, South Carolina
and Casablanca, Morocco. Choose cm for your measurement since that is what
you will need for your rate and you won’t have to convert.
c.
Calculate the rate that the continents are moving apart. Express your answer in
cm/year. If you need help with the math, there is a link on the assignment
homepage for you.
d.
Record the spreading rate for the sea floor and the growth rate of your fingernail
from the provided website.
e.
Which is faster?
a.
Age of Sea floor - US
b.
Age of Sea floor - Africa
c.
Distance
d.
Rate of sea floor spreading
e.
Rate of fingernail growth
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