Chapter 16, Problem 12SQ

Summary Introduction

To explain: Whether Pangea or Gondwana form first.

Concept Introduction: Plate tectonics is the theory that explains about the movement and features of the earth’s surface plate. The supercontinents Gondwana and Pangea are formed due to the breakage when all the populations are combined together or divide up during solidification of the earth’s outer rock layer that had taken place 455 billion years ago. Gondwana was the primeval supercontinent that was present around 540 million years ago. It had started break up around 180 million years ago. The supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras was Pangea that was present around 335 million years ago. It had started to break up around 175 million years ago.