ModelingPangaea 1

Modeling Pangaea Name: ___________________________
Introduction:
The idea that continents fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle came about when better
world maps became available. However, little significance was given to this idea until 1915,
when Alfred Wegener, a German scientist, proposed his radical hypothesis of continental
drift. His hypothesis stated that the continents had once been joined like pieces of a puzzle
into on single supercontinent. He called this supercontinent Pangaea – all land. This land
mass was surrounded by Panthalassa – all ocean. Wegener also hypothesized that about
200 million years ago Pangaea began breaking into smaller continents. These continents
then drifted to their present day locations.
Wegener and other scientists collected data and evidence to help support their claims.
Evidence that supported their hypothesis included:
 Similarities in coastlines on opposite sides of the South Atlantic Ocean
 Similar fossil remains found on different land masses
 Rock evidence in the form of several mountain belts that end on one coastline only to
reappear on a landmass across the ocean
 Similar glacier deposits on different landmasses
Although Wegener’s ideas were scrutinized and even rejected by many scientists of his time,
his hypothesis was given validation later on in the century. By 1968, scientists had mapped
the ocean floor and dated rocks and earthquake activity around the world. Using new
technologies and data the idea of sea floor spreading and plate tectonics rejuvenated
Wegener’s hypothesis.
In this activity you will recreate much of Wegener’s data collections to reconstruct Pangaea.
Procedure:
1. Use the list of evidence provided and a globe or a world map to identify and match the
evidence listed below.
2. There are 2 locations for each set of evidence – one on each continent
3. Color code all the numbers on the different continents for matching evidence.
4. Cut the continents outs
5. Use you color-coded numbering system to match the continents back together like a
puzzle creating Pangaea.
Evidence:
1. In Ethiopia there are 34 species of lemurs which are very similar to the lemurs found in
Southwestern India
2. Fortaleza, Brasil and the plains of Upper Guinea in Africa both share virtually identical
geology.
3. The Appalachian Mountains in North America and the Carpathian Mountains in Europe
are directly across the Atlantic Ocean from each other and have nearly identical
geology
4. Fossils of the fern glossopteris have been found in Southern India and also in Western
Australia
5. Fossils of an extinct reptile called mesosaurus (which resembles a small alligator)
have been found in both South Africa and near Buenos Aires in Argentina
6. Fossils of an extinct rodent have been found in the Baffin Islands of North America
near the Labrador Current in the Baffin Bay and Southwestern Greenland
7. Mountain ranges in the Eastern Greenland and along Norway in the Scandinavian
Highlands are opposite each other and identical in geology
8. Minerals such as muscovite, hornblende and dolomite found in the earths crust near
Tunis, Tunisia are very similar to mineral deposits outside of Marseille, France
9. Fossils of a rodent-like marsupial have been found in Northeastern Antarctica and
Southern Australia.
10. Fossils of an extinct sheep like mammal called lysterosaurus have been found in
Northwestern Antarctica and Southeastern Africa
11. Diamond mines in an eastern Sudan province resemble diamond minds and other
geological features in Southwestern Saudi Arabia
12. Mineral deposits in Central Florida contain the same copper and sulfur minerals as
mines in Portugal.
Questions and Analysis: (page 251 – 255)
1. List evidence that Wegener used to support his idea of continental drift.
2. Many scientists rejected Wegener’s hypothesis. Explain why.
3. Use Figure 5 (page 252) to summarize the climate evidence for continental drift.
4. Summarize the Plate Tectonics Theory as explained on page 254.
5. Plate tectonics helps support the idea of Pangaea. What other geological events does
plate tectonics support?
6. Diagram each type of plate boundary below:
Divergent Boundary Convergent Boundary Transform Fault Boundary

Africa
Europe & Asia
North America
India
Antarctica
Greenland
Australia
South America

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Modeling Pangaea Name: ___________________________

Questions and Analysis: (page 251 – 255)

2. Many scientists rejected Wegener’s hypothesis. Explain why.

4. Summarize the Plate Tectonics Theory as explained on page 254.

6. Diagram each type of plate boundary below:

Divergent Boundary Convergent Boundary Transform Fault Boundary

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