Plate Tectonics

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Plate Tectonics by Mind Map: Plate Tectonics

1. Age of the Sea Floor

1.1. The bottom of the seafloor has different polarity "stripes" that have either positive or negative correlation.

1.1.1. It's theorized that the magnetic readings are caused by the ocean crust moving

2. Shapes of the continents

2.1. The shapes of the continents look as if they were once connected, as if they were a puzzle.

2.1.1. Ex: Africa + South America

2.1.2. Ex: Asia + North America

3. Rock Types

3.1. Similar rocks are found in different parts of the world.

3.1.1. Ex: Alfred Wegener found similar rocks on the coasts of South America and Africa.

3.1.2. Ex: Appalachian Mountains similar to mountain ranges within Western Europe.

4. Fossil Types

4.1. The same fossils have been found on the coasts of different continents.

4.1.1. Ex: The Lystrosaurus fossil has been found on the coasts of South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica.

4.1.2. Ex: The Glossopteris fossil has also been found on the coasts of South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica.

5. Volcanoes and Earthquakes

5.1. Volcanoes + Earthquakes result from movement of plates.

5.1.1. Ex: Hawaii + Volcanic chain is evidence of heat in mantle moving plates.

5.2. Volcanoes + Earthquakes occur at plate bounderies.

5.2.1. Ex: Ring of Fire

6. Magnetic History

6.1. Crystals created from magma will always point to either the North or South pole

6.1.1. However, some crystal in the Southern Hemisphere aligned with the North, and vice versa

6.1.1.1. The alignments would make sense though, if the continents were actually shifting location over the years, and the crystals were created when they were still in the North/South