Plate Motions Through Time

There is abundant evidence for the motion of plates on the Earth's surface since the supercontinent of Pangaea began to break up about 200 Ma ago. For earlier times other lines of evidence, such as that for the latitude at which ancient rocks formed and lines of ancient mountain belts that formed when continental plates collided. It is also possible from evidence in ancient rocks to roughly reconstruct such features as sea depth, the positions of volcanic arcs, deserts, riverine plains and mountains. This computer-based resource is based on reconstructions of the former positions and geography of continental masses going back 600 Ma. Specifically, you will be able to chart the course taken by different continental fragments that eventually built the British Isles through this immense span of time. Plate Motions Through Time is the focus of Activities 7.3 and 7.4 in Book 6.

Estimated study time: 1 hour