THE

CONTINENTAL
DRIFT THEORY
The Continental Drift Theory
The Continental Drift Theory
◦ In 1596, Abraham Ortelius (1527
– 1598), observed that the shapes of
the continents on both sides of the
Atlantic Ocean seem to fit together.
◦ With the absence of valid
measurements and proofs, the only
speculation Ortelius could provide
was that earthquake and floodings
may have made the separation
possible.
The Continental Drift Theory
o In 1912, geophysicist Alfred
Wegener (1880-1930) developed
the concept and hypothesized the
continental drift theory. He
claimed that that there used to be
only one supergiant landmass
where all continents came from
and called it Pangaea.
The Continental Drift Theory
o The two giants continents
were Laurasia which
comprised the continents in
the present-day Northern
Hemisphere and
Gondwanaland which
comprised the continents in
the present-day Southern
Hemisphere.
The Continental Drift Theory
o Wegener supported his
theory with references from
past authors with similar
ideas, such as Eduard Suess
(1831 – 1914) who also
recognized the existence of a
supercontinent
Gondwanaland.
The Continental Drift Theory
o Wegener proceeded by
providing strong pieces of
evidences of his continental
drift theory.
The Continental Drift Theory
1. Similarity of Fossils Found in
Different Continents
- Mesosaurus, a freshwater
reptile, was found in Brazil and in
Africa.
Freshwater reptile are not capable
of swimming to distance between
continents unless these two
continents, Africa and South
America, were once together.
The Continental Drift Theory
1. Similarity of Fossils Found
in Different Continents
- Glossopteris, a fern plant
which was found to have thrived
in five different continents
(Africa, India, Australia, South
America and Antarctica) that are
presently separated by oceans
and seas.
The Continental Drift Theory
2. Presence of tillites in areas whose present climates do
not suggest glacial formation.
- Tillites are glacial deposits from rock strata in areas where
that were once covered with snow. These deposits are found
in South America, Africa, Madagascar, Arabia, India,
Antarctica and Australia.
The Continental Drift Theory
2. Presence of tillites in areas whose present climates do
not suggest glacial formation.
The Continental Drift Theory
3. Presence of coal seams in polar regions
- Coal is a fossil fuel that originated from the chemically
altered remains of prehistoric vegetation. Usually coal is
found in tropical areas because the climate is warm and ideal
for the propagation of organisms.
- Wegener wondered why coal would be found in polar
regions such as the North Pole and Antarctica
The Continental Drift Theory
4. Continuity of rock layers found in different continents -
- Rock layers may be profiled to determine the history, age
and composition of materials in the environment. Part of the
evidence of continental drift is the similarity of rock layers
found in mountains that are on the opposite sides of the
Atlantic Ocean.
The Continental Drift Theory
4. Continuity of rock layers found in different continents
- The Appalachian Mountains, the Caledonian Mountains of Scotland,
the Scandinavian Mountains of Norway and the Atlas Mountain of
Morocco were thought to have been one mountain range during Pangaea.

Caledonian Mountain Scandinavian Mountain Atlas Mountain

Appalachian Mountain
The Continental Drift Theory
5. Similarity of rock types in different continents
- The rock types found in Brazil, India, South Africa, and
Antarctica seem to have similar layers and sequence.