50 years ago, scientists dug into Pangaea’s past lives
Earlier than Pangaea — What? — Science Information, September 30, 1972
The continents as we all know them resulted when the protocontinent Pangaea broke aside and its fragments made the lengthy gradual journey to their current positions. The method took about 200 million years. However the Earth’s crust is an estimated 4.5 billion years outdated.… [Scientists are exploring] the perplexing problem of what went on throughout the billions of years earlier than Pangaea went to items.
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The continents have an on-again, off-again relationship that has existed since effectively earlier than Pangaea, fossil and rock proof exhibits. Most scientists agree that the earliest identified supercontinent, referred to as Nuna, fashioned round 1.5 billion years in the past. It broke aside and reunited because the supercontinent Rodinia about 1 billion years in the past. A 3rd supercontinent referred to as Pannotia might have fashioned roughly 600 million years in the past close to the South Pole, however its existence is debated. Immediately, scientists are predicting how continents will merge sooner or later. A supercontinent dubbed Amasia might type 250 million years from now because the continents drift towards the North Pole (SN: 1/21/17, p. 18).
