What was the name of the supercontinent that preceded Pangaea? (A) Gondwana (B) Panthalassic (C) Rodinia (D) Laurasia
Answer (1)
The correct answer to the question about the supercontinent that preceded Pangaea is (C) Rodinia.
Rodinia was a supercontinent that is believed to have existed around 1.3 billion to 750 million years ago during the Proterozoic Eon. It was one of the earliest known supercontinents, formed well before Pangaea.
Here's a breakdown of the key points:
Formation : Rodinia started to form about 1.3 billion years ago. It came together as tectonic plates moved, driven by processes deep within the Earth.
Structure : Unlike Pangaea, which had a relatively more familiar shape with its landmasses largely connected as we recognize modern continents today, Rodinia was arranged differently, with different continental positions.
Breakup : Rodinia began to break apart approximately 750 million years ago. This breakup was due to tectonic activities such as rifting that eventually led the continental fragments to drift apart, setting the stage for the later formation of Pangaea.
Significance : The significance of Rodinia lies in its role in Earth’s geologic history. Its assembly and breakup played a crucial role in the distribution of continents and ocean basins, which influenced global climate and environments at the time.
Understanding supercontinents like Rodinia helps geologists and researchers trace the Earth's tectonic history and understand the dynamic nature of our planet’s surface over geological timescales.
