Triassic 251.9 Mya - Names after Trias, a trio of rock formations in southern Germany

PLATE TECTONICS - Earth’s crust has varied over time due to the movement of Tectonic Plates. The current arrangement of plates looks very different to the early shapes.

• EARLY EVIDENCE -

  • By the 16th century, geographers noted the similarity of the shape of western Africa and eastern South America.

  • By the 19th century, studies indicated the fossil record of these two coasts were incredibly similar indicating the two landmasses were much closer and likely in contact with each other in the past.

• There are a few plates that are made of only oceanic crust (Pacific, Nazca and Phillippine Sea Plates) the rest are a combination of continental crust edged with oceanic crust.