Theories on Continent Formation and Evolution

A discredited theory suggesting Earth's expansion caused continents to drift apart.

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Proposed by Alfred Wegener, it suggests continents have moved over time, forming supercontinents like Pangaea.

Explains how tectonic plates converge, potentially forming continents through subduction processes.

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Explains the movement of continents through tectonic plates, supported by extensive geological evidence.

Proposes that mantle convection drives plate tectonics, explaining continental movement.

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Proposes a southern supercontinent that existed from 600 to 180 million years ago.

Describes the cyclical formation and breakup of supercontinents like Pangaea and Rodinia.

Suggests continents formed through the melting of Earth's primordial crust, potentially delaying the onset of plate tectonics.

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Suggests a northern supercontinent composed of North America, Europe, and Asia.

Suggests zircons can form through crustal melting, challenging the necessity of subduction for continent formation.

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