Geologists discovered that the largest coal deposits were formed around 300 million years ago. How did this observation support the theory of plate tectonics?(1 point)
Responses
Around that time, it is thought that those regions were located along the ridge of a long mountain chain.
Around that time, it is thought that those regions were located along the ridge of a long mountain chain.
Around that time, those regions were located in tropical climates that were partially submerged on the coasts.
Around that time, those regions were located in tropical climates that were partially submerged on the coasts.
Around that time, those regions were located on arid plateaus in temperate regions.
Around that time, those regions were located on arid plateaus in temperate regions.
Around that time, those regions were located near the south pole where coal would likely have formed.
The geologic observation that the largest coal deposits were formed around 300 million years ago does support the theory of plate tectonics, particularly when it is understood that those coal-forming regions were located in tropical climates that were partially submerged along the coasts. This scenario would have provided the ideal conditions for the accumulation of plant material that, over time and under the right conditions, would become coal.
During the Carboniferous period, which was around 300 to 360 million years ago, much of the land that is now coal was situated near the equator where lush, swampy forests were abundant. These regions had large amounts of plant life that, upon dying, would be submerged underwater due to rising sea levels or flooding. The plant material did not fully decompose due to the lack of oxygen underwater, and over millions of years, heat and pressure transformed this material into coal.
The presence of coal deposits in regions that are now far from the tropics is evidence of the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates. The continents were once joined together in a supercontinent called Pangaea and have since drifted to their current locations. Thus, coal deposits that were once in tropical regions have migrated to other latitudes.
Therefore, the correct response to support the theory of plate tectonics would be:
"Around that time, those regions were located in tropical climates that were partially submerged on the coasts."