Which of the following provide evidence that South America, Africa, Antarctica, and Australia were once together as one supercontinent? Select the three correct answers.(2 points)
Responses
Cratons match across the edges of continents.
Cratons match across the edges of continents.
Fossils of marsupials were originally the same across South America and Australia.
Fossils of marsupials were originally the same across South America and Australia.
Glacial deposits and scratches in the bedrock from an ice sheet match in distant regions.
Glacial deposits and scratches in the bedrock from an ice sheet match in distant regions.
Vast deposits of coal formed in regions with ancient deserts.
Vast deposits of coal formed in regions with ancient deserts.
Mountain chains match up where South America collided with Australia to form Pangaea.
Mountain chains match up where South America collided with Australia to form Pangaea.
Icy glaciers covered South America, Africa, Antarctica, and Australia as one supercontinent over the North Pole.
The correct responses that provide evidence that South America, Africa, Antarctica, and Australia were once joined together as part of a supercontinent (specifically Gondwana which later became part of the larger supercontinent Pangaea) are:
1. **Cratons match across the edges of continents** - Cratons are the ancient and stable parts of the continental crust, and their geology can be seen to match at the edges of the continents that were once connected.
2. **Fossils of marsupials were originally the same across South America and Australia** - The distribution of similar or identical fossil species across different continents is one piece of evidence for continental drift. Marsupials are a notable example, as their fossils have been found on multiple continents that were once part of Gondwana.
3. **Glacial deposits and scratches in the bedrock from an ice sheet match in distant regions** - Glacial scars and deposits, such as tillites and striations, can be found on different continents that align with the path of ancient glaciers that once covered the supercontinent.
The statement about mountain chains matching up where South America collided with Australia to form Pangaea is incorrect as South America and Australia did not collide to form mountain chains; instead, it was the collision of other continental plates like the African plate and the South American plate that led to the formation of the Andes. The last statement about icy glaciers covering the supercontinent over the North Pole is also incorrect for Gondwana, which was located more over the South Pole during the late Paleozoic and into the Mesozoic.
The statement about vast deposits of coal formed in regions with ancient deserts does not directly relate to the evidence for the supercontinent. While coal deposits can provide evidence about the paleoenvironment, they do not specifically support continental drift or the existence of a supercontinent.