The Geologic History of the Earth and Connecticut: Effects it had on our State
Michael Conte, Jr.
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GLOBAL-PLATE TECTONICS
This theory contends that the Earth’s Crust is not a solid mass but is made of “plates” which float on the Earth’s Mantle. It also states that the Earth, which was mostly covered by water, was at one time, one large continent and has, over the last 200 million years split to form seven continents. This movement of the plates produces a great deal of geologic activity that effects us today-for scientists contend that the continents are still moving!! There are four distinct movements of the plates that have been identified which produce this continental activity. One type of movement that the plates make by moving back and forth produce violent earthquakes that affect the land masses. (This type of movement, or plate collision, can be evidenced by India crashing into Asia and forming the Himalayas.) Another movement of the plates occurs when they split apart and allow molten rock to slip through. Other plate action happens when one plate dips below another (sub-suction zone) to produce large valleys and volcanoes. Finally, we have the action of two plates being continually pushed around and new ones formed by molten rock being forced through the ocean floor. Another facet of this movement is when a continental plate rides over an ocean plate and simply covers it up taking off the sediments formed.