Mesozoic earth history breakup of pangaea

Question 1

What are the 5 important geologic events that happened in the Mesozoic

Answer 1

1. Pangaea broke up
2. The Atlantic Ocean formed
3. The rocky Mountains formed
4. Big amounts of petroleum around the world
5. Gold and other deposits in continental plutons

Question 2

What are the 4 stages of the Breakup of Pangaea

Answer 2

1. Triassic
2. Jurassic (2 stages)
3. Cretaceous

Question 3

What happened in Stage 1 of the breakup of Pangaea in the Triassic

Answer 3

The Atlantic Ocean opened up between North America and Africa

Question 4

What happened in Stage 2 of the breakup of Pangaea in the Jurassic

Answer 4

-North and South America separated in early Jurassic
- Gondwana broke up in early Jurassic

Question 5

What happened in Stage 3 of the breakup of Pangaea in the Jurassic

Answer 5

South America and Africa begin rifting apart in Jurassic

Question 6

What happened in Stage 4 of the breakup of Pangaea in the Cretaceous

Answer 6

Australia and Antarctica rift apart
Greenland separates from

-Eurasia, then North America
-Sea level rises