News Excerpt:

A recent study by a research team from Southern Methodist University (SMU) has uncovered significant evidence in Angola that sheds light on the separation of South America and Africa nearly 140 million years ago.

More About the Findings:

• The discovery includes rocks and fossils of long-extinct marine reptiles, providing crucial data about the geological events that led to the formation of the South Atlantic Ocean. 
• The SMU team found that the southern coast of Angola offers the most complete geological record of the split between these two continents and the subsequent formation of the South Atlantic Ocean.
• The discovered rocks and fossils date back between 71 million and 130 million years, marking a significant period in Earth's geological history. 
• Researchers noted that Angola's site is unique because, unlike other locations, it provides a comprehensive view of the entire process of the South Atlantic's formation, all in one place.
• They also noted that no other land site offers such a clear and comprehensive view of the events leading to the ocean's creation, as most evidence is now underwater or eroded.

Continental Drift Theory and formation of South Atlantic Ocean:

• The theory of continental drift, first proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912, posits that the continents were once part of a single large landmass called Pangea. 
• It is well-established that the eastern coast of South America and the western coast of Africa were once joined as part of the supercontinent Gondwana, itself a fragment of the larger landmass known as Pangea.
• Over geological time, Pangea fragmented into smaller continents that drifted apart. This theory is supported by evidence such as the similar shapes of continental coastlines, matching geological formations, and fossil records across different continents
• Approximately 140 million years ago, the tectonic plates beneath Africa and South America began to move apart. 
• This movement caused rifts along pre-existing weaknesses in the Earth's crust, allowing magma from the mantle to rise and form a new oceanic crust. 
• This process eventually led to the formation of the South Atlantic Ocean, as the gap between the two newly separated continents filled with water.

Significance of the findings:

• The findings have significant educational value, as they allow students and researchers to visit the rock formations and outcrops, providing a tangible view of geological events such as the spread of lava from eastern South America and the former continuity of the land.
• The findings in Angola provide further support for the Continental drift theory, offering tangible evidence of the processes that have shaped the Earth's surface over millions of years.