Table of Contents
What is Pangaea Rodinia?
Many people have heard of Pangaea, the supercontinent that included all continents on Earth and began to break up about 175 million years ago. Each supercontinent has its quirks, but one, called Rodinia, assembled from 1.3 to 0.9 billion years ago and broken up about 0.75 billion years ago, is particularly odd.
What was the supercontinent called before Pangaea?
Gondwana
Supercontinents throughout geologic history
| Supercontinent name | Age (Ma) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Rodinia | 1,130–750 | |
| Pannotia | 633–573 | |
| Gondwana | 550–175 | From the Carboniferous, formed part of Pangaea, not always regarded as a supercontinent |
| Pangaea | 336–175 |
Where is Rodinia?
The continent of Rodinia was the dominant landmass of the Earth for at least 350 million years. The configuration of the lands of Rodinia is a matter of considerable debate. The east coast of present North America was probably adjacent to western South America.
What is Laurasia and Gondwanaland?
When Pangaea broke up, the northern continents of North America and Eurasia became separated from the southern continents of Antarctica, India, South America, Australia and Africa. The large northern continent is called Laurasia and the southern continent is called Gondwanaland.
What continents made up Rodinia?
As early as 850 and 800 million years ago, a rift developed between the continental masses of present-day Australia, East Antarctica, India and the Congo and Kalahari cratons on one side and later Laurentia, Baltica, Amazonia and the West African and Rio de la Plata cratons on the other.
What is the meaning of Laurasia?
Definitions of Laurasia. a hypothetical continent that (according to plate tectonic theory) broke up later into North America and Europe and Asia. example of: continent. one of the large landmasses of the earth.