Continental Drift and Geological Terms

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to continental drift and geological concepts.

Laurasia

The northernmost of the two large continents produced by the breakup of Pangaea.

Pangaea

The single land mass formed when all the continents came together in the Permian period.

Plate Tectonics

The theory explaining the structure of the earth's crust and many associated phenomena as resulting from the interaction of rigid lithospheric plates that move slowly over the underlying mantle.

Gondwana

The large southern land mass produced when Pangaea split into two large continents.

Flora

All of the plants found in a given area.

Fauna

All of the animals found in a given area.

Radiometric Dating

A method of dating geological or archeological specimens by determining the relative proportions of specific radioactive isotopes.