Remnant magnetism data -1950-, bathymetric and magnetic studies-early 1960s-, and evidence of continental edges fitting together -1964- were necessary to finally accept the theory of continental drift.
<h3>What is the paleomagnetic evidence that supports the theory of continental drift?</h3>
Although Wegener proposed a series of pieces of evidence to prove the idea of continental drift, the theory's acceptance needed more evidence to be approved.
In the <u>1950</u>s, Runcorn, Irvin, and other geologists, when looking at the remnant magnetism of Phanerozoic, found that rocks from the same area showed different orientations, and the pattern repeated in rocks of different ages.
Note: Let us remember that the term remnant magnetism refers to how magma solidifies and crystallizes into igneous rock following the magnetic field orientation.
So these researchers found that rocks in the same area exhibited different apparent magnetic pole positions. Initially, they thought this could be due to a change in the position of the magnetic pole over time.
However, after several studies including all continents, researchers discovered that the difference in crystallization orientation was due to a change in continental position rather than in the magnetic pole position.
When reconstructing Pangea, paleomagnetic curves drown from rock orientation, overlapped suggesting the crystallization occurred following the same magnetic pole during the unique continent period.
More evidence was discovered between the late 1950s and early 1960s. Heezen, Dietz, Hess, and other researchers collected bathymetry data of the ocean floors and the magnetic properties of the oceanic crust, providing more information about the seafloor spreading and the consequent continental separation.
In 1964 Bullard also could demonstrate that continental coastal shapes were not an effect of erosion but feet because they used to be united during the Pangea period. He showed that continental edges fit together even at 3,300-foot depth.
Remnant magnetism data -1950-, bathrymetric and magnetic studies-early 1960s-, and evidence of continental edges fitting together -1964- were useful to accept the theory of continental drift.
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