Question

Geologists discovered that the largest coal deposits were formed around 300 million years ago. How did this observation support the theory of plate tectonics?
Around that time, those regions were located on arid plateaus in temperate regions.

Around that time, it is thought that those regions were located along the ridge of a long mountain chain.

Around that time, those regions were located near the south pole where coal would likely have formed.

Around that time, those regions were located in tropical climates that were partially submerged on the coasts.

Answer 1

Answer:

Option (4)

Explanation:

Coal is a dark colored, combustible sedimentary rock that forms due to the decay of ancient plants in a swampy type of environment. It is used widely as fuels.

Coal forms in a tropical type of climate where there is abundant plants and trees. These trees when dies and get buried under the surface, they get decomposed, provided a swampy environment. The oxygen is removed from these dead decayed trees and  after millions of years, it turns into coal.

The earth's crust is constantly in motion , i.e. the lithospheric plates are moving over the asthenosphere layer due to the generation of convection current in the mantle. Due to this plate motion, the regions containing these coals and coal fields are also constantly migrating from one place to another.

These landmasses initially occurring in the tropical regions are now partially submerged on the coastal areas due to the continuous plate motion.

Thus, the correct answer is option (4).