Mountain chains in northern Europe and western Africa, match the Appalachian mountains in terms of their ages, and the sequence of rock layers that make them up in 3 to 5 sentences analyze these observations and use supporting detail to explain conclusions that can be drawn from them
The observation that mountain chains in northern Europe and western Africa match the age of the Appalachian mountains suggests a possible connection in their geological history. This could indicate a shared tectonic event that influenced the formation of these mountain ranges. The similarity in the sequence of rock layers also strengthens this hypothesis, as it implies a potential geological continuity between these landforms.
Supporting this conclusion, geologists have identified the supercontinent Pangaea, which existed around 300 million years ago. During the breakup of Pangaea, different fragments of the supercontinent drifted apart, giving rise to the modern-day continents. The Appalachian mountains were formed as a result of the collision between the North American plate and the African plate during the formation of Pangaea.
The mountain chains in northern Europe and western Africa, such as the Caledonian mountain range, are believed to have formed during the same tectonic event. These mountains were created due to the collision between the North American plate and the Eurasian and African plates during the closure of the Iapetus Ocean, which occurred around 400 to 350 million years ago.
Therefore, based on the matching ages and rock sequences, the similarity between the mountain chains in northern Europe, western Africa, and the Appalachian mountains suggests that they all share a common geological history. They were likely formed as a result of the same tectonic event, namely the formation and breakup of Pangaea, which shaped the continents as we know them today.