California State University Long Beach

GEOL 300i; Earth Systems and Global Change
Lecture 4

Dr. Rick Behl

Last Wilson Tectonic cycle well recorded (see maps and animations)

• Pangaea (assembled in the late Paleozoic (~300 Ma)
  
• Panthalassa (World ocean)
  
• Laurasia (Eurasia) and Gondwana
  
• Rifting and formation of the Atlantic Ocean, etc.
  
• Modern distribution of continents

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"Plate Tectonic Crustal Factory"

Magmatic differentiation of compounds:

• Repeated refinement of "basaltic" then "granitic" composition silicate rocks

Volcanic outgassing of:

• Gases
  
• Water
  
• Together these make up the:
  
  • Hydrosphere
    
    • Oceans, lakes, rivers, groundwater
    
    
  • Atmosphere
    
    • Nitrogen (N2)
      
    • Nitrogen (N2)
      
    • Oxygen (O2)
      
    • Argon (Ar)
      
    • Water vapor (H2O)
      
    • Carbon dioxide (CO2)
      
    • etc.

Comet bombardment also contributes volatile components. especially during Earth's early history
How much is due to each mechanism?...

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written by R. Behl.
Last changes: 1 Sept 2003