Age of Rock and Plate Tectonics Quiz

Question

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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?(1 point)
Responses

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

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

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

Answer 1

The correct response is: Around that time, those regions were located in tropical climates that were partially submerged on the coasts.

This supports the theory of plate tectonics because the formation of large coal deposits is typically associated with lush, swampy environments found in tropical climates. The observation that these coal deposits formed around 300 million years ago implies that the regions where they are found were once positioned in such climates, likely due to the movement of tectonic plates over geological time.