Correct option is D
Correct Answer: (d) Vaalbara
Explanation:
Vaalbara is considered Earth's first supercontinent, believed to have formed around 3.6 billion years ago and existed until about 2.8 billion years ago. It consisted of proto-continents that later fragmented and reassembled into other supercontinents over geological time. Vaalbara was made up of the Kaapvaal Craton (South Africa) and the Pilbara Craton (Western Australia), which are among the oldest continental fragments on Earth.
Knowledge Booster:
● Supercontinents are large landmasses composed of most or all of Earth's continental crust.
● Vaalbara predates more well-known supercontinents like Gondwana and Pangea.
● Evidence for Vaalbara includes similar geological formations, isotopic dating, and magnetic signatures found in the Kaapvaal and Pilbara cratons.
● The cycle of supercontinent formation and breakup is part of the Wilson Cycle, which governs Earth's tectonic activity.
● After Vaalbara, other supercontinents like Columbia, Rodinia, Gondwana, and Pangea formed in subsequent geological eras.
Additional Information:
● Gondwana (Option a): A later supercontinent, part of Pangea, consisting of South America, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, and the Indian subcontinent.
● Columbia (Option b): Formed around 1.8 billion years ago, one of the earlier supercontinents.
● Pangea (Option c): The most recent supercontinent, existing around 335 to 175 million years ago, which later broke into present-day continents.