Download Plate Tectonics and Newfoundland (STSE).

Plate Tectonics and Newfoundland
The Geology of Newfoundland and Labrador
STSE
Answer Question #1
 The rocks in this zone formed from either lava (volcanic) or
magma (plutonic). These rocks are igneous and additionally,
are late Precambrian in age. There are some sedimentary
rocks of the same age in amongst the igneous rocks. Above
all of these rocks are sequences of sedimentary rocks that are
Palaeozoic in age. These rocks formed from terrestrial
deposition as well as shallow marine deposition. The shallow
marine deposition occurred on a continental margin.
Plate Tectonics and Newfoundland
The Geology of Newfoundland and Labrador
STSE
Answer Question #2
 The rocks on the Western Platform are similar to those on the
Avalon Platform in terms of age. Both are Precambrian at the
base with early Paleozoic rocks on top. As well, the Western
Platform contains sedimentary rocks that were deposited in a
shallow marine environment. The sedimentary rocks on both
platforms contain fossils of marine species.
The trilobite fossils differ on the two platforms in that both
represent different species.
Plate Tectonics and Newfoundland
The Geology of Newfoundland and Labrador
STSE
Answer Question #3
 The rocks in the Central Mobile Belt differ from the other
two zones in that they are all Paleozoic in age (CambrianOrdovician). They are sedimentary rocks and they formed in
a deep marine environment. There are also volcanic rocks
throughout this zone that form from island arc volcanoes
(oceanic-oceanic collision). The Central Mobile Belt is
indicative of a deep ocean, whereas the Avalon Platform is a
piece of the African continent and the Western Platform is a
piece of the North American continent.
Plate Tectonics and Newfoundland
The Geology of Newfoundland and Labrador
STSE
Answer Question #4
 i) Rodinia rifted and broke apart 750 Ma.
ii) The Iapetus Ocean was opening from 510 Ma to 475 Ma.
(35 Ma in total)
iii) The Appalachian Mountain Chain was formed once the
Iapetus Ocean completely closed.
iv) With the closure of the Iapetus Ocean came the creation
of the next supercontinent called Pangaea.
Plate Tectonics and Newfoundland
The Geology of Newfoundland and Labrador
STSE
Extension Activity

Plate Tectonics and Newfoundland
The Geology of Newfoundland and Labrador
Site of ophiolite
sequence
Western
Platform
Central
Mobile Belt
Avalon
Platform
Plate Tectonics and Newfoundland
The Geological Layout of Newfoundland
 Humber (Western) Zone
Has been a part of the North American
plate for at least the last billion years.
 Central (Zone) Mobile Belt
Remnants of volcanic arcs and the
ancient Iapetus ocean floor.
 Avalon (Eastern) Zone
Once part of the African plate which
remained attached as Pangaea split
200 million years ago.
Humber
Zone
Central
Mobile
Belt
Avalon
Zone