Palaeoclimates

There are many types of rocks and minerals that can only be created when the climate is suited.

An example is the coal deposits found in Antarctica, which must be formed in a warm, swampy area. This leads us to infer that Antartctica was once a warm continent, which can mean that it was either once located in lower and warmer latitudes but due to continental drift moved to its current location in the South Pole, or that the poles were once warm and free of ice when these coal deposits form.

However, the second possibility has been ruled out by matching the age of the coal with that of glacial formations elsewhere. If the climate was cold enough to allow glaciers to form, the formation of coal would be impossible as the poles would be frozen.



This diagram shows the matching ancient climates on the continents when joined, emphasizing the link between each continent.

Because these continents once experienced climates that in the present day wouldnt be possible due to their location, we are only left to infer that they were once situated somewhere where it was possible, but has been moved through continental drift.