Introduction
Landscape of the Karoo Basin South Africa with typical Gondwana successions
Image Credit: D. Mertmann
Listen to an audio-introduction to the Gondwana-section of the webpage (presented by Elisha M. Shemang)
Target group
This page is addressed to 1st-year university students in Geology and Physical Geography. The first part covers basic knowledge about Gondwana; a second part treats more advanced special topics. In some sections, you will find links to other topics that present more detailed explanations. At the end, you will find a collection of links, books and special scientific references.
A student taking this course will be able to
- Define the concept of Gondwana.
- Understand the stages of its break-up.
- Explain why there is general agreement today that continents of the southern hemisphere had been united some 200 million years ago.
- Explain the distribution of similar flora and fauna in continents of the southern hemisphere.
- Describe the itinerary of Gondwana land masses from the Late Precambrian to their present position.
COURSE STRUCTURE
General Topics
- Gondwana
- Theories
- Plate tectonics
- Evidence
- Geology
- Fauna and Flora
- Climate
- Breakup Tectonics
- Timeline
- Test No.1
Special topics
- Stratigraphy
- Glaciations
- Fauna and Flora
- Tectonics
- Mineral deposits
- Test No. 2
- References