Question

Briefly describe the process of continental rifting. Where is it occurring today?

Answer 1

Continental rifting is a process where a continent splits apart, forming new landmasses that drift away from each other.

Step-by-step explanation:

Continental rifting is a process in which a continental mass splits apart and two separate new landmasses form and drift away from each other. The process involves different stages:

1. Before rifting begins, continental processes dominate the sediment deposition.
2. Rifting begins with igneous activity and faulting, forming grabens and half grabens with lacustrine deposits.
3. As the continent splits apart, shallow-water seas are formed, followed by the formation of evaporite deposits.
4. Rifting completely separates the continent into two new landmasses, which start drifting apart, forming a passive margin system.

Continental rifting is currently occurring along the central African rift, where the African continent is slowly breaking apart, as well as in some ocean rift zones such as the Mid-Atlantic ridge.