Historical Geology – Breakup of the supercontinent The original supercontinent Pangaea split into two major landmasses. Identify the correct pair and their relative positions after the split.

Introduction / Context:
Plate tectonics explains how continents move across Earth’s surface over geologic time. A cornerstone of this story is the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea, which began in the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic and profoundly shaped today’s continental layout and ocean basins.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are asked to name the two major daughter landmasses of Pangaea and their broad geographic positions.
• The conventional names are Laurasia and Gondwanaland (Gondwana).
• Only one pairing correctly states their relative positions.

Concept / Approach:
Pangaea first rifted into northern and southern supercontinental fragments. The northern block, Laurasia, comprised what became North America, Europe, and much of Asia. The southern block, Gondwanaland (or Gondwana), comprised South America, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, and the Indian subcontinent. Their relative positions are therefore north (Laurasia) and south (Gondwanaland).

Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the names of the two fragments: Laurasia and Gondwanaland.Recall the paleogeographic orientation: Laurasia to the north, Gondwanaland to the south.Select the option that matches both the names and positions.

Verification / Alternative check:
Paleomagnetic reconstructions and fossil correlations (for example, Glossopteris flora across Gondwana) consistently support the twofold north–south split of Pangaea.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Laurasia in the south / east / west: contradicts established paleogeography.
• Gondwanaland in the north / west / east: likewise incorrect for the initial breakup orientation.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing later continental drift (for instance, India’s northward journey) with the initial Pangaea bifurcation. The question specifically concerns the first-order split.

Final Answer:
Laurasia in the north and Gondwanaland in the south