"1. I cannot see how currents in the upper mantle are sufficiently strong to drag the plates and why they act in opposite directions at
and at right angles to the line where new sea floor is being created.
2. I cannot see the currents as strong enough to cause any movement of the intact lithosphere."
--You do know there are extensive studies done on this in the appropriate geophysical resources?
"3. I cannot see how essentially granitic continents were formed from an essentially basaltic lithosphere."
--After studying the geochemical structure of hot-spot & subduction volcanism, mid ocean basalts, and continents, it becomes indicative that they were formed by differentiation processes. That is to say, the early earth was molten and the continents were formed by geochemical fractionation of incompatible elements. That this has happened is well founded.
"4. The magnetic stripes on either side of a ridge where new sea floor is being created show reversals in polarity. I understand this reversal in polarity is detectable in land rocks which can be dated by isochron radiometric dating techniques. And hence the argument is that the magnetic stripes is also a measure of time. I find it difficult to accept this assumption because I dont think we know what causes a reversal of polarity and also because reversals would have to coincide with melting episodes if isochron dating is to be used."
--What do you mean the reversals should 'coincide with melting episodes'? If temperatures rise above the rock's curie temperature, remnant magnetism will be erased. There are several classes of paleomagnetism by which magnetic orientations can be acquired.
--[edit] - Paleomagnetism on the continents and at spreading ridges can be contrasted and assuming superposition (a very reasonable assumption..) that this is evidence for spreading is inferred because of their correlation.
"My model for continental drift is very simple and follows on from how I think the supercontinent was formed. In my model the deep sea trenches and oceanic ridges are not consequences of continental drift but of continent formation."
--Then how do you explain the seismic studies of subduction zones as well as geotherms of subducting plates without the subduction?
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[This message has been edited by TrueCreation, 01-25-2003]