Correct Option
The correct option is 2 only
Explanation
Tillite refers to the sedimentary rock formed out of deposits of glaciers. The distribution of these rocks in the Southern Hemisphere is one of the primary evidences supporting Alfred Wegener's Continental Drift Theory. It suggests that landmasses currently separated by oceans were once assembled into a single supercontinent called Gondwanaland.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: Tillite is a sedimentary rock formed from glacial deposits. The presence of thick tillite sequences in the geological records of landmasses indicates extensive and prolonged glaciation in the geological past (specifically the Carboniferous-Permian period).
- Statement 2 is Correct: The counterparts of the Gondwana system sediments (including tillites) found in India are found in Africa, Falkland Island, Madagascar, Antarctica, and Australia. These are primarily landmasses of the Southern Hemisphere, not the Northern Hemisphere. This distribution across separated southern continents is a key evidence for their past unification.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The presence of similar glacial tillites across these widely separated landmasses proves that they share a remarkably similar geological history. It counters the idea that they had different histories; rather, it suggests they experienced the same paleoclimatic conditions while being part of the same landmass.
Key Takeaway
Tillite deposits found across India, Africa, Antarctica, and Australia provide unambiguous evidence of paleoclimates and the drifting of continents, confirming the existence of the supercontinent Gondwanaland.