140 Mya
Final break up of Gondwana

The final breakup of the super continent Gondwana commenced some 30 Million years earlier with the eruption of the Drakensberg basalts derived from a mantle plume that rose beneath southern Africa. The crust ruptured and vast quantities of lava poured out on the surface covering most of the region to a depth exceeding 1600m.

The fragments of Gondwana comprised South America, Africa, The Falklands, Antarctica, Australia, India, and other smaller terrains to the north. Eastern Gondwanaland pulled apart some 160 Million years ago and moved north and east forming the Indian Ocean. India was a part of this and collided with Eurasia some 50 Million years ago. India is still moving north at measurable rates forming the Himalaya Mountain range.

 Western Gondwanaland pulled apart approximately 130 Million years ago to form the Atlantic Ocean, with South America moving west, while the Pacific Plate is consumed along the Andes mountain chain, in a process called subduction. Separation along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is taking place at about the same pace as your fingernails grow, approximately 2,5cm per year! Australia is moving somewhat faster, at about 6,75 cm per year.