Today, glacial deposits formed during the Permo-Carboniferous glaciation (about 300 million years ago) are found in Antarctica, Africa, South America, India and Australia. If the continents haven’t moved, then this would suggest an ice sheet extended from the south pole to the equator at this time - which is unlikely as the UK at this time was also close to the equator and has extensive coal and limestone deposits. If the continents of the southern hemisphere are re-assembled near the south pole, then the Permo-Carboniferous ice sheet assumes a much more reasonable size.

More evidence comes from glacial striations – scratches on the bedrock made by blocks of rock embedded in the ice as the glacier moves. These show the direction of the glacier, and suggest the ice flowed from a single central point.

 

Evidence from the Permo-Carboniferous glaciation

Tectonic fit Fossil evidence