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The European and North American tectonic plates began separating during the Late Jurassic period, around 180 million years ago, as part of the process of rifting that ultimately led to the formation of the Atlantic Ocean. This separation was driven by tectonic forces associated with mantle convection and resulted in the opening of the ocean basin as the plates moved apart. The process has continued to the present day, with the plates currently separating at a rate of a few centimeters per year.

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1w ago

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