Supercontinents may break apart because the bottom layer of the continent's mantle peels away and sinks like a falling anchor.

Continental delamination can trigger the start of subduction zones, which are the primary engines of plate tectonics. This model challenges the long-held belief that the weight of old oceanic crust is what pulls plates into the earth. When the lower mantle layer peels off, it creates the force necessary to rip a continent open and start the movement of the crust. Geologists have searched for the mechanism behind supercontinent breakup for decades without a clear answer. This new theory provides a definitive explanation for how the earth's landmasses periodically reorganize themselves. It redefines our entire understanding of how the planet's surface was shaped over billions of years.