The principle of ___ states that an original sedimentary layer extends laterally until it tapers or thins at is edges.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The principle of lateral continuity states that sedimentary layers extend laterally until they thin or taper at their edges, implying that they were originally continuous over a wide area. This principle is particularly useful when analyzing the layers of sedimentary rocks exposed in outcrops or in stratigraphic records. The other answer choices are different principles of stratigraphy that refer to other aspects of rock formation and deformation, such as the relative ages of rock layers (superposition), the cutting of one geologic feature by another (cross-cutting relationships), the way sedimentary rocks are deposited (original horizontality), or the idea that the same geological processes happening now also happened in the past (actualism).

The Principle of ___ States That an Original Sedimentary Layer