Science Olympiad Geologic Mapping Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The principle that explains why layers of sediment might appear shifted is the principle of cross-cutting relationships. This principle states that if a geological feature cuts through another feature, the feature that is cut is older than the feature that does the cutting. In the context of sediment layers, if there is evidence that one layer has been displaced or altered by a fault, intrusions, or erosion, this indicates that the layer exhibiting the shift is older than the sediment or feature that caused the displacement.

This principle allows geologists to reconstruct the chronological order of geological events and understand how forces such as tectonic movements can affect sedimentary layers. By determining which layers are older and which have been shifted or disrupted, geologists can piece together the history of the geological setting in question.

Other principles like superposition, original horizontality, and lateral continuity focus on different aspects of sedimentary rock formation and layering but do not directly address the shifts or disruptions caused by geological events.