A gap in the geological record created when rock layers are eroded and new sediments form on top is called?

• A. Law of Superposition
• B. Unconformity
• C. Catastrophism
• D. Faulting

Answer: (B)

Gaps in the rock record happen when erosion wears away existing layers and then new sediments are deposited on top, leaving a period of time unrecorded. This missing interval is called an unconformity. It shows that deposition paused or erosion removed material, so the geological history isn’t continuous in the rocks. The other ideas describe different concepts: the law of superposition explains the order of layers from bottom to top, not gaps in time; catastrophism is about sudden, dramatic events shaping Earth; and faulting is about rocks breaking and moving along fractures, which can displace layers but doesn’t inherently create a time gap in the record.