Law of Lateral Continuity

The Law of Lateral Continuity states that layers of sediment or rock tend to extend horizontally and remain connected across space unless interrupted by a physical barrier or erosion. This means that if you find similar sediment layers on either side of a gap, they likely once formed a continuous sheet before being separated by natural forces like erosion or faulting. It helps geologists determine if distant rock layers are related and reconstruct the original shape of ancient environments. Essentially, it suggests that sedimentary layers tend to form uniform, continuous horizons over large areas until disrupted.