Depositional Features of a Worldwide Flood

Presence of Sharp Contact Bedding Planes

According to uniformity theory, sediment layers such as those found in the Grand Canyon represent 10 million years or more. Secular geologists believe that various rock formations underwent gradual cycles of inundation (period of sediment deposition) and uplift or ocean recession (exposure; period of erosion or nondeposition) over a span of 350 million years.

Keep in mind that when a sediment formation is exposed as dry land, erosion takes place—not deposition. Most secular geologists maintain that erosional episodes lasting many millions of years occurred between the uplift of one formation and the deposition of another formation—so, if dry conditions lasted many millions of years, significant erosional features would be expected between layers.

Typically, the geologist will find two formations lying one on top of the other, with “knife edge” bedding planes A bedding plane is a surface which separates layers of sedimentary rocks. Bedding is layering that develops as sediments are deposited. (sharp contact) between them. The existence of such sharp contact between layers is completely at odds with the passage of long periods of time between the layers. Rock formations in the Grand Canyon, for example, indicate that they were rapidly deposited without time breaks between the deposition of each layer or formation.

A good example is the abrupt, sharp contact between Coconino Sandstone and Hermit Shale (which can be easily viewed along the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon), and the sharp contact between Coconino Sandstone and Toroweap Limestone. Obviously, the sharp, undisturbed bedding planes indicate little or no time between the deposition of these rock formations. Such features are commonly found worldwide.

South Rim, Grand Canyon, Arizona Photo and sketch by Roger Gallop