According to the principle of cross-cutting relationships, which of the following statements is true?

The principle of cross-cutting relationships asserts that when one geological feature cuts across another, the feature that does the cutting is younger than the feature being cut. This is a fundamental concept in geological stratigraphy used to determine the relative ages of rock formations and events.

In this context, when a geological feature, such as a fault or an igneous intrusion, intersects with pre-existing rock layers or formations, it indicates that the cutting feature occurred after the formation of the rock layers it disrupts. This principle relies on the idea that geological processes occur in a chronological order, emphasizing that features that modify or displace others must be the result of later geological events.

Understanding this principle is essential for geologists when constructing geological histories and recognizing the sequence of events in Earth's history. The other statements misrepresent this fundamental principle, either suggesting that cutting features are older or making claims about the impossibility of such cutting occurring.