engulvement

Engulvement is a term sometimes used in geology to describe the process by which a larger geological feature is engulfed or submerged by a smaller or more recent one. This can occur in various geological contexts. For instance, a lava flow might engulf an older rock formation, or a glacier might override and bury a pre-existing landscape. The term emphasizes the complete or near-complete covering of one entity by another, leading to the submergence of the former.

In some cases, engulvement can refer to the sinking of a landmass into a body of water, though terms like subsidence or transgression are more commonly used for such phenomena. The key aspect of engulvement is the physical engulfing action, where the engulfing feature essentially swallows or envelops the engulfed feature. This process is a testament to the dynamic nature of the Earth's crust and surface, where ongoing geological activity constantly reshapes landscapes. The resulting geological record often shows clear evidence of this engulfment, with the engulfed material preserved beneath the overlying strata. Understanding engulvement helps geologists interpret the sequence of events that have shaped a particular region.