Charles lyell developed the concept that geological processes progress at uniform, or constant, rates throughout history. most geologists of his time thought sudden, major catastrophes were the cause of the geologic formations they studied. which of the following pieces of evidence was most likely to have influenced lyell to break away from this school of catastrophism and develop a different school of thought? events such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes happen relatively frequently and regularly. the same types of geologic formations are found in the same types of places all over the earth. a canyon can be cut by the flow of a river if it flows in one path for a long enough time. a cut through a hillside shows layers of rock piled on top of each other.