Why was Hutton and lyles work so important to Darwin?

Hutton and Lyell's work was crucial to Darwin as it provided a scientific framework for understanding geological processes and the age of the Earth. Their principles of uniformitarianism, which suggested that the same natural laws and processes observed in the present have always operated in the past, supported the idea that the Earth was much older than previously believed. This extensive timeframe allowed for gradual evolution and the slow accumulation of changes, aligning with Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Their insights helped Darwin appreciate the mechanisms of change over time, which were essential for his formulation of evolutionary theory.