Isolated appearances reveal cuts (8)
I believe the answer is:
outcrops
'isolated appearances' is the definition.
'reveal cuts' is the wordplay.
'reveal' becomes 'out' (outing is a kind of revealing).
'cuts' becomes 'crops' (cropping is a kind of cutting**).
'out'+'crops'='OUTCROPS'
(Other definitions for outcrops that I've seen before include "Exposed rock formations" , "exposed rocky areas" .)