Scientific Evidence and the Age of the Earth
by Mike Riddle (61 min.)
Topics:
• Primer on radioactive decay
• Carbon 14 dating
• Radioisotope dating
Radioactive Decay:
The Atom is a fundamental unit of matter, made up of subatomic particles forming a nucleus. The nucleus is surrounded by Protons (positive charge), Neutrons (no charge), and Electrons (negative charge).
Carbon:
Carbon 14 is referred to as C-14 or Radiocarbon. There are many types of carbon called isotopes. Carbon 14 has 6 protons and 8 neutrons. Other isotopes like carbon 12 would have 6 Protons and 6 neutrons. Carbon 10 would have 6 protons and 4 neutrons. The number of protons doesn’t change, only the number of neutrons do. In addition, we have unstable Isotopes (Atoms) and those are Isotopes where the Protons and Neutrons are not in balance. A stable Isotope has 6 protons and 6 neutrons. Whereas an unstable Isotope has say 6 protons and 8 neutrons like C-14.
What is Radioactive Decay? It is where the nucleus of an atom of one element changes into another element. For example, C-14 with 6 protons changes into N 14 (Nitrogen) with 7 protons forming a new element. In this instance the decay process actually adds an additional proton to form a new element. The rate of decay is measured in half-life. The time it takes for 1/2 the decay process to take place. The half-life of C-14 is 5,730 years. That means it takes 5,730 years for 1/2 of the C-14 to change into N-14. It will take another 5,730 years for 1/2 of the balance to decay into N-14, and so on. Cosmic radiation bombards the nitrogen in the atmosphere converting it back into carbon 14, and some of the C-14 combines with Oxygen in the atmosphere to form CO2 (Carbon Dioxide). All living plants and animals take in C-14 from the atmosphere. Once a living thing dies, it begins to lose C-14 as it decays back in to N-14.
Rocks don’t breathe so they do not take on C-14, so cannot be dated by using the radioactive decay method.
Equilibrium – The assumption is that the amount of C-14 being added to the atmosphere is equal to the amount being removed. It is assumed that the C-14 in the atmosphere stays constant.
Radiometric Clock starts once a plant or animal dies. At that point it no longer takes on any more C-14, and C-14 begins to decay. The carbon 14 dating method relies on determining the amount of C-14 left in a fossil. A lot of C-14 in a fossil means the fossil is not very old. Very little C-14 assumes the fossil is old. If no C-14 is found, it is assumed the fossil has been dead for 60,000 years or more.
What do we need to know to determine how many half-lives have expired?
1. How fast it decays measured in half-lives – 5,730 years in the case of C-14.
2. The starting amount of C-14 in the organism when it died.
When an organism is alive we assume it has the same amount of C-14/C12 ratio as in the
atmosphere. One atom of C-14 for every 1 trillion atoms of C-12. If we measure the amount
of C-12, we can then estimate the C-14 that should have been in the organism to begin with.
Based on that, we can estimate the age of the fossil.
Assumption for C-14 Dating – The ratio of C-14 to C-12 has always been 1 trillion to 1. If
this is true, the dating method is reliable to about 60,000 for plants and animals. If it is not
true, then it is not a reliable dating method for plants and animals.
• Dr. Willard Libby, the founder of Carbon 14 dating, noticed that the atmosphere was
almost 25% out of equilibrium. Believing in billions of years as an evolutionist, he
ignored the evidence, and he chalked it up to a calculations error.
• In the 60’s other scientists repeated Libby’s experiment & determined it was not an error.
• To reach equilibrium from a starting point of zero it should take only 30,000 years.
• Scientists now suggest that C-14 is being produced at a 25% higher rate than it is being
consumed. Therefore, the method of dating exaggerates the age for plants and animals.
Deception – In the 60’s we knew the prime assumption for Carbon 14 dating was false, but
ignored this known fact, and taught this misinformation anyway for over 40 years. Why?
Because evolutionists want to believe in billions of years so much, the evidence doesn’t matter.
Other factors that could affect the amount of carbon in the atmosphere:
1. Cosmic ray penetration of the earth’s atmosphere.
2. Strength of the earth’s magnetic field. The magnetic field is decaying.
3. Amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
4. Genesis Flood – buried much carbon from living organisms to form coal and oil. The
buried carbon today is about 100 times the total carbon currently in the biosphere.
Evolutionists assume coal took 100’s of thousands to millions of years to form. It is formed
from plant and animal material. Every sample of coal taken today shows C-14 in it. That
means that the absolute oldest that coal can be is 60,000 years old. Based on the current
evidence it is likely much, much younger. Fossil woods that are estimated to be over 200
million years old, still contain C-14.
Carbon – 14 Summary:
• C-14 can only be used to date organic material.
• C-14 dating, accuracy is dependent on consistent ratio of C-12 to C-14 [equilibrium].
• The assumption of equilibrium is FALSE.
• Other factors affecting atmospheric C-14: Genesis Flood, weakening magnetic field.
• Ancient fossils as well as coal contain C-14 residue.
• It takes 30,000 years to reach equilibrium and we are 25% out of equilibrium.
• Conclusion – The earth is young.
Radioisotope Dating Methods – Dating rocks
Why do people believe in an old earth?
• Think science has proven the earth to be old. Circular logic of the geologic column.
• Peer pressure.
• Intellectualism (science Vs religion).
• Don’t want to hear the information.
• Young earth believers are ignoring the scientific evidence. Not the case at all.
• The Bible does not teach how old the earth is….But it does.
• Most scientists believe the earth is old…true. But there are 1000’s that believe it is not.
Teaching evolution as Fact without Questioning the Evidence or Teaching how it Works:
Biology Textbook: Visualizing Life, Holt, Rinehart, Winston, 1998, p. 177. – Using
radioactive dating, scientists have determined that the earth is about 4.5 billion years old,
ancient enough for all species to have been formed by evolution.
How does radioactive decay work?
Parent element like Uranium gradually decays into Lead the daughter element. Similarly
Potassium over time decays into Argon. This method is used to date igneous and metamorphic
rocks (basalt from lava flows). It cannot be used to date organic material, limestone, sandstone
and shale) which is far more plentiful then basalt. When you find a rock with lead in it,
scientists assume that all the lead from the molten flow seeped out during the molten phase and
leaving only uranium, which has now decayed into lead. Thus, they assume that all the lead
present is from radioactive decay.
Assumptions:
1. The starting amount of daughter element is known.
2. All the daughter element is from radioactive decay.
3. Sample was always in a closed environment – couldn’t add or take away from sample.
4. The decay rate has always been consistent.
Accuracy:
• Sunset Crater, Northern Arizona – Potassium-argon date 200,000+, Reality AD 1065
• Mt. Ngaurhoe, New Zealand lava flow – Potassium-argon date 275,000, Reality 1949,
1954, 1975
• Hualalai basalt, Hawaii – Potassium-argon date 1.4-22 million, Reality: AD 1801
• Mt. Etna basalt, Sicily – Potassium-argon date 140,000-350,000, Reality 1972
• Mt. St. Helens – Potassium-argon date 2.8 million years, Reality 1980
• Grand Canyon – Precambrian layer at bottom of canyon dated by Rb-Sr isochron age of
1070 million years old, then took rocks from top layer (youngest rocks) same method
produced age of 1340 million years old. 300 million years older than the oldest rocks.
Even the same rock tested twice will give significantly different results. If we can’t trust the
dates on rocks we know the ages of, how could we ever trust the figures when we don’t know
the ages of the rocks? If you base your theory on a wrong assumption, all your work can be
correct, but the result will be wrong.
Evidence the Earth is Young:
• Lava flow with trees in it. Trees dated at 44,000 years, while lava around it was dated at
45 million years old.
• Helium – migrates very easily into the atmosphere from rocks during the decay process.
Over 68% of the Helium is still in the granite rocks. This suggests the earth is young,
perhaps about 6000 years old, not billions of years.
• Nuclear decay rates don’t support an old earth (radioisotope dating).
• Not enough sodium in the oceans for it to be old.
• Rapid disintegration of comets don’t support an old earth.
• Erosion of the continents.
• Sediments in the ocean
• Decay of the earth’s magnetic field
• Carbon 14 ratio in the atmosphere
• Radiohalos for polonium in granites
• Population statistics
• Recession of the moon
RATE Group – Scientists that are focused on the age of the earth at ICR. They confirm C-14
dating supports a young earth, not one that is millions or billions of years old.
Conclusion: (five facts)
1. The earth has not been scientifically proven to be billions of years old.
2. The bible teaches a literal 6 day creation.
3. Many scientists believe in a literal 6 day creation about 6,000 years ago.
4. New evidence from nuclear decay supports a young earth model.
5. There are many, many scientific evidences for a young earth. (see list above)
Bible references
Psalm 118:8 – It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
John 17:17 – Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is trut
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