Session 21

Topics (keep it simple)  Carbon-14 How is carbon-14 produced? Where do we find carbon-14? What does the evidence support? The underlying assumption  Radiometric dating (rocks) Three assumptions Conflicting dates How well does the method work? Evidences for a young earth  Carbon-14 How is carbon-14 produced? Where do we find carbon-14? What does the evidence support? The underlying assumption  Radiometric dating (rocks) Three assumptions Conflicting dates How well does the method work? Evidences for a young earth

Since God is the Creator of all things (including science), and His Word is true (John 17:17), the true (correct) age of the earth must agree with His Word. However, rather than accept the literal biblical account of creation many Christians have accepted the radioisotope dates of billions of years and attempted to fit long ages into the Bible. The implications of doing this are profound and affect many parts of the Bible.

 Hermeneutics and the plain reading of Scripture (number with a day, evening and morning, Exodus 20:11)  The Gospel (death before sin)  The character of God (God becomes the author of death and not sin)  Genesis 1:31 (God’s “very good”)  The Genesis Flood becomes a local flood  The words of Jesus (Mark 10:6)  The authority of Scripture (when does it become real?)  The NT (Romans 5:12, 8:20-22)  Hermeneutics and the plain reading of Scripture (number with a day, evening and morning, Exodus 20:11)  The Gospel (death before sin)  The character of God (God becomes the author of death and not sin)  Genesis 1:31 (God’s “very good”)  The Genesis Flood becomes a local flood  The words of Jesus (Mark 10:6)  The authority of Scripture (when does it become real?)  The NT (Romans 5:12, 8:20-22)

The Atom Nucleus Electron (Protons and Neutrons)

RATE Group  Larry Vardiman, Ph.D. Atmospheric Science  Russell Humphreys, Ph.D. Physics  Eugene Chaffin, Ph.D. Physics  John Baumgardner, Ph.D. Geophysics  Donald DeYoung, Ph.D. Physics  Steven Austin, Ph.D. Geology  Andrew Snelling, Ph.D. Geology  Steven Boyd, Ph.D. Hebraic and Cognate Studies  Larry Vardiman, Ph.D. Atmospheric Science  Russell Humphreys, Ph.D. Physics  Eugene Chaffin, Ph.D. Physics  John Baumgardner, Ph.D. Geophysics  Donald DeYoung, Ph.D. Physics  Steven Austin, Ph.D. Geology  Andrew Snelling, Ph.D. Geology  Steven Boyd, Ph.D. Hebraic and Cognate Studies Radioisotopes and the Age of The Earth

How Is Carbon-14 Produced? For further study go to New Answers Book 1, Chapter 7

Anything older than about 80,000 years should contain no datable C-14 No Carbon-14 Evidence older than 80,000 years No Carbon-14 Evidence older than 80,000 years Carbon-14 Evidence younger than 80,000 years Carbon-14 Evidence younger than 80,000 years

Paleozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic 540 mya 240 mya 65 mya Fish and invertebrate Age of dinosaurs Age of mammals Evolutionary Timescale

Carbon-14 and Coal Coal samples from 10 locations Every sample contained measurable amounts of carbon-14

Carbon-14 and Diamonds 12 diamond samples chosen from different locations all contained measurable amounts of carbon-14

Carbon-14 (C-14) dating of multiple samples of bone from 8 dinosaurs from Texas, Alaska, Colorado, and Montana revealed that they are only 22,000 to 39,000 years old. Dating Dinosaurs American Geophysical Union and the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society, Aug, 2012

These results indicate that the entire geologic column cannot be millions of years old. This confirms the Bible and challenges the evolutionary idea of long geologic ages. Thousands NOT Millions

C-14 Conclusion The scientific evidence supports the biblical worldview of a young earth

C-14 A Few More Details

Carbon-14 Assumption The amount of C-14 being produced in the atmosphere is equal to the amount removed over a period of time. C-14 produced C-14 removed Equilibrium

30,000 Years to Equilibrium The amount being produced into the atmosphere is equal to the amount being removed through decay (steady state).

Carbon-14 and Age Dr. Willard Libby and belief The Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1960 Over 20% out of equilibrium The assumption is false 20% faster

Conclusion  It takes 30,000 years to reach equilibrium.  We are not in equilibrium.  It takes 30,000 years to reach equilibrium.  We are not in equilibrium. 1. The earth is young (less than 30,000 years. 2. The Bible is correct (a young earth). For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them,…

More Information Chapter 7 Doesn’t Carbon-14 Dating Disprove the Bible?

How old is the earth? How reliable are the dating methods? 6 Days

Things Change Over Time  We grow older  Food spoils  Things wear out  Some elements change forms  We grow older  Food spoils  Things wear out  Some elements change forms

Some Elements Change Over Time Uranium changes into lead Potassium changes into argon Carbon-14 changes into nitrogen ParentDaughter

What Is Radiometric Dating?Parent Daughter 1. How long it takes for the parent element to decay into the daughter element 2. There are assumptions involved 2 KEY considerations

Textbooks “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 through evolution.” Biology: Visualizing Life, Holt, Rinehart, Winston, 1998, p.177.

Radiometric dating methods contain assumptions 3 critical thinking questions

Hour Glass Example

Can you calculate how long you were outside?

Assumption 1 Knowledge of initial starting conditions The starting amount of daughter element is known. Knowledge of initial starting conditions The starting amount of daughter element is known.

Assumption 2 The sample was always in a closed environment.

Assumption 2 “There are significant problems with radioisotope dating in general. The critical closed-system assumption is not realistic – no system can remain unaffected by its environment over millions of years.” Vernon Cupps (Ph.D. Nuclear Physics), “Radioactive Dating,” Acts and Facts, Feb

Assumption 3 The decay rate has always been constant.

The Scientific Method “Thus, the K-Ar model does not meet even the basic criteria of a hypothesis in the scientific method… The potassium-argon dating method – once heralded as a solid scientific method – has proven to be unreliable.” “Thus, the K-Ar model does not meet even the basic criteria of a hypothesis in the scientific method… The potassium-argon dating method – once heralded as a solid scientific method – has proven to be unreliable.” Vernon Cupps (Ph.D. Nuclear Physics), “The Noble Clock,” Acts and Facts, Dec Vernon Cupps (Ph.D. Nuclear Physics), “The Noble Clock,” Acts and Facts, Dec

How Well Does It Work? “Before using any measurement instrument or technique, it is good practice to calibrate it against some known quantity… So how well does this radiometric dating technique do in determining the ages of rocks of known age?” “Before using any measurement instrument or technique, it is good practice to calibrate it against some known quantity… So how well does this radiometric dating technique do in determining the ages of rocks of known age?” Jim Mason (Ph.D. Experimental Nuclear Physics), Evolution’s Achilles’ Heels, “Radiometric Dating,” 2014, p. 196.

Conflicting Dates Dated: Potassium-argon: 200,000+ Real date __________ Dated: Potassium-argon: 200,000+ Real date __________ Sunset Crater, Northern Arizona 1065 AD

Lava flows at Mt. Ngauruhoe, New Zealand Potassium-argon: 275,000 – 3.5 million Real dates __________________ Potassium-argon: 275,000 – 3.5 million Real dates __________________ Conflicting Dates 1949, 1954, 1975

Conflicts in Dates Rocks that were created since the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens dated to be to ____________________years old. 350, million

1.07 billion years Paleozoic Precambrian Cardenas Basalt (Precambrian)

Dating recent lava flows in the Grand Canyon Youngest Rocks 1.34 billion Oldest Rocks 1.07 billion

Radioisotope dating methods contain assumptions Rock of Known Age Radioisotope Dating Doesn’t Work Rock of Unknown Age Radioisotope Dating Assumed to Work

How Well Does It Work? “Since the calculations of age are quite sensitive to these assumptions, and since it is clear that we cannot know if the assumptions are true, and since radiometric dating produces wildly incorrect results for rocks of known age, it is quite reasonable to conclude that radiometric dates are entirely unreliable.” Jim Mason (Ph.D. Experimental Nuclear Physics), Evolution’s Achilles’ Heels, “Radiometric Dating,” 2014, p. 205.

KB tuff (Lava flow) found in East Africa (dated: 230 myo) An alleged human ancestor was found nearby the lava flow (dated 2.61 myo) A dilemma for the evolutionists 1. How old is the lava flow? 230 million 2. The alleged human fossil is dated to be 2.61 myo 3. Which age is correct?

The KB tuff (Lava flow) is re-dated to be 2.61 myo! A new skull is found nearby and dated 1.82 myo Another dilemma for the evolutionists The KB tuff (Lava flow) is re-dated again. The new age is1.82 myo! Are the dating methods really accepted as exact methods? NO!

How Well Does It Work? “A radiometric ‘date’ for rock layers near a fossil is accepted only if it fits into the grand evolutionary scheme of things. If this is not the case then either new samples are taken or a different dating method is used. This is a situation where results are ‘interpreted’ in order to obey the evolutionary dogma.” Brandon Van Der Ventel (Ph.D. Nuclear Physics), Creation Magazine, Vol. 34 No. 4, 2012, p. 19.

Evidences for a Young Earth  Too much helium in granite rocks  Carbon-14 ratio in the atmosphere  Carbon-14 in coal and diamonds  Sodium in the oceans  Rapid disintegration of comets  Spiral galaxies  Sediments in the ocean  Decay of the Earth’s magnetic field  Radiohalos for polonium in granites  Population statistics  Recession of the moon  Too much helium in granite rocks  Carbon-14 ratio in the atmosphere  Carbon-14 in coal and diamonds  Sodium in the oceans  Rapid disintegration of comets  Spiral galaxies  Sediments in the ocean  Decay of the Earth’s magnetic field  Radiohalos for polonium in granites  Population statistics  Recession of the moon

Conclusion  All radiometric dating methods are based on assumptions.  If assumptions are accepted as true, results can be biased.  In textbooks and other journals these assumptions have not been questioned.  When the assumptions were evaluated they were shown to be faulty.  The results support a biblical model of a young earth.  All radiometric dating methods are based on assumptions.  If assumptions are accepted as true, results can be biased.  In textbooks and other journals these assumptions have not been questioned.  When the assumptions were evaluated they were shown to be faulty.  The results support a biblical model of a young earth.

What Is Carbon?  Carbon-14 is also referred to as: C-14 Radiocarbon  Types of carbon (isotopes) Atomic mass Atomic number

Cosmic Rays Collision with Earth’s upper atmosphere Some N-14 is changed into C-14 C-14 combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide (CO 2 )

Carbon-14 Life Cycle Cosmic radiation How long does this decay process take? Half-lives

Earth Science (Teachers Edition), Prentice Hall, 2002, p “Carbon-14 is very useful in dating materials from plants and animals that lived up to about 50,000 years ago.”

 The half-life of C-14 is 5,730 years.  The rate of decay is measured by how long it takes for half an element to decay (half-life). Carbon-14 and Half-Life?

Half-Life and Ratio Ratio Blue to Green = 1 to 1

Day 2 Ratio Blue to Green = 2 to 1

Day 3 Ratio Blue to Green = 4 to 1

Day 3 Ratio Blue to Green = 8 to 1

Day 4 Ratio Blue to Green = 16 to 1

Questions If everyday half the remaining green boxes change into white boxes, what is their half-life? 1 Day Assume blue and green boxes always start with a ratio of 1 to 1. You walk into a room and see 16 blue boxes and only 4 green boxes. How long has it been since they were even (1 to 1)? 2 Days

Maximum dating range about 80,000 years C-14 Half-Life Illustration Time = 0 C-14 11,460 years 2 half-life's 11,460 years 2 half-life's N-14 C-14 3/4 C-14 5,730 years 1 half-life 5,730 years 1 half-life 1/2 N-14

The Assumption The amount of C-14 being produced in the atmosphere is equal to the amount removed over a period of time. C-14 produced C-14 removed Equilibrium

30,000 Years to Equilibrium The amount being produced into the atmosphere is equal to the amount being removed through decay (steady state).

Carbon-14 and Age Dr. Willard Libby and belief The Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1960 Over 20% out of equilibrium The assumption is false 20% faster

Conclusion  It takes 30,000 years to reach equilibrium.  We are not in equilibrium.  It takes 30,000 years to reach equilibrium.  We are not in equilibrium. 1. The earth is young (less than 30,000 years. 2. The Bible is correct (a young earth). For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them,…

KB tuff found in East Africa Dated: 230myo Date agree with fossil? Alleged human ancestor found nearby Reject date No Accept date yes

Reject dateAccept date Re-date tuff to agree with fossils. New date 2.61 myo. New skull found in tuff. Skull is too modern to be older than 1.82 myo. Re-date tuff to agree with fossils. New date 1.82 myo. Are the dating methods really accepted as exact methods?