Radioisotopes in the Diabase Sill (Upper Precambrian) at Bass Rapids, Grand Canyon, Arizona: An Application and Test of the Isochron Dating Method | The Institute for Creation Research
 
Radioisotopes in the Diabase Sill (Upper Precambrian) at Bass Rapids, Grand Canyon, Arizona: An Application and Test of the Isochron Dating Method

Download PDFDownload Radioisotopes in the Diabase Sill (Upper Precambrian) at Bass Rapids, Grand Canyon, Arizona: An Application and Test of the Isochron Dating Method PDF

by Andrew A. Snelling, Ph.D., Steven A. Austin, Ph.D., and William A. Hoesch, M.S.

Presented at the Fifth International Conference on Creationism, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 4–9, 2003. Published in: Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Creationism, R. L. Ivey (Ed.), pp. 269–284, 2003.

© 2003 Creation Science Fellowship, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Published with permission. All rights reserved.

Abstract

The five-point Rb-Sr whole-rock isochron age of 1.07 Ga for the diabase sill at Bass Rapids, Grand Canyon, has been regarded for 20 years as an excellent example of the application of conventional radioisotopic dating. Initial thorough isotopic mixing within the sill is ideal for yielding concordant whole-rock isochron and mineral isochron ages. However, our new K-Ar, Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, and Pb-Pb radioisotope data from 11 whole-rock samples (eight diabase, three granophyre) and six mineral phases separated from one of the whole-rock diabase samples yield discordant whole-rock and mineral isochron “ages.” These isochron “ages” range from 841.5±164 Ma (whole-rock K-Ar) to 1375±170 Ma (mineral Sm-Nd). Although significant discordance exists between the K-Ar, Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, and Pb-Pb radioisotope methods, each method appears to yield concordant “ages” internally between whole rocks and minerals. Internal concordance is best illustrated by the Rb-Sr whole rock and mineral isochron “ages” of 1055±46 Ma and 1059±48 Ma, respectively. It is therefore argued that only changing radioisotope decay rates in the past could account for these discordant isochron “ages” for the same geologic event. Furthermore, these data are consistent with alpha decay having been accelerated more than beta decay, and with the longer the present halflife the greater being the acceleration factor.

Keywords

Diabase, Sill, Grand Canyon, Potassium-Argon, Rubidium-Strontium, Samarium-Neodymium, Lead-Lead, Radioisotopic Dating, Model Ages, Whole-Rock Isochron Ages, Mineral Isochron Ages, Discordance, Decay Constants, Accelerated Decay

For Full Text

Please see the Download PDF link above for the entire article.

The Latest
CREATION PODCAST
Seven Magnificent Mammals That Confirm Creation! | The Creation...
Evolutionists claim that mammals are some of the most highly evolved forms of life, but when we look at the mammals themselves, we see careful design,...

NEWS
Distant Barred Spiral Galaxy Shouldn't Exist?
Conventional theories have a difficult time accounting for the existence of a distant galaxy whose existence has been revealed by the James Webb Space...

CREATION.LIVE PODCAST
From Wimpy to Powerful! | Creation.Live Podcast: Episode 19
How can the creation message be used to empower believers? Is it even important?   Hosts Trey and Lauren are joined by...

NEWS
Being Thankful for Grace
“Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” (Romans 5:20) Thanksgiving...

NEWS
An ''Early'' Origin for Modern Echolocation in Bats
As flying mammals, bats continue to amaze zoologists with their incredible abilities.1,2 But their origin continues to be an enigma for conventional...

CREATION PODCAST
4 Undeniable Signs of a Young Solar System | The Creation Podcast:...
Many scientists claim that our solar system is 4.5 billion years old, but is that number right? Absolutely not. In fact, our solar system looks...

NEWS
Built by Homo sapiens?
Preserved wood was recently found in Kalambo Falls, Zambia, where evolutionary anthropologists from Aberystwyth University and the University of Liverpool...

NEWS
How Sunflowers ''See'' the Sun
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are not only big and beautiful, but they also have an amazing biomechanism called heliotropism. ICR’s Dr. Jim...

NEWS
November 2023 ICR Wallpaper
"While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease." Genesis...

NEWS
Salty Sweat in a Desert Plant
Although plants aren’t alive in the biblical sense,1 they are most certainly complex in their physiology and anatomy.2,3...