The Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Creationism (2018)

of “age” < 0.6 Ga (Brown 2007). It has been claimed that there are no ophiolites or blueschists in rocks older than Neoproterozoic (Hamilton 2011). There is a large zircon “age” peak in the late Neoproterozoic geology of North America and all continents (Bradley 2011; Condie 2018; O’Neill et al. 2013; Voice et al. 2011) (Fig. 2). DISCUSSION 1. Radiometric “age” dates and heating events There are regional patterns in radiometric dates that can be systematically related to different Precambrian geological provinces (Fig. 1). A relative time sequence of geological formations can be deduced from Precambrian rocks using observable measurable data such as field relationships and isotopic ratios. However, interpretation of the absolute age of formations is debatable, based on uniformitarian assumptions on matters such as process rates. Granitoid rocks are key targets for radiometric dating as they commonly contain zircon. Deep-time is not necessary for the generation of granitic magmas and their subsequent intrusion, crystallization, and cooling. Crystallization and cooling would be facilitated by hydrothermal convective circulation (Snelling 2008). The growth of large crystals from magmas within hours has now been experimentally determined (London 1992). Zircon ages do not usually correspond to peak metamorphism but instead provide information on the history of cooling from high temperatures, including the timing and rates of exhumation of the deep hot roots (foundations) of mountain chains (Harley et al. 2007). “Age” peaks are associated with major tectonic and magmatic events, including inferred addition of new continental crust, orogeny (mountain building), voluminous high temperature volcanism, massive mantle depletion, and mineralization (O’Neill et al. 2013). Continental crust has been said to be the archive of the “deep-time” geological history of the Earth (Hawkesworth et al. 2010; Roberts and Spencer 2015). “For a fire is kindled by my anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol, devours the earth and its increase, and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains ” (Deuteronomy 32:22 ESV). God is said to have set on fire the foundations of the mountains. Whether this particular verse is literal or poetic, God is certainly capable of literally setting on fire the foundations of the mountains. Consistent with this, mineral assemblages provide evidence of ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism (900 0 C-1100 0 C) during mountain building (Harley et al. 2007). In addition, the day of the Lord described in 2 Peter 3 has repeated references to the effect of heat. Four heating events (Kenoran, Hudsonian, Grenvillian and Pan-African) (Fig. 2) are believed to be key to the creation of Precambrian stratigraphy in North America. I propose that God supernaturally instigated heating episodes (thermal-tectonic events) which drove cataclysmic geological processes around the globe. That is, I propose that the geological work which took place on each of Day One, Day Two and the earlier part of Day Three was the result of divine actions involving three global heating episodes. Each heating event would have reset the “ages” to lower values. Thus, Precambrian crystalline basement rocks, with their radiogenic “age” clusters, are considered to be geoscientific evidence of the Creator’s actions in early Creation Week. In addition, Noah’s Flood is considered to have been initiated by God causing the mantle to heat in a fourth global heating episode and so drive out water to the Earth’s surface. The subsequent rain eroded the land, the resulting detritus was entrained in flowing water and sedimentary cover sequences were then deposited over crystalline basement. For by him [Jesus] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17 ESV). “All” includes atoms. Therefore, Jesus (by whom the universe was created) could also allow atoms to transform or transmute, for both creative purposes (such as growth of continental crust in the early Creation Week) and destructive purposes (such as flooding the whole Earth in Noah’s time). It is suggested that episodes of accelerated radioactive decay may have provided the heat source for thermal-tectonic events which drove cataclysmic geological processes around the globe. This decay acceleration would also give the appearance of enormous age, since radiometric “clocks” would have ticked faster (Vardiman et al. 2003). However, the original radiometric “age” for the Earth (ca 4.6 Ga) is based on meteorites and may actually be an artefact of isotopic ratios from the beginning of Creation (Snelling 2015). In either case, subsequent heating events would have reset the “ages” to lower values. Such thermal resetting of radiometric ages is described in the literature (e.g., Harley et al. 2007; Nyquist et al. 1991). Regional patterns of radiometric ages are correlatable with field relationships mapped on a province scale (Fig. 2). It has been estimated that the early Earth had a greater quantity of radionuclides, resulting in greater amounts of interior heat and that radiogenic heat production declined at a geometric rate throughout the Archean so that lithosphere thickness probably increased with time as the actual amount of heat decreased (Frazier and Schwimmer 1987). Higher temperature conditions are indicated by the presence of komatiite in Archean provinces. An overall cooling Earth would have influenced the depths and hence the geochemical signatures at which melt generation takes place, as well as the rheology of the crust and lithosphere which in turn would have influenced tectonic processes. In addition, the lithosphere is believed to have thickened and crustal reworking increased, resulting in higher erosion fluxes and changes in ocean chemistry (Hawkesworth et al. 2016). It is suggested that heating events drove cataclysmic geologic processes during the early part of the Creation Week Days One to Three, fashioning the land to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18) while avoiding damage to life created on Days Five and Six. This fits the model proposed, with radioisotope ages indicating relative order and rocks being rapidly ‘aged’ during the early Creation week through the Archean-Mesoproterozoic (Dickens and Snelling 2008). Dickens ◀ North American Precambrian geology ▶ 2018 ICC 393