I. INTRODUCTION Plate tectonics and seafloor spreading are among the most significant geological processes on Earth. However, their emergence and development currently remain unresolved (Sobolev and Brown 2019). I consider that it is a vital witness to be able to provide an overall sequential biblical framework for global tectonics that can be backed up by sequential geological and stratigraphic information. A catastrophic plate tectonic (CPT) model for Noah’s Flood was put forward by young earth creationists (Austin et al. 1994; Baumgardner 1994). This was a pioneering attempt to try to tie aspects of geology together in a conceptual or theoretical physical way. However, its major limitation is its incomplete coverage in clear time order of both Scripture and specific stratigraphy. The hydroplate theory (HPT) (Brown 2008) is another such theoretical creationist theory. “Ground truthing” by way of regional case studies with specific geological formations in successive time order could improve CPT or HPT models. Relating such specific geology to each stage of the Flood recorded in Scripture, in successive time order would help. The model proposed in this paper has geological case studies in time-stratigraphic and Scripture order. This paper proposes a biblical framework which may successively explain the origin of a number of geological features. This includes successive major regional unconformities, the so-called Late Paleozoic “Ice Age”, contrasting coal floras of the Paleozoic and post-Paleozoic, Permian paleodrainage and missing sediment, the Early Triassic Coal Gap, indicators of aridity in Triassic strata, and the Mesozoic commencement of seafloor spreading along with associated tectonically quiescent passive margins. II. PREVIOUS WORK A. Earlier concepts In 1858 Antonio Snider-Pellegrini proposed that rapid, horizontal movement of continents occurred during Noah’s Flood. Snider-Pellegrini saw the evidence of the fit of continents either side of the Atlantic Ocean (Snider-Pellegrini 1858). Subsequent to Snider-Pellegrini, the theory of plate tectonics was developed but without reference to the Bible. Plate tectonics has been very useful to explain many features of today’s Earth. Continental drift was defined as the motion of continents relative to each other and even with respect to the Earth’s mantle. The concept of continental drift has become an integral part of plate tectonics, which describes the tectonic motions of the Earth’s surface in general, not only of the continents, but also of seafloor spreading. However, plates are considered to be coupled with the underlying mantle and its convection (Bercovici, 2003). Relative movement of continents is a striking feature of the Earth’s tectonic development Harry Dickens, Independent Scholar, harrydickens777@gmail.com © Cedarville University International Conference on Creationism. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of Cedarville University. 9th 2023 Dickens, H. 2023. Receding Noahic Flood Waters Led to Seafloor Spreading: A Proposed Geological Model. In J.H. Whitmore (editor), Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Creationism, pp. 446-477. Cedarville, Ohio: Cedarville University International Conference on Creationism. RECEDING NOAHIC FLOOD WATERS LED TO SEAFLOOR SPREADING: A PROPOSED GEOLOGICAL MODEL This paper makes the case that almost the entire Neoproterozoic and Phanerozoic geologic record has been impacted in some manner by the Noahic Flood and its aftermath. However, seafloor spreading, in this proposed model, is inferred to have initiated towards the end of the actual Flood Year, being enabled by the receding waters of the Flood. Material in this paper was based on a review of existing literature. Descriptions of formations in key regions were correlated in stratigraphic order with the historical stages evident from the record in the book of Genesis. This enabled a biblical young earth geological history model to be developed, including the receding waters and drying phases of the Flood Year. In a Flood Year model, I propose the following. Fountains of the great deep bursting forth in Noah’s Flood caused Neoproterozoic supercontinent fragmentation. Enormous amounts of rain eroded continental topography and stripped vegetation off the land. Much of this vegetation floated and so no major coal deposits are found in Early Paleozoic strata. After the fountains closed, waters receded. Late Paleozoic so-called “glacials” of Gondwana, instead represent a time when detritus energetically flowed with the receding waters and eroded crystalline basement in a number of regions. Waters continued to recede and so pre-Flood vegetation came to ground, and became buried in grabens that formed as the fountain zones cooled. Subsequently, major Permian and Carboniferous coal deposits formed. Phanerozoic sea level reached a major low by the end-Permian and more land emerged. Drying became widespread by the Triassic and this coincided with the initial breakup of the Pangea supercontinent. Receding seawater introduced into the top of the mantle via fountain-fragmented zones drastically lowered the melting temperature and viscosity, both of which led to supercontinent breakup and seafloor spreading in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. Passive margin sediments show little deformation during the drift phase and so are not indicative of continual cataclysmic processes. However, active margins such as collisional, mountain-building margins were sites of catastrophic processes and regions of great runoff of detritus to form thick sedimentary sequences on the continents. ABSTRACT KEYWORDS Noahic Flood, receding waters, Late Paleozoic “Ice Age”, drying, breakup, seafloor spreading, Gondwana, Laurasia.
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