Thunderbolts.info <../../../aroleforyou.htm> home <../../../home.htm> • picture of the day <../../00current.htm> • thunderblogs <../../../thunderblogs/index.htm> • predictions <../../../predictions.htm> • resources <../../../resources.htm> • forum <../../../thunderbolts_forum.htm> • updates <../../../progress.htm> • contact us • support us picture of the day chronological archive <../../00archive.htm> subject archive <../../00subjectx.htm> Layering through the Kaibab Plateau is visible in this image of the Grand Canyon. Gradualism Versus Catastrophism Part Two *Apr 29, 2011* *Does the position of geologic strata determine age?* In part one of this article, a reference to laboratory experiments that falsify the consensus view of sediment deposition mentioned that fossil ages could not be reliably determined based on the so-called "geologic column." The geologic column is defined as a series of depositional layers that form a chronological sequence. It is also called the "stratigraphical column." Considering the position of fossils in rock strata, the following sequence is generally accepted: _ERA_ _PERIOD_ _EPOCH_ _END DATE IN MILLION YEARS_ Quaternary Holocene Pleistocene Tertiary (Cenozoic) Pliocene 2 Miocene Oligocene Eocene Jurassic 135 Triassic 190 Primary (Paleozoic) Permian 225 Carboniferous 280 Devonian 345 Silurian 395 Ordovician 440 Cambrian 500 Precambrian 570 Thus, the extinction of the dinosaurs is said to have taken place over 135 million years ago. However, the popular notion that the geologic column represents vast periods of time is being questioned by a number of geologists who realize that it most likely results from a series of catastrophic events. Nicolaus Steno is often said to be the father of geology. His "principle of superposition" influences geologists to this day, even though it was formulated in the late 1600s. In many ways it seems to be completely straight forward, but only now is it recognized that it was not based on experiments but on field observation. "At the time when any given stratum was being formed, all the matter resting upon it was fluid, and, therefore, at the time when the lower stratum was being formed, none of the upper strata existed." In February 2000, Guy Berthault wrote _a paper_ in which he described several experiments that analyzed the hydraulic processes involved with sedimentary layering. His conclusions were subsequently published in /Lithology and Mineral Resources/, Vol. 37, No. 5. Under conditions of constant flow rate and a continuous supply of particles, he discovered that a mixture of coarse and fine particles would separate into thin laminations. Material flowing through a flume under simulated flood conditions created a downstream deposit that sorted into several horizontal strata that continued to build up on the advancing face. The unusual aspect to the deposition of particles is that each layer was composed of laminations younger than those farther back. Rather than top stratum being younger than the bottom, all strata were deposited simultaneously in a horizontal fashion. As the paper states: "Superposed strata are not, therefore, necessarily identical to successive sedimentary layers." Another problem with the superposed strata theory is speed of erosion. The current weathering rate for the continental shelves is thought to be six centimeters per thousand years. Therefore, in less than 10 million years today's continental shelves will erode away. The difficulty with that assessment is that sediments hundreds of millions of years old are on top of all the continental shelves. How can this be when that material should have all washed away in the Cenozoic era? Since rock layers are often dated by the type of fossil contained within them, and experiments reveal that the deposition of sediments containing pre-fossil skeletons can no longer be based on the principle of superposition, then rock layers can no longer be dated in that way. Another problem with gradualism in geology is the radiometric dating of rocks. Rocks are typically dated using the principle of constant radioactive isotope decay rates and an assumption of the estimated original isotope ratios. The oldest rocks are dated using the uranium/lead half-life ratios. When rocks form, they contain a certain percentage of elements. Zircon contains uranium and thorium atoms, but no lead. Therefore, the assumption is that all the lead in zircon must be radiogenic. This idea depends on a uniform, gradual process free of sudden alteration. If the decay rates of various elements can be altered by external influences, then the percentage formulae that indicate a sample's age are unreliable. "There has been in recent years the horrible realization that radiodecay rates are not as constant as previously thought, nor are they immune to environmental influences. And this could mean that the atomic clocks are reset during some global disaster, and events which brought the Mesozoic to a close may not be 65 million years ago but, rather, within the age and memory of man." Fred Jueneman, FAIC, /Industrial Research & Development/, p.21, June 1982. A foundation of Electric Universe theory is the flow of electricity through space and the catastrophic influence it had on planets and moons in the recent past. Whatever phenomenon it was, within the recorded history of humanity a great cataclysm engulfed the Earth. Canyons were blasted out, mountains raised, ocean basins shifted, and great swathes of plants, animals, and people obliterated in the blink of an eye. Those enormous energies, the rearrangement of the topography, and the intense radiation make it impossible to assign any measure of antiquity. Repeated and rapid sedimentation that hardened to stone in mere minutes, fossilizing its burden of organic detritus, means that what is visible on the surface might be the same age as what lies beneath. Stephen Smith Hat tip to Mel Acheson ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * New DVD* The Lightning-Scarred Planet Mars A video documentary that could change everything you thought you knew about ancient times and symbols. In this second episode of Symbols of an Alien Sky, David Talbott takes the viewer on an odyssey across the surface of Mars. Exploring feature after feature of the planet, he finds that only electric arcs could produce the observed patterns. The high resolution images reveal massive channels and gouges, great mounds, and crater chains, none finding an explanation in traditional geology, but all matching the scars from electric discharge experiments in the laboratory. (Approximately 85 minutes) Video Selections <../../../online_videos.htm> Order Link ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "The Cosmic Thunderbolt " YouTube video, first glimpses of Episode Two in the "Symbols of an Alien Sky" series. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ And don't forget: "The Universe Electric " Three ebooks in the Universe Electric series are now available . Consistently praised for easily understandable text and exquisite graphics. SITE SEARCH Thunderbolts whole site Tpods only Thunderblogs only Forum only Holoscience (Thornhill) Web Search powered by Scroogle using SSL encryption for your privacy SUBSCRIBE FREE update - Weekly digest of Picture of the Day, Thunderblog, Forum, Multimedia and more. *** NEW DVD *** /Symbols of an Alien Sky/ Selections Playlist E-BOOKS An e-book series for teachers, general readers and specialists alike. VIDEO (FREE viewing) /Thunderbolts of the Gods/ PREDICTIONS Follow the stunning success <../../../predictions.htm> of the Electric Universe in predicting the 'surprises' of the space age. MULTIMEDIA Our multimedia page <../../../online_videos.htm> explores many diverse topics, including a few not covered by the Thunderbolts Project. OUR VISITORS: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Authors David Talbott and Wallace Thornhill introduce the reader to an age of planetary instability and earthshaking electrical events in ancient times. If their hypothesis is correct, it could not fail to alter many paths of scientific investigation. More info Professor of engineering Donald Scott systematically unravels the myths of the "Big Bang" cosmology, and he does so without resorting to black holes, dark matter, dark energy, neutron stars, magnetic "reconnection", or any other fictions needed to prop up a failed theory. More info In language designed for scientists and non-scientists alike, authors Wallace Thornhill and David Talbott show that even the greatest surprises of the space age are predictable patterns in an electric universe. More info ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Disclaimer* The opinions expressed in the Thunderbolts Picture Of the Day are those of the authors of the material, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Thunderbolts Project. The linking to material off-site in no way endorses such material and the Thunderbolts Project has no control of nor takes any responsibility for any content on linked sites. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *EXECUTIVE EDITORS:* David Talbott, Wallace Thornhill *MANAGING EDITORS:* Steve Smith *CONTRIBUTING EDITORS:* Mel Acheson, Michael Armstrong, Dwardu Cardona, Ev Cochrane, C.J. Ransom, Don Scott, Rens van der Sluijs, Ian Tresman *WEBMASTER:* Brian Talbott * © Copyright 2011: thunderbolts.info* [ top <#top> ] thunderbolts.info home <../../../home.htm> • picture of the day <../../00current.htm> • thunderblogs <../../../thunderblogs/index.htm> • multimedia <../../../online_videos.htm> • resources <../../../resources.htm> • forum <../../../thunderbolts_forum.htm> • updates <../../../progress.htm> • contact us • support us