Creation Science Rebuttals

Institute for Creation Research

ICR Claim about Fast Ascending Magmas

ICR News, 13 September 2013

First Published 25 Sep 2013

In a web article dated 13 September 2013, the Institute for Creation Research claimed that new scientific discoveries about fast rising magma from the earth’s mantle prove that the earth is young (Express-Lane Magma Indicates Young Earth, by Tim Clarey).¹

The scientific study found that magma travelled at 150 to 300 feet per day (and possibly as fast as several thousand feet per day). Scientists have known for many years that magma ascends from deep within the earth, and these magmas result in volcanic eruptions, as well as large bodies of granitic rock throughout the world. As ICR states,

“However, for many decades, most uniformitarian scientists advocated slow-moving, slow-cooling magmas that inched their way to the surface over thousands or even millions of years. The present study smashes this ingrained myth, replacing it with evidence of a more rapid, "catastrophic" magma ascent.”

Following this statement, ICR mentions two claims. First, they mention the granites in the Front Range of Colorado and in the mountains of British Columbia. Second, they mention the Sierra Nevada batholiths in California.

There are several problems with ICR’s comparison. The study examined rocks from andesitic eruptions, i.e. where there were actual eruptions on the earth’s surface, forming the rock andesite. These two examples (Front Range of Colorado and the Sierra Nevada) refer to rocks known as granites, which formed underground from molten rock, which solidified, and then was subsequently exposed due to erosion. In other words, we are talking rocks with different chemical compositions, and different cooling profiles (underground vs. surface), so we are talking apples and oranges. FYI, the intrusive version of andesite is called diorite, and the extrusive version of granite is called rhyolite.

Let's disregard this discrepancy, and look at the claim that the earth is young because of this rapid ascent rate of magma (although the title uses the word "indicate," the final paragraph states "The reality is that volcanoes and magmas can form and move rapidly, a fact that confirms the youthful age of the earth spelled out in the book of Genesis." (emphasis added))

The fact that magma can rise rapidly is not much of a surprise to geologists who believe the earth is old. The earth's interior is a hot, fluid place. Hot spot volcanoes, such as those in Hawaii, indicate that we have fast-rising magma. The fact that we have fast-rising magma associated with a shield volcano, as indicated by this new study, is not a problem for old earth geology. New techniques, such as the one used in this study, are increasing geologists' knowledge of the processes that God put in place for form our wonderful planet.

The author mentions another young earth claim, stating,

based on this newer ascension-rate data, even extensive granitic batholiths, like the Sierra Nevadas, could have formed in just over 1,000 years.

Yes, this would fit within the 6,000 year old earth as proposed by young earth creationists. YEC's need magma to rise quickly, so that it has more time to cool. However, the author is once again comparing apples and oranges. The study that this is based on examined rocks from an actual volcanic eruption. The Sierra Nevada batholith is a very large body of rock which cooled underground.

Just because magma can rise quickly, and according to their claims, cool quickly, has no bearing on the age of the earth. Yes, some magmas can rise quickly, but that does not mean ALL magmas rise quickly. Bottom line...slow moving magma bodies do not prove that the earth is old, and fast moving magma does not prove that the earth is young.

¹ Brian Thomas, Express-Lane Magma Indicates Young Earth, ICR website.

If you are not a Christian, and you have been holding out on making a decision for Christ because the Church always preached a message that was contrary to what you saw in the scientific world, then rest assured that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, and you can believe in Christ and receive salvation, while still believing in an old earth. Click here for more.

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