Counsels on Christian Worldview

Counsel #9 — Implications Of No Bioturbation

Picture: Counsel #9 — Implications Of No Bioturbation CCW 146.1

In Arizona and Utah, USA, the lower Mesozoic Moenkopi Formation lies just below the Shinarump Formation covering about 150,000 square miles. If radiometric dates are correct, the Moenkopi Formation had its surface exposed for about 15 million years before the Shinarump Formation was deposited on top. If that much time had passed, the Moenkopi surface should be heavily bioturbated and eroded into an uneven, channeled surface. While the Shinarump did carve a few channels into the Moenkopi, as one would expect from a catastrophe, most of the contact between the two formations is very flat and undisturbed, with almost no bioturbation. This evidence indicates that there was almost no time between the deposition of the two formations, due to rapid processes during the flood. This conclusion also applies to many other flat contacts, called paraconformities, between rock layers. Some paraconformities are thought to represent up to 150 million years of time before being covered by the next rock layer, but there is essentially no evidence in the rocks to indicate the passing of time.^[220] CCW 146.2

“The depths of the sea were exposed; the inner regions of the world were uncovered by your battle cry, Lord, by the powerful breath from your nose.” Psalms 18:15 CCW 146.3

“Jets of water burst from the earth with indescribable force, throwing massive rocks hundreds of feet into the air, and these, in falling, buried themselves deep in the ground.” Ellen White in Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 99 CCW 146.4

Reflect: How does the potential implications of a global flood event impact your understanding of Earth's history and the origin of life? CCW 146.5