Edited by Greg Neyman
Argument:
The conventional K-Ar dating method was applied to the 1986 dacite flow from the new lava dome at Mount St. Helens, Washington. The whole-rock age was 0.35 +/- 0.05 million years (Mya). Ages for component minerals varied from 0.34 +/- 0.06 Mya to 2.8 +/- 0.6 Mya. These ages show that the K-Ar method is invalid.
Source: Austin,
Steven A., 1996. Excess argon within mineral concentrates from the New
Dacite Lava Dome at Mount St. Helens volcano. Creation Ex Nihilo
Technical Journal 10(3): 335-343; icr.org/index.php?module=research&action=index&page=researchp_sa_r01
Response:
Austin knowingly sent his samples to a laboratory that clearly states that their equipment cannot accurately measure samples less than two million years old. In other words, he knew in advance that the dates would be bad. A normal geologist would have recognized the limitations of the lab and made adjustments for it...he would not have made the same mistake that Austin committed willfully
Since Austin misused the measurement technique, he should have expected inaccurate results, therefore the reason the dates failed is his fault, not the K-Ar dating method
Austin admitted that his samples were not homogeneous. Any xenocrysts in the samples would make the samples appear older. Since he knew this in advance, he knew this would lead to false dates. A normal geologist would have taken steps to eliminate this problem before sending the sample to the lab
For more Reading:
Young-Earth Creationist 'Dating' of a Mt. St. Helens Dacite
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.
Are you a Christian who believes in young earth creationism? Now that we have shown the many difficulties of the young earth creation science model in this and many other articles, how does this impact your Christian life? If you are a young earth creationism believer, click here.
Young Earth Creation Science Argument Index
Related Articles
To learn more
about old earth creationism, see
Old Earth Belief,
or check out the article
Can You Be A
Christian and Believe in an Old Earth?
Feel free to check out more of this website. Our goal is to
provide rebuttals to the bad science behind young earth creationism,
and honor God by properly presenting His creation.