K>You wrote:
S> 2. The occurrence of igneous plutons and batholiths within Phanerozoic
S> sedimentary strata of such a size as to require, using standard
S> thermodynamic calculations, that the bodies would take tens of millions
S> of years to cool (depending upon their size, of course). How does
S> one have rapid sedimentation with a thick gabbroic sill in the middle
S> of the package of sedimentary rocks?
K> Glenn has shared some of his calculation on this, and others have offered
K> alternative viewpoints. I am no geophysicist, but I know that water
K> conducts heat well, and there are many earth processes that require
K> tremendous amounts of heat. Clearly the oceans have not boiled away in
K> the past. The marine environment has been stable enough to maintain life,
K> despite extensive extinctions. And land areas (if they took tens of
K> millions of years to cool, would they be devoid of life all that time?)
K> have supported its biota as well. I don't think we have all the answers
K> about heat balance.
S> You can't address this. Fair enough but it HAS to be addressed. Where are
S> This is a real (and fatal, in my opinion) problem with your idea about a global
S> flood. Bottom line - it ain't science without the numbers.
K> True, I don't have the answers. But does lack of answers mean no science?
K> To me, it means research opportunities. The position I hold leads me to
K> suggest that calculations indicating that the oceans would boil away, etc.
K> are missing some major factors. At this point I don't know what those
K> factors are, but I am open to finding them. This is no more unscientific
K> (and possibly less unscientific) than paleontologists looking for missing
K> links, or astronomers looking for "dark matter". I have a different
K> paradigm of science, but that doesn't mean it is non-science.
No, lack of an answer doesn't mean it's not science. Of course not. But
saying:
"I know that my ideas (which are held only by those with the same religious
views I have) are absolutely correct and any data which refutes them must
be in error."
Well, that's not science. The calculations governing cooling of rock are pretty
straightforward and postulating some "missing major factors" that would overturn
all we know about thermodynamics and the laws of physics is simply wishful thinking.
- Steve.
-- Steven H. Schimmrich, Assistant Professor of Geology Department of Geology, Geography, and Environmental Studies Calvin College, 3201 Burton Street SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546 sschimmr@calvin.edu (office), schimmri@earthlink.net (home) 616-957-7053 (voice mail), 616-957-6501 (fax) http://home.earthlink.net/~schimmrich/