2006-09-01 02:36:54 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
4 1/2 Billion years, based on several things:
1) dating meteorites. When we find a meteorite from this solar system that has a similar composition to earth, you get many young ages, but the oldest and most common date to 4.6 Ga (billion years).
2) isotope trends. When you look at certain radiogenic isotope ratios that change with time, like Rb/Sr or U/Pb, you find that many rocks with differnt ratios of many ages form a line, and the line traces back to an origin of 4.6 Ga as well.
The oldest life is 3 1/2 Ga, the oldest rock is about 4 Ga, and the oldest date ever found is on the highly durable mineral Zircon from Australia, it's date is 4.2 Ga. So, there is no direct method, it is based on inferences. However, many different inferences lead to the same number 4.559 Ga (to be specific).
You would have to throw out everything we know and love about Geology to accept a young earth view. When you look at the Grand Canyon, how can you say that only took 6000 years to form?
2006-09-01 04:08:52 · answer #1 · answered by QFL 24-7 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About 4 and a half billion, if you believe current scientific evidence. If you don't, you can say it's as old or as young as you like. I think it was created the day before I was born, and nobody will convince me otherwise. I am the reason for the universe existing. Feel free to worship me.
2006-09-01 09:43:48 · answer #2 · answered by Oracle Of Delphi 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Earth is believed to have formed around 4.57 billion years ago.
However it is still not a fact because there is still not enough information about that. That is the point of science. Religion has got another :)
2006-09-01 09:55:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The world is exactly the same age as .........you. !
If we accept that the human is made up of substances from the earth(the world) then it stands to reason that we are all billions of years old as well.
2006-09-04 06:08:22 · answer #4 · answered by Jon H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The world is very old it has been through a lot of different atmospheric weathering and changes....it is 4.6 billion years old.
2006-09-01 12:33:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not so much how long the Grand Canyon too to form , but also how long it took the rocks that the canyon itself is made from to accumulate.
2006-09-01 12:31:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
around 6000 years...we are living the end before the new millennium of peace
2006-09-05 09:21:16 · answer #7 · answered by Mohamed 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
4.57 billion years old
2006-09-01 09:39:05 · answer #8 · answered by cp 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Older than what my eyes can see and older than what my conceptualization can understand.
2006-09-01 17:08:05 · answer #9 · answered by rice riceissonice 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
millions............
2006-09-01 09:38:58 · answer #10 · answered by Pakode 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋