The age of the earth?

Question

Modern Geology estimates the age of the earth to be 4.5 billion years. This is not
universally accepted as fact. Would there be a conflict between the theory of Plate
Tectonics and the idea of a much younger Earth?

Answer 1

There is ZERO evidence for a young earth, and plate tectonics ONLY supports the 4.6 billion year age for the earth (which IS a universially accepted fact in the scientific community).

Earth's age is based on:

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?

Answer 2

Anyone having a different idea than around 4.5 billion years for the age of the Earth needs to show their credentials for their assertion. A good credential would be having a PhD in Physics with emphasis on radiometric decay of the elements. Anything less is merely an uneducated fool without merit. The theory of Plate Tectonics has little to do with the age of the Earth, other than it requires millions to hundreds of millions of years for a geologic process, such as building a mountain range like the Himalaya, to occur.

Answer 3

The earth is 4.5 billion years old; plate tectnonics fully accepts the earths age of being that old; as does the evolution of life

Answer 4

A recent Gallup poll concluded that nearly 50% of the American public believes the universe is less than 10,000 years old. Nearly half the population, in other words, believes that the entire universe, the sun and solar system, the Milky Way galaxy, the Andromeda galaxy, and all the billions of other galaxies, all began( according to archaeological evidence) after human biengs domesticated the dog !