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Precambrian geology and the Bible: a harmony Harry Dickens and Andrew A. Snelling
The Precambrian record is a rich one. This paper seeks to harmonise that record with the biblical record. We do not subscribe to macro-evolutionary palaeontology and millions of years. Nevertheless, we believe much valuable work has been done in the secular realm in mapping and describing rock sequences, and that interpretations of the relative order of events can often be useful. Thus radiometric ages referred to are not regarded as absolute but rather as relative. Correlation of the Precambrian record around the world, as with other strata, is based primarily on the superpositional order mapped in the field, as well as by radiometric dating. Key times in the early biblical record, with significant geological implications believed by the authors to relate to early (Precambrian) times, are Creation Days 1 to 4, antediluvian times and the early Noahic Flood.
The Precambrian record and granitic intrusions, along with greenstone belts (belts of mildly metamorphosed volcanic—mainly komatiite and he Precambrian may be divided1 into the Archean basalt—and associated sedimentary rocks). Komatiite, a (2,500 Ma+) and Proterozoic (542–2,500 Ma) Eons. T high magnesium basalt (ultramafic volcanic) formed at high The Proterozoic Eon may be further subdivided into the temperature, is characteristic of the Archean. The Archean Paleoproterozoic (1,600–2,500 Ma), Mesoproterozoic 4 dominated by basaltic and sodium-rich granitic (1,000–1,600 Ma) and Neoproterozoic (542–1,000 Ma) Eras crust is (Table 1). Each subdivision of the Precambrian geologic rocks. Sodium-rich granites indicate a greater mantle source record has its own characteristics. than later potassium-rich granites. The minimal development of carbonates and quartz Precambrian shields comprise the cores of the continents 5 and extend under Phanerozoic cover sequences. The shields arenites implies a lack of stable shelf areas during consist of Archean cratons welded together and surrounded Archean time in North America. Sedimentation in the by Proterozoic orogens (ancient mountain belts). Figure 1 is Canadian Shield during Archean time was dominated by a map of the world showing areas where Precambrian rocks the resedimented (turbidite) facies association of submarine are exposed at the surface. The Phanerozoic represents the fans—greywacke, mudstone-siltsone and conglomerate. record during which abundant animal life appeared in the Archean sedimentary rocks consist largely of greywacke— geologic record and when diverse hard-shelled animals an immature sandstone containing abundant mafic minerals first appeared. like hornblende and biotite. 6 The following is a brief description of the key lithologic The Archean was the principal period for gold features of the major periods in the Precambrian. mineralisation. Most major lode deposits formed in the late Archean (2.7±0.2 Ga). This corresponded to the principal Archean time of crustal thickening and stabilisation, and was Radiometric dating2 of a zircon grain from the Jack Hills associated with the formation of granulite, the anhydrous, area of the Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia has yielded refractory base for the crust. the date of 4.4 Ga. Analysis suggested that the early Earth, For some years Precambrian stromatolites (structures instead of being a boiling ocean of magma, was cool enough that are wavy and laminated in fine-scale) have usually to have water, continents and exhibited conditions that could been interpreted as the fossilised remains of communities of have supported life. This also challenges common views cyanobacteria and single-celled algae. However, Archean of an early Earth with intense meteorite bombardment, and stromatolite-like structures may lack evidence of the an origin of the Moon by a Mars-sized body impacting the microorganisms which are supposed to have constructed Earth blasting off pieces of the infant planet into space. them. There is also evidence of carbonate precipitation Archean cratons (continental areas which have not been during the Precambrian which resulted in some very substantially shortened or stretched since 2.5 Ga) may have stromatolite-like structures.7 Abiotic models for the origin cold mantle roots3 that extend twice as deep (to about 200 of Archean stromatolite-like structures have been put km) as the lithosphere beneath younger continental crust forward.8,9 The Proterozoic rock record contains abundant and thermally mature ocean basins. Evidence in favour of limestone and associated stromatolites. The appearance of this includes the correlation of Archean cratons with areas widespread stromatolitic carbonates at about 2,300 Ma has of high shear-wave velocities, low surface heat flow and been said10 to separate the Archean from the Proterozoic. high lithospheric flexural rigidities. The earlier Archean (3,550+ Ma) has been inferred11 to Rocks of the Archean Eon consist mainly of gneisses be characterised by a global ocean, vertical tectonics, high (highly metamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary rocks) radiogenic heat flow, a hot hydrosphere, granulite facies
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Table 1. Summary correlation of Precambrian geology and the Bible.
Precambrian Key Lithologies/ Other Comments Bible Events and Some Key Subdivisions Sequences Description Verses Neoproterozoic Era Ediacaran fauna above Canyons. Early Noahic Flood: Genesis 7, 8 Mixtites Mass flow deposits at Fountains active, Proverbs 3:20, all latitudes. torrential rain. 2 Peter 3:6 Global marine transgression. Rifting, fracturing. Later Mesoproterozoic Era Possibly deltaic and river Preservation of such Antediluvian: Genesis deposits in rift sutures. soft sediments in the Rivers. 2:10–11 Noahic Flood would Pure gold in land of require downfaulting Havilah. and burial. High mountains. Genesis 7:19 Earlier Mesoproterozoic Era Basalt, gabbro- anorthosite, Rifting Day 3: Land separated Genesis 1:9–10 red bed sediments from seas. Latest Paleoproterozoic Biggest magmatic Just prior to Day 3 processes Earliest Paleoproterozoic Giant placer deposits. Gold-bearing Day 2: Waters above Genesis 1:6–8 and below separated.
Archean Eon to BIF sequences generally Paleoproterozoic Era lie unconformably on older sequences (e.g. peneplained Archean cratons). Global ocean
Archean Eon Granite-greenstone-gneiss. Archean stromatolites Day 1: Earth without Genesis 1:2–3 Komatiites. possibly inorganic, form ... void at sites of upwelling Shelf deposits lacking. springs. Especially if one infers that there was no life, even cyanobacteria, before Day 3. (Genesis 1:11–12) Global ocean metamorphism and intensive volcanic activity. Gneiss fold fractures formed allowing magma to enter (for example, the ovals 100 to 800 km across occur. Other characteristics Widgiemooltha Dyke suite of Western Australia). include high grade metamorphosed volcanics of basic Localities of later Archean sequences include11 and partly ultrabasic composition, mature sedimentary Swaziland Supergroup (Africa), Abitibi Belt (Canada), rocks such as quartzite and the absence of organic remains Karelia and Kola Peninsular (Russia), Ukrainian Shield, (biogenic structures). Kalgoorlie and Pilbara Supergroups (Western Australia). 11 Localities of earlier Archean sequences include the Greywackes were subjected to reworking by weathering gneiss of Kola Peninsular (Russia), Karnataca (India), processes so that mafic minerals were gradually destroyed, Western Greenland, Canadian Shield, Itamaca Complex leaving behind more resistant quartz and feldspar in the early (Venezuela), Barberton (Swaziland) and Mt Narryer Proterozoic sedimentary record. It has been inferred that (Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia). 11 vast cratons with extensive passive margins had developed The later Archean (~2,800–3,550 Ma) is characterised 12 by a platform-geosynclinal stage; greenschist and in the Proterozoic. amphibolite facies metamorphism; varied sedimentary- Repetitious turbidites and volcaniclastics that dominate volcanogenic strata; ‘the first determinable organic the Archean give way in the Proterozoic to a wide variety remains’—stromatolites, oncolites; mantled gneiss domes; of sedimentary rock types. This variety reflects numerous three successive groups of supracrustals/greenstones sedimentary environments, some marine, some continental (ultramafic-mafic, calc-alkaline and sedimentary strata). and some transitional environments, such as beaches, tidal The late Archean ending with crust so rigid that large flats and deltas.13
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The change from Archean to Proterozoic tectonic Mesoproterozoic regimes occurred14 between 2,700 and 2,500 Ma, and was The Mesoproterozoic was21 the Era of the formation of accompanied by extensive magmatic activity. the first identifiable supercontinent, Rodinia. A case has been Banded iron formations (BIFs, consisting of bands put for a configuration of a Rodinia supercontinent during of iron oxide and chert) are concentrated in the upper the Proterozoic that puts the southwest margin of North Archean and Paleoproterozoic.15 Major BIFs generally lie America adjacent to the eastern margin of Australia.22 unconformably on older sequences14 such as peneplained In the mid-Proterozoic (1.7 to 1.2 Ga)23 major abortive Archean cratons or Paleoproterozoic clastic sequences that rifting gave rise to anorogenic sodic anorthosites and commonly contain placer gold. In Western Australia, the rapakivi granites. The Mesoproterozoic Midcontinent rift Hamersley Basin lies unconformably on the Archean North system in North America is described24 as a classic example Pilbara Terrane.16 Other parts of the world with significant 14 of an aborted continental rift or intracratonic rift. Felsic BIFs include Transvaal Basin (South Africa), Marquette volcanism, subsidence and sedimentation followed the Lake Superior (North America), Krivoy Rog (Ukraine) and eruption of voluminous flood basalts. Quadrilaterro Ferrifero (Brazil). 17 Most of the world’s major base metal ore deposits of The case has been put for the ‘rapid’ (similar to or faster Proterozoic age25 can be placed within a lithotectonic setting than the rate of deposition of modern pelagic sediments) framed by rifting events. Mid-Proterozoic giant lead and rather than gradual (millions of years) origin of BIFs zinc deposits (such as Mt Isa, Hilton, H.Y.C. and Broken during a large tectono-magmatic event in the Hamersley Hill in Australia, and Sullivan in Canada) were formed by Basin of Western Australia. A largely hydrothermal origin episodic dewatering of sedimentary basins.26 for mineralisation is consistent with interpretations that The Mesoproterozoic Era was the high point of the the biosphere contained significant oxygen at the time of 21 18 stromatolites, huge mushroom or tree-like colonies mineralisation. of bacteria. Multicelled algae first appeared in the Paleoproterozoic Mesoproterozoic.27 The Mesoproterozoic Era is characterised11 by various A number of impact structures have been found in the platform and geosynclinal strata. Red beds, red terrigenous Paleoproterozoic. The Vredefort Impact Structure in South rocks, basalt flows and dolerite sills are abundant among 19 Africa is believed to be the oldest (2 Ga) and largest impact platform strata. Sedimentary iron ores of the sheet (Urals) structure (estimated 250–300 km diameter original crater) type are present. Phytolites occur in carbonate rocks and in the world. The Sudbury Impact Structure in Canada is acritarchs in terrigenous rocks. similar in size (estimated 200 km diameter original crater) Locations with Mesoproterozoic to latest Paleoproterozoic 20 and age (1.85 Ga). The Shoemaker Impact Structure, sequences include11 the South Urals, Baikal mountains and the oldest Australian impact structure to date (1.63 Ga), the Aldan Shield (Russia), northern China, Hindustan is located on the southern margin of the Paleoproterozoic Peninsular (India), North American Cordilleras, Canadian Eeraheedy Basin, Western Australia and is approximately Shield, Kimberley (Western Australia), Tanzania, southeast 30 km in diameter. Zaire, Algeria, Namibia, Bangemall Basin (Western The earlier Paleoproterozoic (1,900–2,500 Ma) is Australia), Katherine-Darwin, McArthur Basin and Mount characterised by11 terrigenous molasse-like strata, local Isa Belt (northern Australia) red beds, flyschoid terrigenous or terrigenous-carbonate strata, quartzite-slate and dolomite strata with local thick Neoproterozoic horizons of jaspilite, quartzite, carbonates with stromatolites A case has been put28 for a single Proterozoic and jaspilite. At the Archean boundary there are volcanics, supercontinent—both the polarities and positions of the terrigenous strata including three horizons of ‘tillite’, and Proterozoic paleopoles from the major shields conform gold-uranium conglomerates (Witwatersrand). to a single apparent polar wandering (APW) path Localities with earlier Paleoproterozoic sequences using a unique reconstruction. Peripheral parts of this include11 the Karelian Supergroup, Kola Peninsular (Russia), supercontinent appear to have broken up without major Krivoy Rog (Ukraine), Southeast Hindustan (India), Lake separation 1,100 Ma ago, and the central parts broke up Huron, Labrador (Canadian Shield), Wyoming (USA), at the beginning of Cambrian times with the formation Minas Gerais (Brazil), South Africa, Kimberley (Western of a large ocean basin between the Gondwanaland and Australia) and Pine Creek (northern Australia). Laurentian, Fennoscandian and Siberian Shields. Both of The latest Paleoproterozoic (1,600–1,900 Ma) had11 these episodes are characterised by widespread rifting and the biggest magmatic processes (and associated fractures alkaline magmatism. in every continent) in Earth history. It is characterised The most specific and typical feature of the by magmatic rocks with a wide scattering of radiometric Neoproterozoic below the Ediacaran (i.e. 630–1,000 Ma) is11 dates. Igneous rocks include basalt, acid volcanics and the occurrence of ‘glaciogene’ rocks from two stratigraphic comagmatic subvolcanic and hypabyssal intrusions of levels. The upper ‘glacial’ is usually overlain by sediments granite and syenite. Its continental (essentially volcanogenic with a higher concentration of barium. The lower ‘glacial’ and clastic) strata lack organic remains. is commonly associated with sheet deposits of iron ores and
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Columbia and Newfoundland (Canada), south Norway, Byelorussia and middle Ural. Some Neoproterozoic diamictite-bearing sequences that were the products of debris flows and mass flows may represent the fallout of ballistic ejecta.33 In the South Australian Neoproterozoic (600 Ma) the Acraman impact structure has been correlated34 with the Bunyeroo ejecta horizon using palaeomagnetic data, similarity of lithologies, and U-Pb zircon ages. In South Australia’s Neoproterozoic at or near the base of the Wonoka Formation there is a series of spectacular canyons or incised valleys, some more than 1 km deep.35 It Figure 1. Map of the world showing Precambrian rocks exposed at the surface. (After Levin46). is said that the canyons formed after an interval of continental basic volcanics. ‘Glaciogenic’ rocks commonly have direct rifting between 800–700 Ma. In eastern California in the contact with hot climate strata enclosing redbeds, dolomite Ediacaran there occur36 deep incised valleys in the upper and limestone with phytolites. In addition, these ‘glacials’ Johnnie Formation. have a global-scale distribution irrespective of latitude. Neoproterozoic mixtites/‘glacials’ are found at a variety Many newly formed geosynclines were situated on the of locations worldwide including11,32 Kimberley, Central margins of the continents. Continental rifting cut across all Australia and Adelaide Geosyncline (Australia), Cordilleran earlier tectonic grain, initiated the Cordilleran geosyncline, and Appalachian Geosynclines (North America), West and gave birth to the EoPacific separating North America Africa, Kazakhstan, China and Caledonian Geosyncline and Asia. This was contemporaneous with the Pan-African (Europe and Greenland). 29 thermal convulsion. The Ediacaran Period is characterised11 by platform, Compared to inferred glacial formations of the Early rare geosynclinal terrigenous and/or carbonate sediments Proterozoic, Paleozoic and Pleistocene, the supposed glacial 30 containing Ediacara fauna remains, calcareous algae, worm formations of the Late Proterozoic present aberrant features imprints and various phytolites. There is evidence of a indicating a different geotectonic, tectonosedimentary, and large marine transgression in many parts of the world. In climatic framework. They are mostly found in geosynclines the Ediacaran Period the earliest fossils of multicelled life where they may be very thick. They are associated with are found, including the earliest animals.37 tectonic uplift of source areas including basin margins so Every continent has sequences of the Ediacaran Period that they rest on a variable disconformity. In addition they, 11 paradoxically for glacials, contain interbedded warm facies (542–630 Ma) of the Neoproterozoic. This includes the (carbonate, glauconite, iron formation). Volday Group (Russia), Yudoma Group (Siberia), Beltian In the Neoproterozoic, ‘glacials’ have been inferred geosyncline and Appalachian foldbelt (North America), worldwide, yet they commonly occur with carbonate such Morocco, Namibia, Adelaide geosyncline (South Australia) as dolomite and they are interpreted to commonly have an and the Amadeus Basin (central Australia). equatorial palaeolatitude (such as in Africa, Australia and Clustering of sedimentary phosphate deposits around 38 Europe). The abundance of carbonates with stromatolites the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary is related to a global and ooids and the evidence of evaporite suggests, by phosphogenic event. There is a general upward sequence of comparison with the present day, a relatively warm Neoproterozoic ‘tillites’ followed by phosphorites and then climate.31 An alternative explanation is that these ‘glacials’ shelly fossils (the ‘Cambrian explosion’). The phosphate are in fact submarine massflow deposits adjacent to active is associated with a worldwide marine transgression, and tectonic areas.32 catastrophic ocean water mixing (deep and shallow oceanic The Neoproterozoic below the Ediacaran Period11 waters) as inferred from sulfur isotopes. Phosphogenesis occurs in localities such as Zambia, Zaire, Congo, Angola, may have been associated with widespread volcanism and the Adelaide Supergroup and Kimberley (Australia), British rifting.
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The biblical record and its correlation (Genesis 1:2 NIV). ‘But they deliberately forget that long ago by The biblical record contains a number of key events God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was that may have left a geological signature of early times. formed out of water and with water’ (2 Peter 3:5 These are described in the following sections under Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, the antediluvian period and the early NIV). Noahic Flood. ‘Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the sea and the springs of water’ (Revelation 14:7b the earth’ (Genesis 1:1 NIV). NIV). On the first day the earth was still of dominantly This is the great first verse of the Bible proclaiming 40 that God created the universe. This is repeated many times watery aspect. In fact, the earth had its first global ocean in the Bible (for example Psalm 121:2; Isaiah 44:24, 45:12, (the second and only other global ocean being during the 66:1–2; Jeremiah 10:12, 32:17; Acts 7:49–50; Revelation peak of Noah’s Flood) on Days 1 and 2, before the gathering of waters and appearance of land on Day 3 (Genesis 1:9). 14:7). In Genesis 1:2 the earth would have appeared from space ‘… [God] made the heaven and earth and the like a relatively smooth watery ball, without obvious sea, and everything in them …’ (Acts 4:24b, 14:15b features or landmarks such as mountains protruding above NIV). the water. The Spirit of God moving upon the waters might ‘And he [angel] swore by him [God] who lives imply shaking or vibrating.40 We infer convection cells for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all operating in the waters and in the magma below. Activity that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and with a geological signature seems probable—there may have the sea and all that is in it …’ (Revelation 10:6a been submarine volcanic mountains and turbidite facies NIV). associated with submarine fans, but no shelf deposits. The Again these verses proclaim that God is the great initial global ocean may have resulted from outpouring of intelligent designer of the universe and all within it. waters as catastrophic degassing of the earth’s interior took ‘For this is what the Lo r d says—he who created place associated with rapid radioactive decay and heating. the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made Day 1 is correlated with at least the early Archean—a the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be time of global ocean, as mentioned in a previous section. empty, but formed it to be inhabited—he says: “I ‘He set the earth on its foundations, it can never am the Lo r d , and there is no other”’ (Isaiah 45:18 be moved’ (Psalm 104:5 NIV). NIV). The foundations of the earth, mentioned in An initial ex nihilo creation is followed by a period numerous other verses (such as Job 38:4, Psalm 102:25, of fashioning the Earth—particularly the first few days of Proverbs 3:19, Isaiah 51:13, Zechariah 12:1 and Hebrews creation. This verse in Isaiah appears to be in harmony 1:10), may be the mantle roots3 of Archean cratons inferred with the article by Devitt2—Oldest crystal tells tale of to extend twice as deep (to about 200 km) as the lithosphere hospitable early Earth. God saw that it was good (Genesis beneath younger continental crust and thermally mature 1:10b, 12b). ocean basins. Accelerated radioactive decay (covering about No mention is made of life in the Bible until Day 3 (land 3,000–4,000 Ma) accompanied catastrophic geologic vegetation—Genesis 1:11–12). Thus organic stromatolites processes during the early part of the Creation Week39 (days are inferred to be absent until Day 3. Earlier stromatolite- 1–3, avoiding radiation damage to the biology thereafter) like structures would thus be inorganic artifacts at sites of and during the Flood (covering 600+ Ma). (Inheritance and hydrothermal vents and upwelling springs. mixing are not sufficient to explain radioisotope ratios, but Day 2 accelerated decay is the dominant factor involved.) This fits the model proposed, with radioisotope ages indicating ‘And God said, “Let there be an expanse relative order and rocks being rapidly ‘aged’ during the early between the waters to separate water from water.” Creation week through the Archean-Mesoproterozoic. So God made the expanse and separated the water Day 1 under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so’ (Genesis 1:6–7 NIV). ‘I was there when he set the heavens in place, ‘… when I made the clouds its garment and when he marked out the horizon on the face of the wrapped it in thick darkness, …’ (Job 38:9 NIV) deep’ (Proverbs 8:27 NIV). ‘… when he established the clouds above ‘You covered it with the deep as with a garment; and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, …’ the waters stood above the mountains’ (Psalm 104:6 (Proverbs 8:28 NIV) NIV). Clouds (largely water vapour) may have been ‘Now the earth was formless and empty, associated with volcanic and hydrothermal activity. Active darkness was over the surface of the deep, and springs may have given rise to abundant abiotic stromatolite- the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters’ like structures by the end of the Archean.
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End Archean ‘glacials’ are inferred to be associated Day 4 with great vertical movements of waters during Day 2. Likewise, the early Paleoproterozoic Witwatersrand gold- The presence of the sun and the moon implies tidal uranium conglomerates are inferred to have resulted from processes and tidal products. Conversely, prior to the great vertical upheavals of Day 2. Paleoproterozoic impact existence of the sun and moon there would not have been structures are inferred to have formed when material ejected tidal processes and tidal deposits. Tidal deposits may not from the earth fell back to earth. have begun forming until the later Mesoproterozoic. ‘Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst Antediluvian period forth from the womb’ (Job 38:8 NIV) A catastrophic pouring out of volcanics and From the Bible’s silence on catastrophic events pre- associated banded iron formations (Archean to early Flood, as well as idyllic conditions associated with the Paleoproterozoic) are inferred to correlate with Day 2. The beginning of the creation of Adam and Eve, it may be iron oxides (hematite) may have been blood-coloured as if inferred that the antediluvian period was a time of relatively from the womb. quiet deposition of rock sequences. Although the Fall A global ocean is characteristic of Days 1 and 2 as dry had occurred, it may be that things had not deteriorated ground appeared on Day 3. to parallel the state of affairs of today with its intermittent and localised volcanic, earthquake, debris flow and tsunami Day 3 activity. Deltas would have formed at the mouth of rivers ‘And God said, “Let the water under the sky be (Genesis 2:10–14). Since deltaic sediment could be easily gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” eroded away in the Noahic Flood, downfaulting and burial And it was so. God called the dry ground “land”, would have been necessary for preservation of pre-Flood and the gathered waters he called “seas”. And God deltaic deposits. saw that it was good.’ The site of antediluvian rivers mentioned in Genesis Genesis 1:9–10 (NIV) is inferred to have formed 2 has been correlated41 with suture zones in a pre-drift part of the land. Mesozoic configuration of the Pangaea supercontinent. ‘You covered it with the deep as with a garment; ‘The name of the first [river] is the Pishon the waters stood above the mountains. But at your [possibly in the modern Ganges-Indus area]; it rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder winds through the entire land of Havilah [possibly they took flight; they flowed over the mountains, India], where there is gold. (The gold of that land they went down into the valleys, to the place you is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.)’ assigned for them’ (Psalm 104:6–8 NIV). (Genesis 2:11–12 NIV). With the separation of land and seas, rift tectonics This gold would not be a telluride as this is not was significant during Day 3. The Mesoproterozoic Era pure gold. The gold may have had a very low silver to gold (described previously) was a time of extensive rifting ratio and been from an Archean greenstone belt or from and this is inferred to correspond with Day 3. The latest Paleoproterozoic placers. Paleoproterozoic had the biggest magmatic processes11 ‘… they rose greatly on the earth, and all the and this would have preceded the rifting that took place high mountains under the entire heavens were on Day 3. covered’ (Genesis 7:19 NIV). ‘When the Lo r d God made the earth and the heavens, no shrub of the field had yet appeared on The antediluvian mountains may have occurred at the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung the site of Proterozoic orogens which surround Archean cratons. up; the Lo r d God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, but streams Early Noahic Flood came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground’ (Genesis 2:5–6 NIV). ‘By water also the world of that time was A corollary of the above is that, by the time man was deluged and destroyed’ (2 Peter 3:6 NIV). present, there was rain on the earth and vegetation. ‘… by his knowledge the deeps were divided, The early Earth would have had a very different and the clouds let drop the dew’ (Proverbs 3:20 hydrological regime40 compared with current conditions. NIV). In early times the land’s water supply would have primarily ‘In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the come from upwelling springs. These springs would have seventeenth day of the second month—on that day been the site of inorganic and later organic stromatolites. all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the The Mesoproterozoic is said11 to have been the high point floodgates of the heavens were opened’ (Genesis of stromatolites. 7:11 NIV). Day 3 is the first mention of life on Earth. It is inferred This verse describes a world-wide simultaneous that this correlated with times after the Archean, perhaps (commencing in the same day) erupting of springs or the later Mesoproterozoic. fountains, and subsequent falling of rain. Volcanic material
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would likely have accompanied these eruptions. It may be phosphorite deposits at localities around the Precambrian- that the bulk of the water from the Noahic Flood came from Cambrian sequence boundary. depths within the earth. ‘Deeps were divided’ and ‘springs of the great deep burst Conclusion forth’ imply rifting and fracturing of the earth’s crust. This This paper aims to fill a gap in literal Bible (young-earth may correlate with Neoproterozoic rifting of the Rodinian creationist) geological literature by providing a reasonably supercontinent. Catastrophic plate tectonics have been used 42 extensive harmony of the biblical and Precambrian records. for a global Noahic Flood model of earth history. We recognise that much useful studies have been done in the The early Noahic Flood is a time of very high energy secular realm in mapping and describing rock sequences, and (massive water flows springing up from within the earth, that interpretations of the relative order of events can often along with torrential rainfall) and rifting. Enormous torrential be useful. Each subdivision of the Precambrian geologic rain would have caused huge massflows sweeping down from record has its own characteristics. The majority of geological landmasses into the seas. Spectacular canyons or incised activity during the Precambrian is inferred to have occurred valleys such as in South Australia’s Neoproterozoic may in the first few days of Creation Week and during the initial have formed at this time. Noahic Flood. It is concluded that global scale geological The large marine transgression previously described for work was done in the Creation Week and not just in the the Ediacaran Period of the Neoproterozoic Era is inferred to Noahic Flood. It is hoped that this paper will stimulate correlate with the rising sea level stage of the Flood. further constructive studies and discussion on harmonising Neoproterozoic mass flow deposits (rather than being the biblical record and Precambrian geology. ‘glacials’) may represent the higher energy early stage of Noah’s Flood. This higher energy phase may have been References when the fountains of the great deep were open. A case has been put 43 that the Kingston Peak Formation in California 1. International Commission on Stratigraphy, International Stratigraphic Chart, 2004. provides evidence for the catastrophic initiation of Noah’s Flood rather than glaciation. Debris flows and catastrophic 2. Devitt, T., Oldest crystal tells tale of hospitable early Earth, 10 January 2005,
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15. Groves, D.I., Condie, K.C., Goldfarb, R.J., Hronsky, J.M.A. and 36. Clapham, M.E. and Corsetti, F.A., Deep valley incision in the terminal Vielreicher, M., 100th anniversary special paper: Secular changes in global Neoproterozoic (Ediacaran) Johnnie Formation, eastern California, tectonic processes and their influence on the temporal distribution of USA: Tectonically or glacially driven? Precambrian Research, gold-bearing mineral deposits, Economic Geology 100:203–224, 2005. 141(3–4):154–164, 20 November 2005. 16. Geological Survey of Western Australia, Geology and Mineral Resources 37. Neoproterozoic,
27. Multicellular organism,
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