How the Coconino Sandstone of the Grand Canyon Supports Young-Earth Creation and a Global Flood John H

Cedarville University DigitalCommons@Cedarville

Science and Mathematics Faculty Presentations Department of Science and Mathematics

10-13-2017 How the Coconino Sandstone of the Grand Canyon Supports Young-Earth Creation and a Global Flood John H. Whitmore Cedarville University, [email protected]

Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/ science_and_mathematics_presentations Part of the Christianity Commons, and the Earth Sciences Commons

Recommended Citation Whitmore, John H., "How the Coconino Sandstone of the Grand Canyon Supports Young-Earth Creation and a Global Flood" (2017). Science and Mathematics Faculty Presentations. 284. http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/science_and_mathematics_presentations/284

This Conference Presentation is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@Cedarville, a service of the Centennial Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Science and Mathematics Faculty Presentations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Cedarville. For more information, please contact [email protected]. How the Coconino 1 Sandstone of the Grand Canyon supports Young-Earth Creation and a Global Flood Coconino Sandstone © DR. JOHN H. WHITMORE SENIOR PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY, CEDARVILLE, OH

OCTOBER 13, 2017 NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS SOUTHERN EVANGELICAL SEMINARY CALVARY CHURCH, CHARLOTTE, NC The Coconino Sandstone: 2 Introduction

• Grand Canyon • Well -known • Most often cited example of supposed wind- blown desert dune deposit (by McKee and others) Cross-bedding 3 The Coconino Sandstone: Preliminary map drafted by 4 Aerial coverage JHW 2016

Arizona: Coconino, De Chelly Colorado: Lyons, Cedar Hills Idaho: Hudspeth Cutoff, Wood River Kansas: Cedar Hills Montana: Quadrant, Minnelusa Nebraska: Cedar Hills, Sumner Nevada: Arckurus, Coconino New Mexico: Glorieta North Dakota: Broom Creek Oklahoma: Duncan South Dakota: Cassa Texas: Glorieta, Cherry & Brushy Canyon Utah: White Rim, Weber, De Chelly Wyoming: Tensleep, Minnelusa What is the Coconino Sandstone 5 supposed to look like?

 Well-sorted  Well rounded  Steep cross-bed dips (33°)  No mica or dolomite  Mud cracks at base  Vertebrate tracks in dry sand  Rain drop prints Creation/Evolution, Summer 1980 6 Christopher Gregory Weber

“You don't need a Ph.D. in geology to know that desert dunes and other desert deposits do not form under roaring flood waters. These require not only time, but also dry land. The Flood of Noah supplies neither… The Permian Coconino Sandstones [sic] in the upper walls of the Grand Canyon have the frosted well-sorted well rounded sand grains found only in land-deposited sand dunes (p. 25-26).” Science and Earth History– 7 The Evolution/Creation Controversy, 1999 Arthur Strahler

“Exposed in the walls of Grand Canyon is the Coconino Formation [sic] of Permian age… The evidence is overwhelming in support of major periods of time in which this region was in an inland location and exposed to the atmosphere under dry conditions. This is an environment totally incongruous with the Flood scenario… The evidence of subaerial origin of the dune-sand formations is undisputed as to its significance by mainstream geology; in itself it is sufficiently weighty to totally discredit the biblical story of the Flood of Noah as a naturalistic phenomenon occurring in one year (p. 217).” The Bible Rocks and Time (2008) 8 Drs. Davis Young and Ralph Stearley

• p. 214: “A hiker along one of the canyon’s many trails can easily verify that the Coconino Formation [sic] is composed almost of entirely of very pale sand grains of a uniform size…” • p. 305: “the very fine sand of these formations has a uniform grain size that is characteristic of wind-blown sand in general… Less resistant mica grains have been abraded to oblivion and/or wafted off site by wind. The surfaces of individual grains are well rounded. The Bible Rocks and Time (2008) 9 Drs. Davis Young and Ralph Stearley

• p. 305: “in addition, the sands are stratified in bundles that exhibit steeply dipping cross- bedding… Many aquatic settings produce low profile dune forms… Steeply dipping cross-beds (>20°) are typical of subaerial eolian dunes.” Earth Magazine, July 2011 10 Steven Newton (NCSE)

“The Coconino sands stick in the eye of the creationist model… creationists are deeply committed to washing away this irritating formation by arguing that the Coconino could have been deposited in a marine environment after all (p. 35).” Geodyssey (YouTube) 2013 11 The Coconino Sandstone and the Creationists

“Of all the rocks in the Grand Canyon, the stratum most likely to make a young earth creationist’s *** draw up tighter than a snare drum is the Coconino, and here’s why: the consensus of geologists is that the Coconino Sandstone was formed in an enormous desert. Obviously a desert in the midst of your giant deluge is-- inconvenient.”

“Geodyssey/Coffee with Clarie”

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=coconino+sandstone+creationism&&view=detail&mid=841EB50BD7192F7F6E6C8 41EB50BD7192F7F6E6C&rvsmid=841EB50BD7192F7F6E6C841EB50BD7192F7F6E6C&FORM=VDFSRV&fsscr=0 12 The Coconino Sandstone is a centerpiece for the old-earth argument: • Mud cracks in Coconino (p. 68) • Mud cracks below Coconino (p. 202) • Rain drop prints (p. 69) • Steep cross-beds (p. 58, 70, 202) • Animal tracks (p. 58, 71, 154) • Frosted sand grains (p. 202) • Dolomite is not widespread (p. 203)

This “Christian” book with 11 authors has been widely promoted: • Geological Society of America • Christianity Today • World Magazine

 Today many 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come “scoffers” claim that in the last days with scoffing, following their Genesis is wrong own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the because of what we promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as “know” in regards to 5 geology. they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the  Peter’s prophecy: heavens existed long ago, and the earth was 1 willful ignorance of formed out of water and through water by the 6 the Creation and the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with Flood in the last days 2 water and perished. 14 It looks like creationists have some work to do… Leonard Brand: Faith, Reason and Earth History 15 Science Domain INTERFACE Religious Domain

Hypothesis When conflicts arise they Development of challenge our development interpretation of the Bible religious concepts and make us study the Bible more carefully Observations Linguistic analysis Experiments Passage comparison Analysis Historical context Interpretation When conflicts arise they Etc. cause us to Hypothesis • Ask new questions and Testing of religious testing make new hypotheses • Study more deeply concepts • Collect more data Research Approach 16

 Study the literature (library work)  Study modern sand dunes (field work)  Study the Coconino Sandstone (field work)  Laboratory analysis of collected samples (lab work)  Presentation of results at scientific meetings  Creationist and conventional meeting  Write scientific papers  Both creationist and conventional What does the Coconino Sandstone 17 actually look like?

 Based on the assumption that the Coconino has accumulated in a desert environment; many have stated what the Coconino “looks like” without actually carefully looking at it.  Hence, we were surprised when we actually did the science and found out what it really looked like. We have discovered 10 Myths related to 18 the Coconino:

1. Steep cross-bed dips (~34°) 2. Well rounded and well-sorted 3. Mud cracks at the base 4. Vertebrate tracks were made on dry desert dunes 5. Raindrop prints are common 6. The grains were frosted in a desert 7. Large contorted beds are slumped sand dunes 8. There should be no dolomite 9. There should be no mica 10. Big sand dunes don’t occur underwater MYTH #1: The Coconino has steep cross- 19 bed dips, at the angle of repose

n = 214 Our data Cross Bed Dips in the Coconino mean = 20.2° mode = 24° median = 21.0° indicate the 35 max = 32° cross-bed dips in min = 3° 30 the Coconino are std dev = 5.7° 25 about 20˚ (this is 20 consistent with what Reiche published in 15 the Journal of 10

Geology in1938). of Number Occurrences

0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Degree Angle of Cross Bed Dip MYTH #2: It has well-rounded and well-sorted 20 sand grains, just like those of modern sand dunes.

ROUNDING SORTING We have Sand Dunes found that well-rounded very well-sorted the Coconino rounded well-sorted is neither well- Sub-rounded moderately sorted rounded or sub-angular poorly sorted angular Coconino very poorly sorted well-sorted. Very angular (Published in ARJ, 2014) 21

Angular sand grains (in deserts, they are usually rounded) 22

Poorly sorted sand grains (desert sands are usually well- sorted) MYTH #3: As the Coconino desert formed, it 23 filled open mud cracks on a dry floodplain. Our research has shown that these features can best be Coconino explained as sand Sandstone injectites (sand intrusions) as sand Hermit A sand Formation intrusion flowed like water (injectite) during a large earthquake. (Published in Sedimentary Geology, 2010) Dripping Springs, Grand Canyon, AZ Dripping Springs Trail , Grand Canyon, AZ

24 Rose diagram shows 25 orientation of sand-filled cracks. The direction is The “wedges” statistically show depths of significant. sand-filled cracks. They shorten away Grand from the Bright Angel Fault Canyon (shown by red line).

Published in Sedimentary Geology, 2010 Bright Angel Fault 1. Deposition of Coconino Sandstone Hermit Formation

2. Deposition of Fault (Earthquake) Coconino Sandstone 3. Time passes (about 225 million years) Crack length decreases away 4. Earthquake from fault happens (225 m.y. later) causing Hermit Formation injection of sand- Problem: How could the filled cracks Coconino Sandstone have remained soft for more than 225 million years, until the faulting 26 Conventional View occurred? 1. Deposition of Coconino Sandstone Hermit Formation

2. Deposition of Fault (Earthquake) Coconino Sandstone 3. Not much time passes Crack length decreases away 4. Earthquake from fault happens (a short time later) causing Hermit Formation injection of sand- filled cracks This scenario overcomes the time problem and suggests these events closely followed one another, eliminating 225 m.y. of 27 Alternant View Grand Canyon time! MYTH #4: Vertebrate footprints 28 in the Coconino were made by animals walking on steep desert sand dunes.

Brand and Tang (1991) demonstrated that the best explanation for the tracks is that they were made underwater. MYTH #5: Rain drop prints can commonly be 29 found in the sandstone proving its subaerial origin. Coconino “raindrops” We have found Rain drops in mud Rain drops in sand that the so-called rain drop prints do not resemble modern rain drop prints. They are deep (> 1cm) and lack expected characteristics. MYTH #6: The sand grains of the Coconino 30 were “frosted” in a desert Our research indicates the sand grains are too small to be mechanically frosted and that frosting in this sandstone has occurred via chemical means. (Published in ARJ, 2014) MYTH #7: Large contorted beds in the 31 Coconino represent slumped sand dunes. We believe these folded beds are best explained as parabolic recumbent folds. They are well- known from subaqueous cross- bedded sandstones. (Published in ARJ, 2015) Brins Ridge, Sedona, AZ

32 How did the Coconino Folds Form? 33

i.e., what caused liquefaction and mobilization of the sediment?

 Earthquake?  Shear force from ? sediments above?  Changes in flow regime?  Pressure changes from large overhead water waves? MYTH #8: There should be no dolomite or 34 other marine minerals in the Coconino.

We found bedded dolomite in the

Coconino! 4 X X beds are shown X in this picture from Andrus X Point, Arizona. (Published in ARJ, 2015) Types of dolomite in Coconino: • Dolomite beds 35 • Dolomite ooids • Dolomite cement • Dolomite clasts Dolomite Ooids

(Published in ARJ, 2015) MYTH #9: There should be no mica in the 36 Coconino.

We found mica in almost every thin section that we looked at under the microscope! (Published in ARJ, 2015; Aeolian Research, 2017) MYTH #10: Big sand dunes don’t occur 37 underwater. In fact large “sand waves” very comparable to the Coconino sands can be found in many marine settings around the world! We have discovered 10 Myths Truths 38 related to the Coconino:

1. Steep cross-bed dips (~34°) dips average 20° 2. Well rounded and well-sorted sub angular and poorly to moderately sorted 3. Mud cracks at the base sand injectites at base 4. Vertebrate tracks were made on dry desert dunes underwater 5. Raindrop prints are common non-existent 6. The grains were frosted in a desert chemically 7. Large contorted beds are slumped sand dunes parabolic recumbent folds 8. There should be no dolomite dolomite is prevalent 9. There should be no mica mica is prevalent 10. Big sand dunes don’t occur underwater are common on continental shelves Conclusions 39

1. Many features commonly cited in favor of the desert origin of the Coconino Sandstone are MYTHS.

2. Many of these features instead argue for underwater deposition of the sandstone.

3. What is Peter trying to communicate to us? Biblical Application 40 2 Peter 3:3-6  Scoffers will come 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come  Last days in the last days with scoffing, following their  Willful ignorance of own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the Creation and Flood promise of his coming? For ever since the  God is patient fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as  Two messages: they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For  God doesn’t want they deliberately overlook this fact, that the anyone to perish– heavens existed long ago, and the earth was 1 repent! formed out of water and through water by the  Be watchful, be word of God, 6 and that by means of these the diligent in holiness, world that then existed was deluged with 2 grow water and perished. Biblical Application 41 2 Peter 3:8-10  Scoffers will come 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved,  Last days that with the Lord one day is as a thousand  Willful ignorance of years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Creation and Flood Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some  God is patient count slowness, but is patient toward you, not  Two messages: wishing that any should perish, but that all 10  God doesn’t want should reach repentance. But the day of the anyone to perish– Lord will come like a thief, and then the repent! heavens will pass away with a roar, and the  Be watchful, be heavenly bodies will be burned up and diligent in holiness, dissolved, and the earth and the works that are grow done on it will be exposed. Biblical Application 42

 Scoffers will come 2 Peter 3:11, 14, 17, 18  Last days 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved,  Willful ignorance of Creation and Flood what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,  God is patient 14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for  Two messages: these, be diligent to be found by him without  God doesn’t want spot or blemish, and at peace. anyone to perish– 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this repent! beforehand, take care that you are not carried  Be watchful, be away with the error of lawless people and lose diligent in holiness, 18 grow your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Selected publications, articles and abstracts: 43

 Anderson, C.A., Struble, A. and Whitmore, J.H. 2017. Abrasion resistance of muscovite  Garner, P.A. and Whitmore, J.H. 2011. What do we know about marine sand waves? in Aeolian and subaqueous transport experiments. Aeolian Research, v. 24, p. 33-37. A review of their occurrence, morphology and structure. GSA Abstracts with Programs, v. 43(5), p. 596.  Maithel, S.A., Garner, P.A. and Whitmore, J.H. 2015. Preliminary assessment of the petrology of the Hopeman Sandstone (Permo-Triassic), Moray Firth Basin,  Emery, M., Maithel, S., and Whitmore, J.H. 2011. Can compaction account for lower- Scotland. Scottish Journal of Geology, v. 51, p. 177-184. than-expected cross-bed dips in the Coconino Sandstone (Permian), Arizona? GSA Abstracts with Programs, v. 43(5), p.430.  Whitmore, J.H., Forsythe, G., and Garner, P.A. 2015. Intraformational parabolic recumbent folds in the Coconino Sandstone (Permian) and two other formations in  Whitmore, J.H. and Strom, R. 2010. Textural trends in the Coconino Sandstone, central Sedona, Arizona (USA). Answers Research Journal, v. 8, p. 21-40. and northern Arizona, USA. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 42, No. 5, p. 428.

 Whitmore, J.H., Strom, R., Cheung, S. and Garner, P.A. 2014. Petrology of the Coconino  Cheung, S., Strom, R. and Whitmore, J.H. 2010. Widespread dolomite in the Coconino Sandstone. Answers Research Journal, v. 7, p. 499-532. Sandstone, Arizona, USA. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 42, No. 5, p. 108-109.

 Ross, M.R., Hoesch, W.A., Austin, S.A., Whitmore, J.H. and Clarey, T.L. 2010. Garden of  Cheung, S., Strom, R., Whitmore, J.H. 2010. Persistence of Dolomite in the Coconino the Gods at Colorado Springs: Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentation and tectonics. Sandstone, Northern and Central Arizona. In Proceedings of the Fourth Conference on In Morgan, L.A., and Quane, S.L., eds., Through the Generations: Geologic and Creation Geology, T. Cleary (editor), p. 2. Anthropogenic Field Excursions in the Rocky Mountains from Modern to Ancient: Geological Society of America Field Guide 18, p. 77–93. I wrote the Lyons Sandstone  Whitmore, J.H. and Strom, R. 2010. Clay content: A simple criterion for the portion of this paper, p. 84-88. identification of fossil desiccation cracks? In Proceedings of the Fourth Conference on Creation Geology, T. Cleary (editor), p. 8.  Whitmore, J.H. and Strom, R. 2010. Sand injectites at the base of the Coconino Sandstone, Grand Canyon, Arizona, Sedimentary Geology, v. 230, p. 46-59.  Whitmore, J.H. 2010. Preliminary report and significance of grain size sorting in modern eolian sands. in Proceedings of the Fourth Conference on Creation Geology, T. Cleary  Whitmore, J.H. 2009. Do Mud Cracks Indicate Multiple Droughts During the Flood?, in: (editor), p. 8-9. M.J. Oard and J.K. Reed (eds.), Rock Solid Answers, Master Books, Green Forest, AR, p. 167-183.  Cheung, S., Strom, R. Whitmore, J.H., and Garner, P. 2009. Occurrence of dolomite beds, clasts, ooids and unidentified microfossils in the Coconino Sandstone, Northern,  Whitmore, J.H. 2015. Coconino Sandstone—The most powerful argument against the Arizona. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 41, No. 7, p. 119. Flood? Answers Magazine, v. 10, no. 3, p. 30-35.  Whitmore, J.H. and Strom, R. 2009. Persistence and significance of micas in the Coconino Sandstone, northern Arizona, in Proceedings of the Third Conference on Creation Geology, T. Cleary (editor).

 Cheung, S., Strom, R., and Whitmore, J.H. 2009. Persistence of dolomite in the Coconino Sandstone, northern Arizona, in Proceedings of the Third Conference on Creation Geology, T. Cleary (editor).

 Whitmore, J.H. and Strom, R. 2008. Aqueous Facies Transitions within the Coconino Sandstone, Arizona, in Proceedings of the Second Conference on Creation Geology, T. Cleary (editor), p. 10-11