Adam When?

    Lingenfelter concluded in 1963 that the decay ratio was approximately 1.8 to 2.5. This equals 72%, which is the figure used in our model.¹ Subsequently he arrived at a possible decay-production ratio close to unity.² This was based on Dr. Libby’s proposal that 0.5 C14 atoms per second per cm² are taken out of the exchange inventory by sedimentation.² Dr. Libby arrived at this figure on the assumption that 1 x 10¹⁰ metric tons of calcium carbonates are deposited as ocean sediments each year.³ He apparently derives these figures form the conclusions based on a study of a number of ocean sediment cores taken in the Atlantic Ocean.⁴ This article postulates that the rate of Atlantic Ocean floor sedimentation is 2 ½ cm per 1000 years. It further declares that the cores gave evidence of sediment deposition over a period of some 175,000 years or longer.

    The conclusion derived from the study of these ocean cores are highly speculative. No recognition is given to the flood of Noah’s day, which would have deposited large quantities of ocean floor sediments. No recognition is given to the continental division that occurred about 3100 B.C.

    Finally, in arriving at the figure of 1 x 10¹⁰ metric tons of calcium carbonate deposited annually on the ocean floor, the assumption is made that this is a 35% part of all the sediments deposited.³ This, then, implies that the total deposition of sediments equals about 3 x 10¹⁰ metric tons of all sediments. Clark⁵ has estimated that the rivers contribute to the sea each year 2.73 x 10¹⁵ grams (2.73 x 10⁹ metric tons) of dissolved solids. In other words, the figure of sedimentation squalling 3 x 10¹⁰ metric tons each year appears to be at least 10 times too great, even if we assume all that went into the ocean solution eventually ended up as sediment. Since ordinarily the oceans are not saturated, the amount of chemicals eventually becoming sediment is much smaller than 2.73 x 10⁹ metric tons.

    Thus, the amount of C14 being taken out of the exchange reservoir by sedimentation must be considerably less than 0.05 atoms

per second per centimeter. This number is so small that it hardly need be considered in view of the inexactness of this whole science.

    This means that Lingenfelter’s model⁶ should probably disregard the sedimentation rate in computing the decay rate of Carbon 14. The decay rate should then equal 13.56 x 8.3 equals 112.5 dpm/cm² or 1.875 dps/cm². Using the revised figure of 2.2 ±0.4 dps/cm² for the production rate, we discover that the decay rate is 85% of production. Our figure of 72% as proposed in our model may be a bit low. However, even if a figure of 85% for the decay-production ratio were used, the essential conclusions of our model would remain substantially unchanged.



NOTES


    ¹H. E. Suess, “Secular Variations of the Comic-Ray Produced Carbon 14 in the Atmosphere and their Interpretations,” in Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 70, 1966, p. 5946.

    ²Lingenfelter, R. E. and R. Ramaty, 1970, Astrological and geophysical variations in C14 production in “XII Nobel Symposium volume entitled Radiocarbon Variations and Absolute Chronology,” I. U. Olsson, Editor, John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    ³Libby, W. F., 1965, Radiocarbon and Paleomagnetism in “Magnetism and the Cosmos,” NATO Advanced Study Institute on Planetary and Stellar Magnetism, American Elsevier Publishing Co., Inc., p. 64.

    ⁴Erickson, D. B., Ewing, M., and Wollin, G., 1964, The Pleistocene Epoch in Deep-Sea Sediments in Science, vol. 146, p. 723.

    ⁵Sverdrup, H., Johnson, M. S., and Fleming, R. H., 1942, “The Oceans,” Prentiss Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, p. 214.

    ⁶Linenfelter, R. E. and R. Ramaty, 1970, Astrophysical and geophysical variations in C14 production in “XII Nobel Symposium volume entitled Radiocarbon Variations and Absolute Chronology,” I. U. Olsson, editor, John Wiley & Sons, New York.