Here is why I think paraconformities are very damning against the geology used to support the evolutionary position.
First, here is what a paraconformity is:
Paraconformities
QUOTE
Powerful evidence against long time gaps (thousands or millions of years) in the geological record is provided by what geologists call paraconformities. Paraconformities are places where huge amounts of time are thought to have passed, yet there is very little physical evidence to show it. Remember that the top of each layer must once have formed the sea-floor, or a land surface, before being covered up by the next layer. We know that if a layer forms the sea-bed or a land surface for a substantial period of time it is very vulnerable to damage. For instance, it will be exposed to erosion: the very next tide or rainstorm will begin to scour the sediment away, and channels and gullies will begin to form. Soon, parts of the layer will have been removed completely. More importantly, the seas teem with living creatures that burrow into the sediment, excavating it, to build dwelling places or to feed. This process is called bioturbation. Bioturbation is an extremely effective way of destroying layering in sedimentary rocks, by mixing up the sediment and homogenising it.
taken from: http://www.amen.org.uk/eh/science/flodpg/flodpg3.htm
taken from: http://www.amen.org.uk/eh/science/flodpg/flodpg3.htm
I have to agree with this author:
If the lower layer had been exposed for millions of years on land, then the surface would have been eroded by the elements, and channels would have been formed. But these surfaces are smooth and flat, which wouldn't be the case after millions of years of weathering.
Similarly, if the lower layer had been exposed for millions of years under water, then it would have been eroded by currents and would have been disturbed by burrowing creatures. This burrowing is called bioturbation, and it very quickly destroys any uniform layering in sedimentary rocks.
taken from: http://www.seeking-god.co.uk/id188.htm
And apparently here is how widespread and BIG paraconformities can be!
QUOTE
Paraconformities are abundant throughout the world...and are unusually widespread, often reaching semi-continent proportions.
taken from: http://www.grisda.org/2003-FSC-open/Roth-R...Creation.htm#10
taken from: http://www.grisda.org/2003-FSC-open/Roth-R...Creation.htm#10
Here is what one person said in regards to their professor and his comments on paraconformities:
QUOTE
He presented paraconformities as a real mystery and something very difficult to explain in evolutionary or uniformitarian terms. We even had a field trip to study paraconformities that emphasized the point.
So again, instead of challenging my creationist ideas, all the geology I was learning in graduate school was supporting it. I even discussed a creationist interpretation of paraconformities with the professor, and I finally found myself discussing further evidence of creation with fellow graduate students and others.
taken from: www.christian-astronomers.org/articles/evolution2creation.pdf
So again, instead of challenging my creationist ideas, all the geology I was learning in graduate school was supporting it. I even discussed a creationist interpretation of paraconformities with the professor, and I finally found myself discussing further evidence of creation with fellow graduate students and others.
taken from: www.christian-astronomers.org/articles/evolution2creation.pdf
Here is more on paraconformities:
QUOTE
Paraconformities are important because they challenge the geologic time scale. The usual lack of evidence of time at the surface of the underlying layer of a paraconformity for the long ages postulated for the gap, especially the lack of erosion, suggests that the long ages never occurred. This is as would be expected for rapid events such as deposition during the Genesis Flood.....
Conclusions about paraconformities.
The difficulty with the extended time proposed for these gaps is that one cannot have deposition, nor can one have erosion. With deposition over time there is no gap because sedimentation continues. With erosion over time one would expect abundant channeling, the formation of deep gullies, canyons and valleys, yet the contacts are nearly flat. Paraconformities suggest that little time was involved in the deposition of the sedimentary layers, and these are the layers that harbor the fossil record.
Because paraconformities are so abundant (e.g. Figure 3) over the earth, they represent an important component for the interpretation of earth history. The short time they suggest in one locality affects the rest of the geological column elsewhere because time is worldwide and time constraints are necessarily worldwide. Paraconformities pose a serious challenge to the standard geologic time scale, radiometric dating, and interpretations of extended time for the development of life on earth. They are what would be expected from the rapid deposition of sediments during the Genesis Flood.
taken from: http://www.grisda.org/2003-FSC-open/Roth-R...Creation.htm#10
Conclusions about paraconformities.
The difficulty with the extended time proposed for these gaps is that one cannot have deposition, nor can one have erosion. With deposition over time there is no gap because sedimentation continues. With erosion over time one would expect abundant channeling, the formation of deep gullies, canyons and valleys, yet the contacts are nearly flat. Paraconformities suggest that little time was involved in the deposition of the sedimentary layers, and these are the layers that harbor the fossil record.
Because paraconformities are so abundant (e.g. Figure 3) over the earth, they represent an important component for the interpretation of earth history. The short time they suggest in one locality affects the rest of the geological column elsewhere because time is worldwide and time constraints are necessarily worldwide. Paraconformities pose a serious challenge to the standard geologic time scale, radiometric dating, and interpretations of extended time for the development of life on earth. They are what would be expected from the rapid deposition of sediments during the Genesis Flood.
taken from: http://www.grisda.org/2003-FSC-open/Roth-R...Creation.htm#10
Here is some addition information from a previously cited website and please click the link for details:
QUOTE
Many other examples of paraconformities like these have been described (Roth 1988). One well-known geologist admitted:
"The origin of paraconformities is uncertain, and I certainly do not have a simple solution to this problem." (Newell 1967, p 364)
The obvious answer is that the time spans represented by these gaps in the sedimentary record were very much shorter than most geologists assume.
Thus, contrary to the popular notion that geological processes are extremely slow and gradual, the history of the Earth has been dominated by catastrophism. Furthermore, the idea that millions of years can be accommodated in the gaps between sedimentary layers does not stand up to critical scientific examination. These facts are consistent with the view that our planet has had a short but dynamic history.
taken from: http://www.amen.org.uk/eh/science/flodpg/flodpg3.htm
"The origin of paraconformities is uncertain, and I certainly do not have a simple solution to this problem." (Newell 1967, p 364)
The obvious answer is that the time spans represented by these gaps in the sedimentary record were very much shorter than most geologists assume.
Thus, contrary to the popular notion that geological processes are extremely slow and gradual, the history of the Earth has been dominated by catastrophism. Furthermore, the idea that millions of years can be accommodated in the gaps between sedimentary layers does not stand up to critical scientific examination. These facts are consistent with the view that our planet has had a short but dynamic history.
taken from: http://www.amen.org.uk/eh/science/flodpg/flodpg3.htm