The Neodymium-Samarium Dating Method

 

By Paul Nethercott

October 2012

 

How reliable is radiometric dating? We are repeatedly told that it proves the Earth to be billions of years old. If radiometric dating is reliable than it should not contradict the evolutionary model. According to the Big Bang theory the age of the Universe is 10 to 15 billion years.¹ Standard evolutionist publications give the age of the universe as 13.75 Billion years. ^{2, 3}

 

Standard evolutionist geology views the Earth as being 4.5 billion years old. Here are some quotes from popular text: “The age of the Earth is 4.54 ± 0.05 billion years.” ⁴ “The Solar System, formed between 4.53 and 4.58 billion years ago.” ¹ “The age of 4.54 billion years found for the Solar System and Earth.” ¹ “A valid age for the Earth of 4.55 billion years.” ^{5, 6}

 

If we run the isotopic ratios give in standard geology magazines through the computer program Isoplot ⁷ we find that the Uranium/Thorium/Lead isotopic ratios in the rocks disagree radically with the Rubidium/Strontium ages. The U/Th/Pb ratios give ages older than the evolutionist age of the Earth, Solar System, Galaxy and Universe. How can Earth rocks be dated as being older than the Big Bang?

 

If we use isotopic formulas ^8-11 given in standard geology text we can arrive at ages from the Rubidium/Strontium and Neodymium/Samarium ratios. The formula for Rubidium/Strontium age is given as:

 

                  [1]

 

Where t equals the age in years.  equals the decay constant. (87Sr/86Sr) = the current isotopic ratio. (87Sr/86Sr)₀ = the initial isotopic ratio. (87Rb/86Sr) = the current isotopic ratio. The same is true for the formula below.

 

 

       [2]

 

Here are examples of isotopic ratios taken from several articles in major geology magazines which give absolutely absurd dates.

 

Rocks of the Central Wyoming Province

These rock samples were dated in 2005 by scientists from the University of Wyoming. ¹² If we run the Rubidium/Strontium and Neodymium/Samarium isotope ratios ¹³ from the article through Microsoft Excel we get the following values:

1. Ages Dating Summary

 

The Uranium/Lead dates ¹⁴ are up to sixteen billion years older than the Rubidium/Strontium and Neodymium/Samarium dates. The Thorium/Lead dates are up to thirty six billion years older. The so called true age is just a guess.

 

Correlated Nd, Sr And Pb Isotope Variation

According to the article ¹⁵ this specimen [Walvis Ridge, Walvis Bay] was dated in 1982 by scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Department of Geochemistry, University of Cape Town, South Africa. According to the article ¹⁶ the age of the sample is 70 million years. If we run the various isotope ratios ¹⁶ from the article through Microsoft Excel we get the following values respectively:

 

2. Age Dating Summary

 

A Depleted Mantle Source For Kimberlites

According to the article ¹⁷ this specimen [kimberlites from Zaire] was dated in 1984 by scientists from Belgium. According to the article ¹⁸ the age of the samples is 70 million years. If we run the various isotope ratios ¹⁹ from the article through Microsoft Excel we get the following values respectively:

 

3. Age Dating Summary

 

The 207Pb/206Pb maximum age is 34 times older than the 87Rb/86Sr maximum age. The 206Pb/238U maximum age is 74 times older than the 147Sm/144Nd maximum age. There is a 10.8 billion year difference between the oldest and youngest age attained.

 

Sm-Nd Isotopic Systematics

According to the article ²⁰ this specimen [Enderby Land, East Antarctic] was dated in 1984 by scientists from the Australian National University, Canberra, and the Bureau of Mineral Resources, Canberra. According to the article ²⁰ the age of the sample is 3,000 million years. If we run the Rubidium/Strontium isotope ratios ²¹ from the article through Microsoft Excel we get the following values respectively:

 

4. Rubidium/Strontium Age Dating Summary

 

There is almost a 30 billion year difference between the oldest and youngest dates.

 

Strontium, Neodymium And Lead Compositions

According to the article ²² this specimen [Snake River Plain, Idaho] was dated in 1985 by scientists from the Geology Department, Rice University, Houston, Texas, the Earth Sciences Department, Open University, England and the Geology Department, Ricks College, Idaho. According to the article ²² the age of the sample is 3.4 billion years. If we run the various isotope ratios ²³ from the article through Microsoft Excel we get the following values respectively:

 

 

5. Age Dating Summary

 

The Lead isotope ratios from two different tables give dates 200 billion years younger than the Rubidium/Strontium isotope ratios. The Average age of the Rubidium/Strontium isotope ratios is 40 billion years. Below we can see some of the maximum ages and how stupid they are.

 

6. 87Rb/86Sr, Maximum Ages

 

Sr, Nd, and Os Isotope Geochemistry

According to the article ²⁴ this specimen [Camp Creek area, Arizona] was dated in 1987 by scientists from The University of Tennessee, the University of Michigan, the University of California, Leeds University, and the University of Chicago. According to the article ²⁵ the age of the samples is 120 million years. If we run the various isotope ratios ²⁶ from two different tables in the article through Microsoft Excel we get the following values respectively:

 

7. Rubidium/Strontium and Sm/Nd Age Dating Summary

 

The author’s choice of 120 million years is just a guess.

 

 

Pb, Nd and Sr Isotopic Geochemistry

According to the article ²⁷ this specimen [Bellsbank kimberlite, South Africa] was dated in 1991 by scientists from the University Of Rochester, New York, Guiyang University in China, and the United States Geological Survey, Colorado. According to the article ⁶⁷ the age of the samples is just 1 million years. If we run the various isotope ratios ⁶⁸ from two different tables in the article through Microsoft Excel we get the following values respectively:

 

 

8. Age Dating Summary

 

In tables 9 to 12 we can see some of the astounding spread of dates [million of years]. The oldest date is over 17 billion years old. The youngest is less than negative 3.5 billion years. The difference between the two is over 20 billion years. According to the article the true age of the rock is just one million years old!

 

9. 208Pb/232Th, Maximum Ages

 

10. 206Pb/238U, Maximum Ages

 

11. Pb 207/206, Maximum Ages

 

12. 87Rb/86Sr, Minimum Ages

 

Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopes

According to the article ³⁰ this specimen [eastern China] was dated in 1992 by scientists from the University Of Rochester, New York, Guiyang University in China, and the United States Geological Survey, Colorado. According to the article: “Observed high Th/U, Rb/Sr, 87Sr/86 Sr and Delta 208, low Sm/Nd ratios, and a large negative Nd in phlogopite pyroxenite with a depleted mantle model age of 2.9 Ga, support our contention that metasomatized continental lower mantle lithosphere is the source for the EMI component.” ³⁰ If we run the various isotope ratios ³¹ from two different tables in the article through Isoplot we get the following values respectively:

 

13. Age Dating Summary

 

If the true age is 2.9 billion years why so much discordance? In tables 14 and 15 we can see some of the astounding spread of dates [million of years]. The oldest date is over 94 billion years old. The youngest is 79 million years. The difference between the two is over 94 billion years. The oldest date is 1,194 times older than the youngest. According to the article the true age of the rock is 2.9 billion years old!

 

14. 208Pb/232Th, Maximum Ages

 

15. 206Pb/238U, Maximum Ages

 

 

An Extremely Low U/Pb Source

According to the article ³² this specimen [lunar meteorite] was dated in 1993 by scientists from the United States Geological Survey, Colorado, the United States Geological Survey, California and The National Institute of Polar Research, Tokyo. According to the article: “The Pb-Pb internal isochron obtained for acid leached residues of separated mineral fractions yields an age of 3940 ± 28 Ma, which is similar to the U-Pb (3850 ± 150 Ma) and Th-Pb (3820 ± 290 Ma) internal isochron ages. The Sm-Nd data for the mineral separates yield an internal isochron age of 3871 ± 57 Ma and an initial 143Nd/I44Nd value of 0.50797 ± 10. The Rb-Sr data yield an internal isochron age of 3840 ± 32 Ma.” ³² If we run the various isotope ratios ³³ from two different tables in the article through Isoplot we get the following values respectively:

 

16. Rubidium/Strontium Age Dating Summary

 

17. Uranium Age Dating Summary

 

The article claims that the Rubidium/Strontium age is 3.8 billion years for this meteorite. If that is the true age why are all the Uranium/Thorium/Lead dates ⁷⁶ so stupid? Or are they right and the Rubidium/Strontium is wrong?

 

18. 208Pb/232Th, Maximum Ages

 

19. 206Pb/238U, Maximum Ages

 

The 72 Ma Geochemical Evolution

According to the article ³⁴ this specimen [Madeira Archipelago] was dated in 2000 by scientists from Germany. The average Lead date is 705 times older than the average Rubidium date. The true age is claimed to be 430 million years old. ³⁴ If we run the various isotope ratios ³⁵ from two different tables in the article through Isoplot we get the following values respectively:

 

20. Age Dating Summary

 

If the true age is 430 million years than none of the dating methods are even vaguely close. The oldest date is 731 times older than the youngest.

 

Temporal Evolution of the Lithospheric Mantle

According to the article ³⁶ this specimen from the Eastern North China Craton was dated in 2009 by scientists from China, USA and Australia. Various tables ³⁷ in the essay have either calculated dates or ratios which can be calculated. As we can see below they are all at strong disagreement with each other. There is a spread of dates over a 32 billion year range.

 

21. Age Dating Summary

 

 

Geochemistry Of The Jurassic Oceanic Crust

According to the article ³⁸ this specimen from the Canary Islands was dated in 1998 by scientists from Germany. According to the essay: "An Sm–Nd isochron gives an age of 178 ± 17 Ma, which agrees with the age predicted from paleomagnetic data." ³⁸ The article places the age in the late Cretaceous period. Various tables ³⁹ in the essay have isotopic ratios which can be calculated. As we can see below they are all at strong disagreement with each other. There is a spread of dates over a 350 billion year range! None of the Lead or Rubidium based dating methods even come vaguely close to a Jurassic age.

 

22. Age Dating Summary

 

 

Origin Of The Indian Ocean-Type Isotopic Signature

According to the article ⁴⁰ this rock formation in the Philippine Sea plate was dated in 1998 by scientists from Department of Geology, Florida International University in Miami. According to the essay the true age is: “Spreading centers in three basins, the West Philippine Basin (37-60 Ma), the Parece Vela Basin (18-31 Ma), and the Shikoku Basin (17-25 Ma) are extinct, and one, the Mariana Trough (0-6 Ma), is active (Figure 1)." ⁴⁰ Numerous table and charts affirm this as the true age. ⁴¹ Two tables ⁴² in the essay have isotopic ratios which can be calculated. As we can see below they are all at radical disagreement with each other. There is a spread of dates of over 13 billion years! None of the Uranium/Lead based dating methods even come vaguely close to the so called true age. The oldest date is 706 times older than the youngest date.

 

23. Age Dating Summary

 

Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopes in Proterozoic Intrusives

According to the article ⁴³ this specimen from the Grenville Front in Canadian Labrador was dated in 1986 by scientists from Lunar and Planetary Institute, Texas, the United States Geological Survey, and the Geological Survey of Canada. According to the essay: "We report Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic compositions of mid-Proterozoic anorthosites and related rocks (1.45-1.65 Ga) and of younger olivine diabase dikes (1.4 Ga) from two complexes on either side of the Grenville Front in Labrador." ⁴³ The article places the age in the pre Cambrian period. Various tables ⁴⁴ in the essay have isotopic ratios which can be calculated. As we can see below they are all at strong disagreement with each other. If the Uranium/Lead dating method is used to test or calibrate the other methods then they are totally wrong.

 

24. Age Dating Summary

 

Age and Isotopic Relationships

According to the article ⁴⁵ this rock formation in Antarctica was dated in 1992 by scientists from California and Germany. According to the essay the true age is: “Nevertheless, concordant Ph-Pb model ages of pyroxene separates were obtained (20'): 4.55784 ± 52 Ga for LEW and 4.55780 ± 42 Ga for ADOR." ⁴⁵ Several tables ⁴⁶ in the essay have isotopic ratios which can be calculated. As we can see below they are all at disagreement with each other.  The two on the far right show how discordant the best dating evolutionist can offer.

 

25. Age Dating Summary

 

The Beni Bousera Ultramafic Complex of Northern Morocco

According to the article ⁴⁷ this rock formation in Morocco was dated in 1995 by scientists from New York. According to the essay the true age is: “The data are presented in Table 5. Garnet-clinopyroxene two-point Sm-Nd isochrons from samples Ga and Ii yield ages of 23.0 ± 7.3 m.y. and 20.1 ± 6.9 m.y." ⁴⁸ Several tables ⁴⁹ in the essay have isotopic ratios which can be calculated. As we can see below the Rhenium/Osmium gives wildly discordant dates.

 

26. Rhenium/Osmium Age Dating Summary

 

Implications for Banda Arc Magma Genesis

According to the article ⁵⁰ this rock formation in the Banda Arc, East Indonesia was dated in 1995 by scientists from University of Utrecht, the Royal Hol1oway University of London, the Free University of Amsterdam and Comell University. According to the essay the true age is: “In summary, the western part of New Guinea is characterised by Phanerozoic rocks (600 Ma) in contrast to the northern part of Australia, which is dominated by Proterozoic rocks (2200-1400 Ma)." ⁵¹ Several tables ⁵² in the essay have isotopic ratios which can be calculated. As we can see below the Lead 207/206 dating method gives wildly discordant dates. How can both methods be so at variance with each other?

 

27. Lead 207/206 Age Dating Summary

 

Pb, Sr, and Nd Isotopic Features

According to the article ⁵³ this rock formation in China was dated in 2001 by scientists from China. According to the essay the true age is: “They define a Rb-Sr isochron age of 286 Ma. Pb isotopic compositions for bitumen and crude oil from Karamay, Liaohe, and Tarim all show features of crust–mantle mixing." ⁵³ The Neodymium/Samarium dating method gives the following dates: “Thus, the Nd isotopic compositions strongly show an influence from depleted mantle (286 Ma).” ⁵⁴A Neodymium/Samarium Isochron gives more dating information “143Nd/144Nd and 147Sm/144Nd ratios vary within 0.51157 to 0.51197 and 0.0778 to 0.153, respectively, and yield old, depleted mantle Nd model ages of 1.5 to 3.2 Ga.” ⁵⁵ Several tables ⁵⁶ in the essay [tables one to six] have isotopic ratios which can be calculated. As we can see below the Lead 207/206 dating method gives wildly discordant dates. How can both methods be so at variance with each other?

 

28. Lead 207/206 Age Dating Summary

 

29. Lead 207/206 Age Dating Summary

 

30. Lead 207/206 Age Dating Summary

 

Sources of Labrador Sea Sediments

According to the article ⁵⁷ this rock formation in Labrador was dated in 2002 by scientists from Canada. According to the essay the true age is 8,600 years old: “The newly acquired Pb isotopic data allow us to better constrain the different source areas that supplied clay-size material during the last deglaciation, until 8.6 kyr (calendar ages)." ⁵⁷ A table ⁵⁸ in the essay has Carbon-14 dates alongside isotopic ratios which can be calculated. As we can see below the Lead 207/206 dating method gives wildly discordant dates. How can both methods be so at variance with each other?

30. Lead 207/206 Versus Carbon-14 Age Dating Summary

 

The Petrogenesis of Martian Meteorites

According to the article ⁵⁹ these two meteorite samples was dated in 2002 by scientists from the University of New Mexico, the Johnson Space Center, Texas and the Lockheed Engineering and Science Company, Texas. According to the essay the true age based on Neodymium/Samarium dating is 173 and 166 million years old. ⁵⁹ A table ⁶⁰ in the essay has Rubidium/Strontium isotopic ratios which can be calculated. As we can see below Rubidium/Strontium dating method gives wildly discordant dates. The Table 1 summary is the rock that is supposed to be 173 million year old. The Table 2 summary is the rock that is supposed to be 166 million year old. How can both methods be so at variance with each other?

 

31. Rubidium/Strontium Age Dating Summary

 

 

Conclusion

Brent Dalrymple states in his anti creationist book The Age of the Earth: “Several events in the formation of the Solar System can be dated with considerable precision.” ⁶¹

 

Looking at some of the dating it is obvious that precision is much lacking. He then goes on: “Biblical chronologies are historically important, but their credibility began to erode in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries when it became apparent to some that it would be more profitable to seek a realistic age for the Earth through observation of nature than through a literal interpretation of parables.” ⁶²

 

I his book he gives a table ⁶³ with radiometric dates of twenty meteorites. If you run the figures through Microsoft Excel, you will find that they are 98.7% in agreement. There is only a seven percent difference between the ratio of the smallest and oldest dates. As we have seen in this essay, such a perfect fit is attained by selecting data and ignoring other data. A careful study of the latest research shows that such perfection is illusionary at best. The Bible believer who accepts the creation account literally has no problem with such unreliable dating methods. Much of the data in Dalrymple’s book is selectively taken to suit and ignores data to the contrary.

 

References

 

1              http://web.archive.org/web/20051223072700/http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/geotime/age.html

The age of 10 to 15 billion years for the age of the Universe.

 

2              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_the_universe

 

3              http://arxiv.org/pdf/1001.4744v1.pdf

Microwave Anisotropy Probe Observations, Page 39, By N. Jarosik

 

4              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_the_Earth

 

5              http://sp.lyellcollection.org/content/190/1/205

The age of the Earth, G. Brent Dalrymple

Geological Society, London, Special Publications, January 1, 2001, Volume 190, Pages 205-221

 

6              The age of the earth, Gérard Manhes

Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 47, Issue 3, May 1980, Pages 370–382

 

7              http://www.bgc.org/isoplot_etc/isoplot.html

 

8              Radioactive and Stable Isotope Geology, By H.G. Attendon, Chapman And Hall Publishers, 1997. Page 73 [Rb/Sr], 195 [K/Ar], 295 [Re/OS], 305 [Nd/Nd].

 

9              Principles of Isotope Geology, Second Edition, By Gunter Faure, Published By John Wiley And Sons, New York, 1986. Pages 120 [Rb/Sr], 205 [Nd/Sm], 252 [Lu/Hf], 266 [Re/OS], 269 [Os/OS].

 

10           Absolute Age Determination, Mebus A. Geyh, Springer-Verlag Publishers, Berlin, 1990.

Pages 80 [Rb/Sr], 98 [Nd/Sm], 108 [Lu/Hf], 112 [Re/OS].

 

11           Radiogenic Isotope Geology, Second Edition, By Alan P. Dickin, Cambridge University Press, 2005. Pages 43 [Rb/Sr], 70 [Nd/Sm], 205 [Re/OS], 208 [Pt/OS], 232 [Lu/Hf].

 

12           Rocks of the Central Wyoming Province, Canadian Journal Of Earth Science, 2006, Volume 43,

Pages 1419

 

13           Reference 27, Page 1436-1437

 

14           Reference 27, Page 1439

 

15           Correlated N D, Sr And Pb Isotope Variation, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 59, 1982, Pages 327

 

16           Reference 45, Pages 330, 331

 

17           A Depleted Mantle Source For Kimberlites, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 73, 1985,

Pages 269

 

18           Reference 47, Pages 270

 

19           Reference 47, Pages 271, 273

 

20           Sm-Nd Isotopic Systematics, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 71, 1984, Pages 46

 

21           Reference 50, Pages 49

 

22           Strontium, Neodymium And Lead Compositions, Earth and Planetary Science Letters,

Volume 75, 1985, Pages 354-368

 

23           Reference 52, Pages 356, 363

 

24           Sr, Nd, and Os isotope geochemistry, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 99, 1990, Pages 362

 

25           Reference 63, Pages 364

 

26           Reference 63, Pages 365, 368

 

27           Pb, Nd and Sr isotopic geochemistry, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 105, 1991, Pages 149

 

28           Reference 66, Pages 154, 160

 

29           Reference 66, Pages 156, 157

 

30           Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopes, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 113, 1992, Pages 107

 

31           Reference 68, Pages 110

 

32           An extremely low U/Pb source, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1993, Volume 57,

Pages 4687-4702

 

33           Reference 75, Pages 4690, 4691

 

34           The 72 Ma Geochemical Evolution, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 183, 2000, Pages 73

 

35           Reference 77, Pages 76-79

 

36           Temporal Evolution of the Lithospheric Mantle, Journal Of Petrology, 2009, Volume 50,

Number 10, Pages 1857

 

37           Reference 108, Pages 1873, 1874, 1877, 1879, 1880

 

38           Geochemistry of Jurassic Oceanic Crust, Journal Of Petrology, 1998, Volume 39, Number 5,

Pages 859–880

 

39           Reference 115, Pages 867, 868

 

40           Origin of the Indian Ocean-type isotopic signature, Journal Of Geophysical Research, 1998, Volume 103, Number B9, Pages 20,963

 

41           Reference 134, Pages 20965, 20969

 

42           Reference 134, Pages 20968, 20969

 

 43          Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopes in Proterozoic Intrusives, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1986, Volume 50, Pages 2571-2585

 

44           Reference 43, Pages 2575, 2577

 

45           Age and Isotopic Relationships, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1992, Volume 56, Pages 1673-1694

 

46           Reference 43, Pages 1676, 1678, 1684, 1686, 1687

 

 

47           The Beni Bousera Ultramafic Complex of Northern Morocco, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1996, Volume 60, Number 8, Pages 1429

 

48           Reference 47, Pages 1434

 

49           Reference 47, Pages 1442

 

50           Implications for Banda Arc Magma Genesis, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1995, Volume 59, Number 12, Pages 2573-2598

 

51           Reference 50, Pages 2588

 

52           Reference 50, Pages 2580-2581

 

53           Pb, Sr, and Nd Isotopic Features, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2001, Volume 65, Number 15,

Pages 2555–2570

 

54           Reference 53, Pages 2559

 

55           Reference 53, Pages 2560

 

56           Reference 53, Pages 2558, 2561-2566

 

57           Sources of Labrador Sea Sediments, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2002, Volume 66, Number 14, Pages 2569

 

58           Reference 57, Pages 2572-2573

 

59           The Petrogenesis of Martian Meteorites, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2002, Volume 66,

Number 11, Pages 2037–2053

 

60           Reference 59, Pages 2040-2041

 

61           The Age Of The Earth, By G. Brent Dalrymple, 1991, Stanford University Press, Stanford, California, Page 10.

 

62           Reference 61, Page 23

 

63           Reference 61, Page 287

 

 

 

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