Claim CH561.2:
The order of fossils deposited by Noah's Flood, especially those of marine
organisms, can be explained by hydrologic sorting. Fossils of the same
size will be sorted together. Heavier and more streamlined forms will be
found at lower levels.
Source:
Whitcomb, John C. Jr. and Henry M. Morris, 1961. The Genesis Flood.
Philadelphia, PA: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., pp. 273-274
Response:
- Fossils are not sorted according to hydrodynamic principles.
Ammonites, which are buoyant organisms similar to the chambered
nautilus, are found only in deep strata. Turtles, which are rather
dense, are found in middle and upper strata. Brachiopods are very
similar to clams in size and shape, but brachiopods are found mostly in
lower strata than are clams. Most fossil-bearing strata contain
fossils of various sizes and shapes. Some species are found in wide
ranges, while others are found only in thin layers within those ranges.
Hydrologic sorting can explain none of this.
- The sediments in which fossils are found are not hydrologically sorted.
Coarse sediments are often found above fine sediments. Nor are the
sediments sorted with the fossils. Large fossils are commonly found in
fine sediments.
- A catastrophic flood would not be expected to produce much hydrologic
sorting. A flood that lays down massive quantities of sediments would
jumble up most of them.
created 2003-4-2, modified 2004-4-15
