Proposal
How Do We Geologically Determine the End of the Flood?
The primary goal of this abstract is to recommend guidelines for Flood/Post-Flood discussions and approaches to geologically determine the end of the flood.
Chronostratigraphy and lithostratigraphy are two fundamental branches of stratigraphy. Chronostratigraphy deals with the age of rock strata and is used to construct the geological time scale. It often relies on key fossils or radiometric dating techniques. For example, the Jurassic System comprises rocks formed during the Jurassic period. In the context of the Flood, geologic layers were deposited between Genesis 7:11 (fountains of the great deep burst forth and the windows of heavens were opened) and Genesis 8:13 (the waters were dried from off the earth). This is also a “Biblical” definition of the Flood. However, these deposits could be any geologic materials (igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary rocks) deposited during the Flood period, which may not always clarify discussions.
Lithostratigraphy focuses on the physical and compositional characteristics of rock layers. Lithostratigraphic units, like formations, groups, and members, are identified based on distinct rock characteristics. An example is the Morrison Formation in the western United States, known for its red sandstones and dinosaur fossils.
A practical application of lithostratigraphy is that once marine floodwaters drop permanently below a certain elevation, the Flood is considered over for that elevation and above at that location. In North America, floodwaters drained first from the high Rocky Mountains, then lower elevation mountains, and lastly from coastal lowlands, possibly over more than five months. Lithologies deposited by sediment-laden floodwaters or geomorphic features resulting from erosion during the recession phase of the flood are good examples of this concept.
A simple diagnostic, such as when marine floodwaters have drained off the continent and stabilized at the coastline, may indicate the end of the Flood. However, most geologic studies require a more comprehensive evaluation. Whitmore and Garner (2008) proposed a quantitative methodology using 28 criteria of Flood and post-Flood processes. Although comprehensive and useful, this methodology has not yet become widespread.
Other researchers have been compiling additional geologic evidence to evaluate the Flood/Post-Flood boundary issue. Michael Oard (2025) has been evaluating criteria to support his position that the Flood/post-Flood boundary is in the Late Cenozoic (i.e., Miocene, Pliocene, and Quaternary). Tim Clarey (2020) has presented additional evidence through his work on the Column Project at the Institute for Creation Research, mapping out the sedimentary rock record of the global Flood across the world's continents. Nathan Mogk (Mogk, pers. comm., 2025) is incorporating all these criteria into a draft quantitative methodology with 43 criteria in a process like Whitmore and Garner (2008).
Frequent utilization of Whitmore and Garner’s methodology and others published in the future will be beneficial in geologically determining the end of the Flood. As these quantitative methods are applied to multiple areas, refinement of the methodology will result in more accurate and definitive conclusions.
References
Whitmore, J.H., and P.A. Garner. 2008. Using suites of criteria to recognize pre-Flood, Flood, and post-Flood strata in the rock record with application to Wyoming (USA). In A.A. Snelling (editor), Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Creationism, pp. 425-448. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Creation Science Fellowship; Dallas, Texas: Institute for Creation Research.
Oard, M. 2025. Chapter 34 Summary of Thirty-Two Evidences. Retrieved February 28, 2025. http://michael.oards.net/pdf/PostFloodBoundary/Chp34Version3.pdf
Clarey, T. 2020. Carved in Stone, Geologic Evidence of the Worldwide Flood. Dallas, Texas: Institute for Creation Research.
Keywords
Flood, Post-Flood, Chronostratigraphy, Lithostratigraphy
Submission Type
Oral Presentation
Copyright
© 2025 Fred Bauhof. All rights reserved.
How Do We Geologically Determine the End of the Flood?
How Do We Geologically Determine the End of the Flood?
The primary goal of this abstract is to recommend guidelines for Flood/Post-Flood discussions and approaches to geologically determine the end of the flood.
Chronostratigraphy and lithostratigraphy are two fundamental branches of stratigraphy. Chronostratigraphy deals with the age of rock strata and is used to construct the geological time scale. It often relies on key fossils or radiometric dating techniques. For example, the Jurassic System comprises rocks formed during the Jurassic period. In the context of the Flood, geologic layers were deposited between Genesis 7:11 (fountains of the great deep burst forth and the windows of heavens were opened) and Genesis 8:13 (the waters were dried from off the earth). This is also a “Biblical” definition of the Flood. However, these deposits could be any geologic materials (igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary rocks) deposited during the Flood period, which may not always clarify discussions.
Lithostratigraphy focuses on the physical and compositional characteristics of rock layers. Lithostratigraphic units, like formations, groups, and members, are identified based on distinct rock characteristics. An example is the Morrison Formation in the western United States, known for its red sandstones and dinosaur fossils.
A practical application of lithostratigraphy is that once marine floodwaters drop permanently below a certain elevation, the Flood is considered over for that elevation and above at that location. In North America, floodwaters drained first from the high Rocky Mountains, then lower elevation mountains, and lastly from coastal lowlands, possibly over more than five months. Lithologies deposited by sediment-laden floodwaters or geomorphic features resulting from erosion during the recession phase of the flood are good examples of this concept.
A simple diagnostic, such as when marine floodwaters have drained off the continent and stabilized at the coastline, may indicate the end of the Flood. However, most geologic studies require a more comprehensive evaluation. Whitmore and Garner (2008) proposed a quantitative methodology using 28 criteria of Flood and post-Flood processes. Although comprehensive and useful, this methodology has not yet become widespread.
Other researchers have been compiling additional geologic evidence to evaluate the Flood/Post-Flood boundary issue. Michael Oard (2025) has been evaluating criteria to support his position that the Flood/post-Flood boundary is in the Late Cenozoic (i.e., Miocene, Pliocene, and Quaternary). Tim Clarey (2020) has presented additional evidence through his work on the Column Project at the Institute for Creation Research, mapping out the sedimentary rock record of the global Flood across the world's continents. Nathan Mogk (Mogk, pers. comm., 2025) is incorporating all these criteria into a draft quantitative methodology with 43 criteria in a process like Whitmore and Garner (2008).
Frequent utilization of Whitmore and Garner’s methodology and others published in the future will be beneficial in geologically determining the end of the Flood. As these quantitative methods are applied to multiple areas, refinement of the methodology will result in more accurate and definitive conclusions.
References
Whitmore, J.H., and P.A. Garner. 2008. Using suites of criteria to recognize pre-Flood, Flood, and post-Flood strata in the rock record with application to Wyoming (USA). In A.A. Snelling (editor), Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Creationism, pp. 425-448. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Creation Science Fellowship; Dallas, Texas: Institute for Creation Research.
Oard, M. 2025. Chapter 34 Summary of Thirty-Two Evidences. Retrieved February 28, 2025. http://michael.oards.net/pdf/PostFloodBoundary/Chp34Version3.pdf
Clarey, T. 2020. Carved in Stone, Geologic Evidence of the Worldwide Flood. Dallas, Texas: Institute for Creation Research.