Oklo, encore
Vandergraaf, Chuck (vandergraaft@aecl.ca)
Fri, 24 Apr 1998 11:19:54 -0400Back in February of this year, I asked for comments from YEC supporters on
the Oklo phenomenon. Briefly, Oklo, Gabon, was the site of a natural
nuclear reactor that operated for a considerable length of time. From our
understanding of nuclear physics, a nuclear chain reaction can only be
sustained if the U235/U238 ratio is higher than at present. This ratio was
higher in the past because U235 has a shorted half life than U238. All
evidence indicates that the fission and activation products have decayed
into stable isotopes. This evidence suggests a very old earth, at least
10^9 years.
Until now, I've had no comment (except a flippant one from Art Chadwick to
which I took no offence) which leads me to think that either
* this is of no interest to ASA members
* YEC supporters have no explanation.
I am posting this note in the faint hope of getting some response.
T.T. (Chuck) Vandergraaf
Geochemistry Research Branch
Whiteshell Laboratories
Pinawa, MB R0E 1L0
Canada
*vandergraaft@aecl.ca
*(204) 753-2311 xt. 2592