Elementary and High School texts describe the origin of lava as pictured below. The books present the origin of lava as the result of mantle plumes, where hot rocks move all the way from the molten earth’s core to the surface. The transport time is something on the order of 30 million years. Does that sound believable that a temperature differential could be sustained for that long? Some geophysicists have finally revolted and said the textbooks are wrong.
Many readers may not realize, that no one has drilled down very far at all. The deepest drilling has only been about 14 miles down. From the surface to the Earth’s core is almost 4000 miles. We have barely scratched the surface, and we really don’t know what’s down there. On the picture below, the deepest we’ve drilled could hardly even be seen on the picture!
The demise of the mantle plume hypothesis will improve the chances of various YEC geologies, particularly Walter Brown’s hydroplate theory. If lava flow and plate techtonics can be refuted, then there is room for YEC geology to succeed. Hydroplate theory ties current volcanic activity and lava flow to the mechanisms that caused the great flood. Plate techtonics have a passing relation to mantle plume theory, and thus the demise of plumes furthers the chances of Brown’s hydroplate theory prevailing over old Earth, plate techtonics.
