Evaporites contain no organic matter (Talk.Origins)

Response ArticleThis article (Evaporites contain no organic matter (Talk.Origins)) is a response to a rebuttal of a creationist claim published by Talk.Origins Archive under the title Index to Creationist Claims.

Index

Claim CD303:

Evaporite deposits could not be from evaporated inland seas because they are too pure; they contain no organic matter.

Source: Morris, Henry M., 1974. Scientific Creationism, Green Forest, AR: Master Books, p. 106.

CreationWiki response: (Talk.Origins quotes in blue)

1. Evaporite deposits do contain impurities. The Sedom Formation evaporites in the Dead Sea Basin, which are more than 2 km thick, are about 80% pure halite, with 20% gypsum, marl, chalk, dolomite and shale, and with significant amounts of pollen [Niemi et al. 1997, 46; see also Jux 1961; Klaus 1970]. The Paradox Basin evaporites have many thin interbedded shale layers containing brachiopods, conodonts, and plant remains [Duff et al. 1967, 204].

• We should expect few impurities in evaporites because hypersaline basins are harsh environments in which few organisms can live.

This is simply an out of date quote from an out of date source. The presence of impurities in some salt deposits only shows that the supersaturated salt brines sometimes picked material from the surrounding water.