A creationist who believes the Grand Canyon formed after Noah's flood is suing park authorities for not letting him remove rocks for study.

Research in the 1.84-billion-year-old landmark is restricted, especially if it involves removing material.

In 2013 creationist Andrew Snelling - who also has a PhD - was denied the right to remove 50 to 60 fist-sized rocks for research.

Last week he sued park administrators and the Department of Interior because he believes he was denied his research permit because of religious beliefs.

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Andrew Snelling sued Grand Canyon park administrators and the Department of Interior because he believes he was denied his research permit because of his religious beliefs (stock)

THE CONTROVERSY In 2013 creationist Andrew Snelling - who also has a PhD - was denied the right to remove 50 to 60 fist-sized rocks for research. Dr Snelling is a Young-Earth creationist who believe the earth is only a few thousand years old. He believes the Grand Canyon was part of the biblical account in the creation of Earth. Research in the 1.84-billion-year-old landmark is restricted, especially if it involves removing material. Last week he sued park administrators and the Department of Interior because he believes he was denied his research permit because of his religious beliefs. Advertisement

Dr Snelling is a Young-Earth creationist who believes the Earth is only a few thousand years old.

The Australian-based scientist also thinks the Grand Canyon was part of the biblical account in the creation of Earth.

He holds a doctorate in geology from the University of Sydney and has conducted previous research at the site.

'The government isn't allowed to discriminate against someone based on their viewpoint, and National Park officials have absolutely no legal justification in stopping a scientist from conducting research simply because they don't agree with his views,' Gary McCaleb, senior counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom working behalf of Mr Snelling told theWashington Times.

'Using someone's views to screen them for a government benefit is unconstitutional.'

A Christian legal advocacy group filed the lawsuit on behalf of Dr Snelling for being prevented from carrying out his research because of his religious beliefs, writes The Atlantic.

'National Park Service: Research in Grand Canyon okay for geologists…but not Christian ones', the organisation wrote in a press release.

'Dr Snelling has conducted geological research in Australia and the United States, published works in peer-reviewed journals, and has substantial field and laboratory experience with both theoretical and practical geological research', they said.

In 2013 creationist Andrew Snelling - who also has a PhD - was denied the right to remove 50 to 60 fist-sized rocks from the park for research (stock image)

YOUNG-EARTH CREATIONISTS Young-creationists believe the Book of Genesis, which tells the story of the creation of the earth, should be taken literally. They believe Earth and all life on it was created in six days around 10,000 years ago. They believe around 2,300 - 3,300 years before Christ the Earth was radically changed by Noah's Flood. All creatures that were not on Noah's Ark perished and many of them were also buried under rocks. According to their beliefs, this flood is therefore responsible for almost all fossils and rock layers. This is why the Grand Canyon park is such an important area of study. Advertisement

'Nonetheless, National Park Service officials denied his routine request to obtain a few fist-sized rock samples from the Grand Canyon after learning of his Christian views about the Earth's beginnings', they said.

Between 15 and 40 per cent of Americans believe the planet is only 10,000 years old.

Although heavily restricted, the park does hold around 80 research projects each year.

'Despite the fact that Dr Snelling had accomplished prior research in the Canyon, Park officials ran him through a gamut of red tape for more than three years', the organisation said.

Reports suggests a park officer said the project was not granted because the rock he wanted is freely available outside the park.

Other geologists denounced his work as not scientifically valid.

The reasons why the park declined Dr Snelling's application is now being dealt with in a litigation.

MailOnline has contacted the US Department of the Interior and Grand Canyon National Park Service for comment.