At the Kidd Creek mine in Canada, at a depth of approximately three kilometers, geologists have unearthed water estimated to be around 2 billion years old. This liquid predates most complex life forms on our planet, having been completely isolated since the Earth was solely inhabited by microorganisms. MiraNews reported on this discovery.
The distinctiveness of this find was substantiated by an analysis of noble gases that had accumulated in the liquid over millions of years. Researchers from the University of Toronto observed that the water literally seeps from fissures in the rock. It was found to be ten times saltier than seawater and possesses a strong sulfurous odor.
Chemical analysis revealed the presence of hydrogen and sulfates, suggesting the environment is conducive to life. Indeed, microorganisms were discovered within the mine that thrive without sunlight, subsisting on chemical reactions. This revelation significantly bolsters the arguments of astrobiologists: if life can flourish at such extreme depths on Earth, it is entirely plausible that it could exist within the crust of Mars or in the sub-surface oceans of moons orbiting Jupiter and Saturn.
About the Author
