Scientists have stumbled across water dating back to 2 billion years, as Canadian scientists uncovered what seems to be the oldest water discovered on planet Earth, which they say could open new doors in order to gain an insight into how life emerged on our planet – and possibly elsewhere.
Located in Timmins, Ontario, researchers from the University of Toronto found the primordial water at a depth of 2.4 km in Kidd Creek Mine.
The same team of researchers, co-headed by geoscientist Oliver Warr discovered 1.5 billion-year-old water in the same active copper, zinc, and silver mine, but at a shallower depth, 3 years before.
The earth was 2.5 billion years old when this water got collected. Also, the volume of the water is much larger than anyone anticipated.
Traces of helium, argon, neon, krypton, and xenon were found after a chemical analysis of the water was conducted.
Gases accumulate in the water over time, allowing the researchers to calculate its age. The water also contains trace metals and salt (about eight times the amount found in seawater).
The researchers describe the water as an interconnected fluid system deep in the Canadian Shield that’s billions of years old and capable of supporting life.
Further analysis could reveal the state of the Earth’s atmosphere two billion years ago.
The ancient water could also shed light on earlier life that existed during the time.
