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86Kr excess and other noble gases identify a billion-year-old radiogenically-enriched groundwater system

Author

Listed:
  • O. Warr

    (University of Toronto)

  • C. J. Ballentine

    (University of Oxford)

  • T. C. Onstott

    (Princeton University)

  • D. M. Nisson

    (Princeton University)

  • T. L. Kieft

    (New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology)

  • D. J. Hillegonds

    (University of Oxford)

  • B. Sherwood Lollar

    (University of Toronto
    IPGP, Sorbonne Paris Cité)

Abstract

Deep within the Precambrian basement rocks of the Earth, groundwaters can sustain subsurface microbial communities, and are targets of investigation both for geologic storage of carbon and/or nuclear waste, and for new reservoirs of rapidly depleting resources of helium. Noble gas-derived residence times have revealed deep hydrological settings where groundwaters are preserved on millions to billion-year timescales. Here we report groundwaters enriched in the highest concentrations of radiogenic products yet discovered in fluids, with an associated 86Kr excess in the free fluid, and residence times >1 billion years. This brine, from a South African gold mine 3 km below surface, demonstrates that ancient groundwaters preserved in the deep continental crust on billion-year geologic timescales may be more widespread than previously understood. The findings have implications beyond Earth, where on rocky planets such as Mars, subsurface water may persist on long timescales despite surface conditions that no longer provide a habitable zone.

Suggested Citation

  • O. Warr & C. J. Ballentine & T. C. Onstott & D. M. Nisson & T. L. Kieft & D. J. Hillegonds & B. Sherwood Lollar, 2022. "86Kr excess and other noble gases identify a billion-year-old radiogenically-enriched groundwater system," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-31412-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31412-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. R. L. Tyne & P. H. Barry & M. Lawson & D. J. Byrne & O. Warr & H. Xie & D. J. Hillegonds & M. Formolo & Z. M. Summers & B. Skinner & J. M. Eiler & C. J. Ballentine, 2021. "Rapid microbial methanogenesis during CO2 storage in hydrocarbon reservoirs," Nature, Nature, vol. 600(7890), pages 670-674, December.
    2. B. Sherwood Lollar & T. D. Westgate & J. A. Ward & G. F. Slater & G. Lacrampe-Couloume, 2002. "Abiogenic formation of alkanes in the Earth's crust as a minor source for global hydrocarbon reservoirs," Nature, Nature, vol. 416(6880), pages 522-524, April.
    3. G. Borgonie & A. García-Moyano & D. Litthauer & W. Bert & A. Bester & E. van Heerden & C. Möller & M. Erasmus & T. C. Onstott, 2011. "Nematoda from the terrestrial deep subsurface of South Africa," Nature, Nature, vol. 474(7349), pages 79-82, June.
    4. L. Li & B. A. Wing & T. H. Bui & J. M. McDermott & G. F. Slater & S. Wei & G. Lacrampe-Couloume & B. Sherwood Lollar, 2016. "Sulfur mass-independent fractionation in subsurface fracture waters indicates a long-standing sulfur cycle in Precambrian rocks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Justine F. Sauvage & Ashton Flinders & Arthur J. Spivack & Robert Pockalny & Ann G. Dunlea & Chloe H. Anderson & David C. Smith & Richard W. Murray & Steven D’Hondt, 2021. "The contribution of water radiolysis to marine sedimentary life," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Devan M. Nisson & Clifford C. Walters & Martha L. Chacón-Patiño & Chad R. Weisbrod & Thomas L. Kieft & Barbara Sherwood Lollar & Oliver Warr & Julio Castillo & Scott M. Perl & Errol D. Cason & Barry M, 2023. "Radiolytically reworked Archean organic matter in a habitable deep ancient high-temperature brine," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.

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