1 billion-year-old mineral water is still fizzy

[Smivs]

"Scientists working 2.4 kilometres below Earth's surface in a Canadian mine have tapped a source of water that has remained isolated for at least a billion years. The researchers say they do not yet know whether anything has been living in it all this time, but the water contains high levels of methane and hydrogen...It bubbles with gasses carrying nutrients that could sustain microbial life."
The full article in 'Nature' can be found here.

[Commander McLane]

… but the water contains high levels of methane and hydrogen...It bubbles with gasses carrying nutrients that could sustain microbial life …

I probably wouldn't drink it …

[Tricky]

… but the water contains high levels of methane and hydrogen...It bubbles with gasses carrying nutrients that could sustain microbial life …

I probably wouldn't drink it …

In Victorian England that would have had people flocking to the site to bathe and drink.

[Eric Walch]

I probably wouldn't drink it …

And certainly not smoke a cigaret at the same time.

I do know of places in the USA were the tapwater contains methane. This video of burning water from the tap is often used as an example of the risk when drilling for shale gas. But insiders say that this has nothing to do with shale gas production. They just hit a gas layer when drilling the well for tapwater.

[Diziet Sma]

But insiders say that this has nothing to do with shale gas production. They just hit a gas layer when drilling the well for tapwater.

Of course, the insiders conveniently ignore how the well was drilled long before the shale fracking even began.. and how the water was not flammable before the fracking started..