Water can exist deep within the Earth's crust at depths exceeding six kilometers
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 75/100
Water and fluid systems are well documented deep within the Earth's continental crust and subseafloor biosphere, supporting deep microbial habitats.
Evidence for · 3
Earth-like Habitable Environments in the Subsurface of Mars.
2021 · cited by 0
Paper [3] discusses groundwaters isolated in Earth's deep continental subsurface for millions of years, confirming the presence of deep pore water.
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More for · 2
Physical and chemical controls on habitats for life in the deep subsurface beneath continents and ice.
2016 · cited by 0
Paper [8] notes that viable microbial communities and liquid water habitats extend to several kilometers depth beneath the continents.
Taxonomically and functionally diverse microbial communities in deep crystalline rocks of the Fennoscandian shield.
2014 · cited by 0
Paper [9] analyzes microbial communities along a 2,516-meter (approx. 2.5 km) deep drill hole in continental crystalline crust, implicitly documenting fluids at depth.