Conduit For Ancient Freshwater Dating Back Millions Of Years Found In Malta Escarpment
A multi-institutional team of geoscientists has discovered a deep, ancient underground pool of fresh water underneath part of the Sicilian mountains as well as a conduit for the water in the Malta Escarpment.
The Malta Escarpment is huge underwayer canyon that was discovered by a Maltese marine geologist. It extends from the eastern margin of Sicily southwards to the Medina Seamounts.
The study was reported in the journal Communications Earth & Environment and the research group used publicly available data gathered from oil discovery efforts to study the groundwater in and around the Gela formation beneath the mountains on the island of Sicily.
Researchers undertook a study of underground freshwater supplies due to concerns about resources to accommodate a growing population.
The researchers analyzed maps and data from prior surveys looking for oil deposits. They discovered what they believe to be a previously unknown aquifer thousands of feet below the Hyblaean Mountains.
They made 3D models of the aquifer to validate their findings and found evidence suggesting that not only is it an aquifer, but it holds approximately 17.5 cubic kilometers of water.
The team embarked on a mission to unravel the mystery of how such a large amount of freshwater ended up confined beneath a mountain range. They propose that it was encapsulated there during the Messinian salinity crisis, which occurred millions of years ago.
This 700,000-year event was marked by a closure at the Strait of Gibraltar, leading to the desiccation of significant areas of the Mediterranean Sea, exposing the seabed to rainfall.
The research team further suggests that this rainwater trickled down into the crust and accumulated underground as it was soaked by carbonate rock acting as a sponge.
When sea levels returned to normal, the underground fresh water was locked in due to seawater pressure.
Featured image credits: the Times of Malta.
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