Fossil water or paleowater is groundwater that has remained in an aquifer for millennia. Water can rest underground in aquifers for thousands or even millions of years. When geologic changes seal the aquifer off from further "recharging," the water becomes trapped inside and then becomes known as fossil water.

The Ogallala Aquifer and Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System are among the most notable of fossil water reserves. A further potential store of ancient water is Lake Vostok, a subglacial lake in Antarctica. Extraction of fossil water is sometimes referred to as water mining because it is a non-renewable resource.

[edit] See also

• Artesian aquifer
• Hydrogeology
• Water resources

[edit] References

• ""Fossil Water" in Libya". NASA Earth Observatory newsroom. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17242. Retrieved 2006-04-27. 

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