THERE IS POSSIBLY PROBABLY ENOUGH FRESH WATER ON EARTH FOR EVERYONE
Since 2014 scientists have been pursuing the concept that water exists hundreds of miles below us in a material called RINGWOODITE. 2014 is when a diamond from a Brazilian diamond mine was shown to have a tiny but visible speck of the material as an occlusion. Prior to that finding, ringwoodite materials had been found in meteorite debris and synthesized in the laboratory. Ringwoodite is a blue, gemlike material made of magnesium silicate (Mg2SiO4) that in theory has an attraction for hydrogen. It starts out as a green-colored mineral called Peridot that is exposed to seawater and indescribably high pressures to form ringwoodite with drops of water in it. Drawings of the water cycle now show ocean water leaking through fissures in the bottom of the oceans and then returning through other fissures by convection currents along with ringwoodite being expelled through volcanic eruptions.
The capture of fresh water from this natural process or by drilling so deeply may not be needed however, because THIS WATER HAS ALREADY BEEN FOUND.
A brilliant scientist/engineer/geologist/hydrologist named Stephen Riess found this newly formed, infantile, or primary water in copious amounts almost 100 years ago. He was born in Bavaria in the late 1800’s and educated in their finest technical schools. After emigrating to the U.S. in his 20s, he became an active mining engineer and geologist traveling worldwide for large firms. Because of a youthful encounter with wells in Germany and then his later mine experiences, he theorized that water was being constantly formed deep within the earth, that it was under tremendous pressure, and that this pressure was driving the newly formed water up toward the earth’s crust through fissures where, within reason, it could be accessed.
Because of his geology background, Mr. Riess further theorized that the fissures would be near mountains and mesas that had erupted through the surface and that the chemistry of the rocks adjacent to eruptions would further signify their presence. In the 1940’s he began advising people where to drill. One well required drilling 500 feet through solid granite and 450 feet beyond, but success was achieved. Upon partially retiring in the 70’s he could point to 800 success stories worldwide including Israel and Saudi Arabia. Much of his work was in southern California where he lived for decades and where he ran afoul of politicians over the development of waterways to transport water long distances vs. the drilling of local wells. This in turn caused various scientific, academic, and business entities dependent on public funding to discredit him. The ever-present go-along-to-get-along philosophy prevailed against the man and his theories backed by actual successes.
In 1960, a multi-disciplined engineer/author Michael H. Salzman wrote a book titled New Water for A Thirsty World about the work of Mr. Riess. He apparently had met the scientist and reviewed his notes because he uses the principles of water chemistry, advanced physics, geochemistry, petrology, physical chemistry, mineralogy, crystallography, and structural geology to validate the theories expressed by Mr. Riess. The book has been out of print for decades, but online certified scans are available at modest prices. It is in a textbook format with numerous references. Shortly before his death in 1985, Mr. Riess was interviewed twice on film where he detailed his theory and offered that he had copious notes on his theories and activities. These rather lengthy interviews are online in YouTube format by simply googling Stephan Riess. In them, he gives information on how his theories developed, how they need to be applied, and their successful application. They also display the sincerity of the man.
Modern drilling equipment and processes learned and developed for the oil and natural gas industries should make access to these water sources much easier than when Mr. Riess was assisting in developing productive primary water wells. The water obtained to date was of varying quality relative to its mineral content (TDS). This happens because the region where water is formed is below the level where oxidation can take place and the water is pure but as it accumulates in crevices and pockets it reacts with minerals and as a universal solvent, dissolves many. Minimal treatment may be needed for agricultural use because of brackishness but none of the wells produced anything approaching sea water quality.
A web search shows no signs of any enterprise or country exploring for this primary water. With the world requirement for fresh water for agricultural and human consumption ever increasing while simultaneously existing sources are diminishing, renewal of following the lead of Stephan Riess could be a lifesaver. Somehow his story must be spread worldwide with renewed optimism until it captures the imagination of an entrepreneur. We cannot rely on the 2014 science project.
SPREAD THE WORD!
