Geoscience

Naturally Occurring Ice-VII

Scientists have discovered a form of water - Ice-VII that was not previously known to occur naturally on our planet.

Trapped in the rigid structure of diamonds formed deep in the Earth’s crust, Ice-VII is about one-and-a-half times as dense as the regular ice we put in our drinks and skate on in winter, and the crystalline structure of its atoms is different as well.

Do You Know?

Scientists believe that ice-VII may be found in great abundance in the solar system, perhaps in the interior of ice moons like Enceladus and Europa, or as part of the ocean floor ....