Historic energy find: Researchers measured white hydrogen escaping from boreholes in the Canadian Shield, with reserves potentially supplying global energy for 170,000 years.

Mining link: The hydrogen-rich regions overlap with Canada’s mining zones, offering potential synergies with existing resource industries.

Global potential: Similar rock formations exist worldwide, suggesting this clean energy source could be tapped far beyond Canada.Scientists from the University of Toronto and the University of Ottawa have, for the first time, directly measured hydrogen escaping from billion-year-old Precambrian bedrock in the Canadian Shield. This marks the first direct quantification of such hydrogen emissions from this geological formation.When the measured hydrogen output was extrapolated to nearly 15,000 boreholes, the total annual production was calculated to exceed 140 metric tons. This volume of hydrogen would be sufficient to power more than 400 households each year.Scientists have identified that regions emitting hydrogen are located in the same geological zones that contain valuable mineral deposits such as nickel, copper, and cobalt. This spatial overlap links potential hydrogen resources with established mining areas.Experts have noted that rock formations capable of producing hydrogen, similar to those found in Canada, also exist in other countries. This suggests that natural hydrogen resources may be more widespread globally than previously recognized.