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Subduction hides high-pressure sources of energy that may feed the deep subsurface biosphere

Author

Listed:
  • A. Vitale Brovarone

    (Università degli Studi di Torino
    IMPMC)

  • D. A. Sverjensky

    (Johns Hopkins University)

  • F. Piccoli

    (University of Bern)

  • F. Ressico

    (Università degli Studi di Torino)

  • D. Giovannelli

    (University of Naples Federico II
    CNR-IRBIM
    Tokyo Institute of Technology
    Rutgers University)

  • I. Daniel

    (LGL-TPE, F-69622)

Abstract

Geological sources of H2 and abiotic CH4 have had a critical role in the evolution of our planet and the development of life and sustainability of the deep subsurface biosphere. Yet the origins of these sources are largely unconstrained. Hydration of mantle rocks, or serpentinization, is widely recognized to produce H2 and favour the abiotic genesis of CH4 in shallow settings. However, deeper sources of H2 and abiotic CH4 are missing from current models, which mainly invoke more oxidized fluids at convergent margins. Here we combine data from exhumed subduction zone high-pressure rocks and thermodynamic modelling to show that deep serpentinization (40–80 km) generates significant amounts of H2 and abiotic CH4, as well as H2S and NH3. Our results suggest that subduction, worldwide, hosts large sources of deep H2 and abiotic CH4, potentially providing energy to the overlying subsurface biosphere in the forearc regions of convergent margins.

Suggested Citation

  • A. Vitale Brovarone & D. A. Sverjensky & F. Piccoli & F. Ressico & D. Giovannelli & I. Daniel, 2020. "Subduction hides high-pressure sources of energy that may feed the deep subsurface biosphere," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-17342-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17342-x
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    Cited by:

    1. Miriam Peña-Alvarez & Alberto Vitale Brovarone & Mary-Ellen Donnelly & Mengnan Wang & Philip Dalladay-Simpson & Ross Howie & Eugene Gregoryanz, 2021. "In-situ abiogenic methane synthesis from diamond and graphite under geologically relevant conditions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-5, December.
    2. Francesco Giuntoli & Luca Menegon & Guillaume Siron & Flavio Cognigni & Hugues Leroux & Roberto Compagnoni & Marco Rossi & Alberto Vitale Brovarone, 2024. "Methane-hydrogen-rich fluid migration may trigger seismic failure in subduction zones at forearc depths," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Tuğçe Beyazay & Kendra S. Belthle & Christophe Farès & Martina Preiner & Joseph Moran & William F. Martin & Harun Tüysüz, 2023. "Ambient temperature CO2 fixation to pyruvate and subsequently to citramalate over iron and nickel nanoparticles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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