PRIME CLIMATE ENERGY
Zeg34-1018	Reactions of abiogenic hydrocarbons in Earths upper mantle
	Quote:	The formation of hydrocarbon fuels in Earths interior has traditionally been considered to have biogenic origins; however, growing evidence suggests that some light hydrocarbons may instead originate abiotically. It is widely expected that the Fisher-Tropsch-type (FTT) process, which typically refers to the conversion of inorganic carbon to organic matter in the geologic convention, may also happen in Earths interior, but the aqueous conditions and absence of industrial catalysts in deep environments suggest that the FTT process can be very different from that in the chemical industry. Here, we performed extensive ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations ( 2.4 ns) to investigate the FTT synthesis in dry mixture and in aqueous solutions at 10-13 GPa and 1000-1400 K. We found that large hydrocarbon-related species containing C, O, and H are abiotically synthesized via the polymerization of CO without any catalyst. Supercritical water, commonly found in deep Earth, does not prevent organic molecule formation but restricts product size and carbon reduction. Our studies reveal a previously unrecognized abiogenic route for hydrocarbon synthesis in mantle geofluids. These carbon-containing fluids could potentially migrate from depth to shallower crustal reservoirs, thereby contributing to the deep carbon cycle, influencing surface carbon budgets, and possibly serving as a new energy source.
	Comment:	So the question becomes a matter of proportions, how much is biogenic, and how much is abiogenic. Also where would it form? Given the prevalence of methane, how much would end up converted to longer chain hydrocarbons? AI suggests literature may support a small portion of subducted carbonates from the ocean converted to oils, with the vast bulk released as volcanic CO2, and a small percentage converted to methane that may seep out and become trapped in sandstones during the slow geological carbon cycle.
	Article:	https://arxiv.org/html/2506.13350v1
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Updated 08/29/2026-12:26:24 AM
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Zeg34-1018

Reactions of abiogenic hydrocarbons in Earths upper mantle