Abiotic Gas: Atypical, But Not Rare

Abstract

Research Article| August 01, 2014 Abiotic Gas: Atypical, But Not Rare Giuseppe Etiope; Giuseppe Etiope 1Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e VulcanologiaSezione Roma 2, Roma, ItalyE-mail: giuseppe.etiope@ingv.it2Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babeş-Bolyai UniversityCluj-Napoca, Romania Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Martin Schoell Martin Schoell 3GasConsult International Inc, Berkeley, CA 94705, USAE-mail: mschoell@gas-consult.com Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Elements (2014) 10 (4): 291–296. https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.10.4.291 Article history first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Giuseppe Etiope, Martin Schoell; Abiotic Gas: Atypical, But Not Rare. Elements 2014;; 10 (4): 291–296. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.10.4.291 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyElements Search Advanced Search Abstract Abiotic gaseous hydrocarbons comprise a fascinating, but poorly understood, group of Earth fluids generated by magmatic and gas–water–rock reactions that do not directly involve organic matter. At least nine different inorganic mechanisms, including Fischer-Tropsch type reactions, occur over a wide range of temperatures. Trace amounts (typically parts per million by volume) are formed in volcanic and geothermal fluids, but considerable amounts of methane, reaching 80–90 vol%, are now recognized in an increasing number of sites in Precambrian crystalline shields and serpentinized ultramafic rocks. Surface manifestations of abiotic gas related to serpentinization release gas directly to the atmosphere in ways that are similar to seepages of ordinary biotic gas from petroliferous areas. Abiotic methane is more widespread than previously thought. It also likely exists in sites undergoing active serpentinization and may be present in petroleum systems in the vicinity of serpentinized rocks. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.