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What findings were reported on methane generation in Earth's mantle?

Moonshot's Answer

Research has reported that methane can be generated in Earth's mantle through various processes. Notably, in situ high-pressure and temperature experiments have demonstrated that methane forms readily by the reduction of carbonate under conditions typical for the mantle. This process occurs at pressures between 5 and 11 GPa and temperatures ranging from 500°C to 1,500°C, starting from materials like FeO, CaCO3-calcite, and water. The findings suggest that hydrocarbons can form from non-biological material and be stable deep within the Earth, indicating the existence of abiogenic pathways for hydrocarbon formation in the Earth's interior. These results have significant implications for understanding the deep Earth's chemistry and potentially its energy resources. For more detailed information, refer to the studies published in sources such as PNAS [https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.0405930101] and Nature [https://www.nature.com/articles/news040913-5].

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