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What empirical evidence exists for abiotic sources of commercial petroleum deposits?

Moonshot's Answer

The empirical evidence for abiotic sources of commercial petroleum deposits is limited and not widely accepted in the scientific community. The majority of petroleum geologists and researchers support the biogenic theory, which posits that petroleum is formed from the remains of ancient marine organisms. However, there are a few instances where abiotic origins have been proposed, such as in crystalline and metamorphic rocks, and in certain regions like Vietnam and the Dniepr-Donets Basin. Yet, these cases are often disputed and can also be explained by biogenic processes.

The most convincing evidence for abiotic petroleum is the occurrence of hydrocarbon gas in fluid inclusions within mantle minerals, suggesting that some hydrocarbons may form abiotically at great depths. However, this does not necessarily imply that commercial quantities of petroleum can be generated through abiotic processes.

In summary, while there is some evidence to suggest that abiotic processes may contribute to the formation of hydrocarbons, the overwhelming consensus in the scientific community is that most of the world's petroleum deposits have a biogenic origin. For more detailed information, you can refer to sources like Wikipedia, ResearchGate, and AGU Publications.

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