Originally published in April 5 2024.
This week we posted an update about the genesis of natural hydrogen, on purpose of a research being conducted by the French multinational energy company Engie in the São Francisco river basin, northeast of Brazil.
As promised, we will talk today about the mineral olivine, about its role in the generation of natural hydrogen and next Monday in an ocean-based carbon removal method already being tested in United States, as it increases CO2 uptake by seawater.
The mineral olivine is a magnesium iron silicate with the chemical formula (Mg, Fe)₂SiO₄. It’s a common mineral in Earth's subsurface, a primary component of the upper mantle. With a yellow to yellow-green colour, it weathers quickly on the surface, meaning it decomposes to other elements via natural physical-chemical processes.
Engie’s website brings a clear scheme - picture below - of the perceived genesis of natural hydrogen, with olivine as a starting point. It includes a 30 seconds video “The hydrogen system: generation, migration, accumulation and emissions from the surface” showing all this. Click at the image below to watch it.
As you will see, natural hydrogen generated can:
be consumed by micro-organisms or react with other chemical components.
migrate to the surface through fairy circles (see post above mentioned about the São Francisco river basin in Brazil).
or be trapped in the subsurface by a sealing rock, and thus accumulate. Recall this post “Another natural hydrogen mine discovered. One of the highest H2 flows recorded so far”.
In short, a new frontier for natural hydrogen to be extracted as natural gas. Who wants to Be a Millionaire?
Coming Monday we will post about olivine’s role in an ocean-based carbon removal method already being tested in United States.
