In-situ abiogenic methane synthesis from diamond and graphite under geologically relevant conditions

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 6387 - 5
• Main Authors: Peña-Alvarez, Miriam, Brovarone, Alberto Vitale, Donnelly, Mary-Ellen, Wang, Mengnan, Dalladay-Simpson, Philip, Howie, Ross, Gregoryanz, Eugene
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 04.11.2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 704/2151/209; 704/2151/330; Allotropy; Carbon; Carbon sources; Diamond anvil cells; Earth mantle; Earth Sciences; Ethane; Geochemistry; Graphite; High temperature; High temperature effects; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hydrocarbons; Methane; Mineralogy; Minerals; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sciences of the Universe; Subduction (geology); Upper mantle; Geochemistry; Mineralogy

Diamond and graphite are fundamental sources of carbon in the upper mantle, and their reactivity with H 2 -rich fluids present at these depths may represent the key to unravelling deep abiotic hydrocarbon formation. We demonstrate an unexpected high reactivity between carbons’ most common allotropes...