Publication Date:
2017-04-04
Description:
Thermogenic hydrocarbons entirely deriving from the thermal degradation of organic matter usually exhibit methane to ethane plus
propane ratios smaller than 100. We present hydrocarbon distribution data of continental hydrothermal gases, whose methane has been independently identifi ed to derive from the abiogenic reduction of CO2.
We fi nd that excess amounts of methane with respect to thermogenic hydrocarbon distributions are characteristic for the investigated gases. A similar pattern is observed for well discharges whose temperatures are too high to support any microbially mediated methanogenesis.
These findings strongly suggest that abiogenic methane production in continental-hydrothermal systems is a more widespread process than previously assumed. The maximum contribution of such emissions to
the modern atmospheric CH4 budget is estimated at ~1%.
Description:
Published
Description:
495–498
Description:
1.2. TTC - Sorveglianza geochimica delle aree vulcaniche attive
Description:
JCR Journal
Description:
reserved
Keywords:
methane
;
isotopic composition
;
abiogenic hydrocarbons
;
04. Solid Earth::04.04. Geology::04.04.12. Fluid Geochemistry
;
04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.01. Gases
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
article
Permalink
