Abiogenic Hydrocarbon Production at Lost City Hydrothermal Field
Abstract
Low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons in natural hydrothermal fluids have been attributed to abiogenic production by Fischer-Tropsch type (FTT) reactions, although clear evidence for such a process has been elusive. Here, we present concentration, and stable and radiocarbon isotope, data from hydrocarbons dissolved in hydrogen-rich fluids venting at the ultramafic-hosted Lost City Hydrothermal Field. A distinct “inverse” trend in the stable carbon and hydrogen isotopic composition of C 1 to C 4 hydrocarbons is compatible with FTT genesis. Radiocarbon evidence rules out seawater bicarbonate as the carbon source for FTT reactions, suggesting that a mantle-derived inorganic carbon source is leached from the host rocks. Our findings illustrate that the abiotic synthesis of hydrocarbons in nature may occur in the presence of ultramafic rocks, water, and moderate amounts of heat.
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At Lost City, the H2 concentration of the alkaline effluent at approximately pH 9-10 is about 10 mM.
“At Lost City, the H2 concentration of the alkaline effluent (approx. pH 9–10) is about 10 mM [19].”
From Early bioenergetic evolution (2013) · cites this paper as [19]
Lost City effluent contains about 1 mM methane of abiogenic origin, about 100 μM formate of abiogenic origin, and traces of longer hydrocarbons up to pentane.
“Lost City effluent also contains about 1 mM methane of abiogenic origin [19,26], along with about 100 µM formate of abiogenic origin [27] and traces of longer hydrocarbons up to pentane [19].”
From Early bioenergetic evolution (2013) · cites this paper as [19]
Interfacing with the CO2-rich seawater at the vent was highly reduced, H2-containing vent effluent that probably contained some reduced carbon compounds itself, as Lost City does today.
“Interfacing with the CO2-rich seawater at the vent was highly reduced, H2-containing, vent effluent that probably contained some reduced carbon compounds itself, as Lost City does today [19,26,27], stemming from serpentinization reactions deep within the crust.”
From Early bioenergetic evolution (2013) · cites this paper as [19]
In this view, the thermodynamically favoured reaction of H2 and CO2 to methyl groups and methane, similar to that observed in the laboratory or at Lost City, was taking place spontaneously, and the genes and proteins just helped speed it along and add specificity.
“In this view, the thermodynamically favoured reaction of H2 and CO2 to methyl groups and methane, similar to that observed in the laboratory [93] or at Lost City [19], was taking place spontaneously (figure 2a), and the genes and proteins (figure 2b) just helped speed it along and add specificity to a highly selectable function (accelerated self-synthesis, given the necessity of methyl groups for”
From Early bioenergetic evolution (2013) · cites this paper as [19]
CH4 in Lost City is likely derived from CO2 of mantle origin that was reduced during serpentinization.
“The low CO2 concentrations at Lost City together with its “radio-carbon-dead” CH4 suggest that CH4 in Lost City is likely derived from CO2 of mantle origin that was reduced during serpentinization (Proskurowski et al., 2008).”
From Serpentinization as the source of energy, electrons, organics, catalysts, nutrients and pH gradients for the origin of LUCA and life (2023) · cites this paper as Proskurowski et al., 2008
Longer-chain hydrocarbons (ethane to pentane) are also abiotically produced in serpentinizing systems, both submarine and on the surface, however in much lower quantities than methane.
“Longer-chain hydrocarbons (ethane to pentane) are also abiotically produced in serpentinizing systems, both submarine (Proskurowski et al., 2008) and on the surface (Etiope and Schoell, 2014), however in much lower quantities than methane.”
From Serpentinization as the source of energy, electrons, organics, catalysts, nutrients and pH gradients for the origin of LUCA and life (2023) · cites this paper as Proskurowski et al., 2008
At Lost City the effluent H2 concentration is on the order of 10 mmol/kg [0.5 to 14 mmol/kg], which is about 5-6 orders of magnitude more H2 than is required to support methanogenesis.
“At Lost City the effluent H2 concentration is on the order of 10 mmol/kg [0.5 to 14 mmol/kg: (Proskurowski et al., 2008)], which is about 5–6 orders of magnitude more H2 than is required to support methanogenesis (Thauer et al., 2008).”
From Serpentinization as the source of energy, electrons, organics, catalysts, nutrients and pH gradients for the origin of LUCA and life (2023) · cites this paper as Proskurowski et al., 2008
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- Authors
- Proskurowski, G., Lilley, M. D., Seewald, J. S., Früh-Green, G. L., Olson, E. J., Lupton, J. E., Sylva, S. P., & Kelley, D. S.
- Affiliations
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (US)
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
- Corresponding author
- Proskurowski, Giora
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 2008-02
- Volume
- 319
- Issue
- 5863
- Pages
- 604-607
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2095416313
- Cited by
- 851
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 34 · 2025: 48 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 61 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 56 · 2020: 60 · 2019: 48 · 2018: 55 · 2017: 54 · 2016: 52 · 2015: 48 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 56 · 2012: 35
- FWCI
- 30.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanics of Materials › Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
- Keywords
- Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, Lost City hydrothermal field, ultramafic rocks, radiocarbon isotopes, low molecular weight hydrocarbons, hydrothermal fluids, carbon source
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