近日，北京高压科学研究中心陶仁彪团队报道了海洋俯冲带：非生物氢和甲烷的工厂。2026年6月24日，《中国科学：地球科学》杂志发表了这一成果。

分子氢（H₂）和甲烷（CH₄）是地球系统中最关键的挥发分之一，是地质过程和生物过程的关键能量载体。大量研究已约束了板块离散边界处（尤其在大洋中脊，蛇纹石化等流体-岩石反应已被充分表征）非生物成因H₂和CH₄的形成机制、氧化还原条件和全球通量。相比之下，俯冲带作为典型的汇聚边界，是非生物成因H₂和CH₄的高效“工厂”，但其深层过程和通量却远未得到充分约束。在俯冲板片内部，有机质分解以及一系列高压水-岩相互作用可在不同氧化还原条件下生成生物成因和非生物成因的H₂和CH₄。

研究组整合了近期研究进展，并重点强调了俯冲环境中控制非生物成因H₂和CH₄形成的四种深度依赖性机制：板片起始阶段的浅部低压蛇纹石化、中等深度弧前较高压力下的蛇纹石化、深部变质流体再平衡，以及超高压条件下的超深部地幔交代作用。对离散边界和汇聚边界之间潜在气体通量的比较表明，俯冲带可能代表了此前被低估的非生物成因H₂和CH₄来源。这些气体的向上运移和释放可能显著影响烃类渗漏、深部生物圈活动以及地球挥发分循环的氧化还原演化，这凸显了需要通过实验、热力学和同位素综合研究来更好地量化这些过程。

附：英文原文

Title: Oceanic subduction zones: Factory of abiogenic hydrogen and methane

Author: Yuhang LU, Jiaxin ZHANG, Wenbo XU, Guibin ZHANG, Lifei ZHANG, Renbiao TAO

Issue&Volume: 2026/06/24

Abstract: Molecular hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4) are among the most crucial volatiles in the Earth system, serving as key energy carriers for both geological and biological processes. Extensive studies have constrained the formation mechanisms, redox conditions, and global fluxes of abiotic H2 and CH4 at divergent plate boundaries, particularly at mid-ocean ridges where fluid-rock reactions such as serpentinization are well characterized. In contrast, subduction zones, the representative convergent boundaries, act as efficient “factories” for the abiotic formation of H2 and CH4, yet the underlying processes and fluxes remain far less constrained. Within the subducting slab, the decomposition of organic matter and a series of high-pressure water-rock interactions can produce both biogenic and abiogenic H2 and CH4 under varying redox conditions. This review integrates recent advances and highlights four depth-dependent mechanisms that govern the formation of abiotic H2 and CH4 in subduction settings: shallow, low-pressure serpentinization during slab initiation, intermediate forearc serpentinization at elevated pressures, deep metamorphic fluid re-equilibration, and ultra-deep mantle metasomatism under ultra-high-pressure conditions. A comparison of potential gas fluxes between divergent and convergent boundaries suggests that subduction zones may represent a previously underestimated source of abiotic H2 and CH4. The upward migration and release of these gases could significantly influence hydrocarbon seepage, deep biosphere activity, and the redox evolution of Earth’s volatile cycles, underscoring the need for integrated experimental, thermodynamic, and isotopic investigations to quantify these processes better.

DOI: 10.1007/s11430-025-1805-y

Source: https://www.sciengine.com/10.1007/s11430-025-1805-y