Across China: Researchers identify key natural hydrogen source on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

BEIJING, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have for the first time discovered natural hydrogen sealed within microscopic inclusions in Qinghai-Xizang Plateau ophiolites, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Geology and Geophysics.

This groundbreaking finding fills a domestic research gap and charts a new geological course for the country's pursuit of next-generation clean energy. The research was recently published in Science Bulletin.

The quest for clean energy is key to the global energy transition and climate change mitigation. Natural hydrogen of geological origin, with its potential for zero carbon emissions and low production costs, has emerged as a new frontier in energy competition worldwide.

Researchers conducted precise instrumental analysis on micron-scale fluid inclusions preserved within mantle olivine minerals. Within these microscopic capsules, they detected the presence of both hydrogen and methane, noting that these gases coexist with alteration minerals typical of serpentinization.

This finding provides direct evidence that the serpentinization process -- Earth's most significant natural hydrogen generation mechanism -- is either actively occurring or has previously taken place beneath the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

Further analysis showed that these deep-seated inclusions are not isolated occurrences. By systematically comparing global data, researchers established the first quantitative link between the hydrogen composition in deep inclusions and surface hydrogen emission fluxes.

This confirms that such inclusions are significant initial sources of surface hydrogen, clearly mapping the complete "source-to-sink" pathway -- from deep generation and migration to shallow accumulation. This framework offers critical scientific support for resource prediction and exploration.

The study identified the extensively distributed, large-scale ophiolite complexes of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau as prime potential zones for natural hydrogen exploration. The region's vast size and active tectonic environment have created ideal geological conditions for substantial hydrogen accumulation.

The researchers' discovery essentially draws a new theoretical treasure map for clean energy, giving China a vital strategic option to enhance energy security and advance green development. ■