A “gold vein” found beneath Australia’s red soil

Enough to last for more than one generation.

Today, the entire world is focused on finding natural sources of hydrogen that could accelerate humanity’s transition to a low-carbon energy future. Hydrogen is an exceptionally clean fuel, yet most of it is still produced from fossil energy sources. Recently, scientists appear to have discovered a “gold mine” beneath Australia’s red soil, ScienceAlert writes (translated by Focus).

Scientists believe that access to extensive natural hydrogen reserves could help solve this problem. The data indicate that several geological processes contribute to its formation; one of them is the interaction of hot water with magnetite, a mineral that is part of iron ore.

Research shows that magnetite deposits are widespread beneath Western Australia. In a new study, a team from Edith Cowan University focused on estimating how much hydrogen may already be present there and how much could be produced in the future.

The results were published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy and, according to the team, appear highly promising: the scientists gained a more complete understanding of the geological factors that determine the amount of hydrogen magnetite can generate. According to study co-author and chemical engineer Alizer Keshavarz of Edith Cowan University, Australia may possess colossal but as-yet-untapped energy reserves—and, moreover, its potential is enormous.

Moreover, it is believed that the hydrogen reserves hidden beneath Australia will be sufficient to meet the country’s needs for many generations. Furthermore, Australia could potentially become a major exporter of clean energy to the entire planet.

It should be noted that during the study, the scientists did not drill wells to search for hydrogen. Instead, they reproduced in laboratory conditions the reactions that occur when water and magnetite interact under high pressure and at a temperature of 200 °C for 60 days. These conditions partially simulated underground conditions: as a result, the scientists not only recorded the release of hydrogen but also established that magnetite powder generates significantly more hydrogen per unit of mass than a solid sample of the mineral. The data indicate that the gas yield was approximately five times higher per gram of material.

Nevertheless, considerable challenges remain on the way to discovering, producing, and extracting hydrogen from such iron ore deposits. However, scientists believe that the new discovery represents an important step forward in understanding how much hydrogen magnetite can release and in finding the most effective ways to obtain it.