China Finds 98.24% Pure Natural Hydrogen in Sichuan Basin, a National Record
Updated
Updated · Interesting Engineering · Aug 20
China Finds 98.24% Pure Natural Hydrogen in Sichuan Basin, a National Record
1 articles · Updated · Interesting Engineering · Aug 20
Summary
Gas samples from a leak south of Chengdu measured 97.33% to 98.24% hydrogen, giving China its highest recorded natural-hydrogen purity and placing the find among the few global discoveries above 98%.
Lab and isotope tests showed the gas came from a deep inorganic crustal fluid system, not organic decay or high-temperature methane breakdown; trace nitrogen also pointed to deep metamorphic fluids rather than air contamination.
Geologists linked the leak to Permian volcanic rocks near the Shimian-Miaowan ophiolite belt, where serpentinized peridotite or diabase porphyry may continuously generate hydrogen that rises quickly along faults.
That rapid migration appears to have limited Fischer-Tropsch reactions that would convert hydrogen into hydrocarbons, helping preserve the unusually high purity seen at the surface.
The finding adds to evidence that natural hydrogen could become a usable energy resource: models estimate 5.6 million metric megatons underground globally, and the team now plans source-rock mapping, fault tracing and isotope work across the Sichuan Basin.