Hydrocarbons are formed when the iron in olivine (in Earth's case magmatic peridotite) combines with mantle hydrogen (or sea water) and lithospheric carbon. For alkanes higher than methane extreme pressures are required.
The evolution of multicomponent systems at high pressures: VI. The thermodynamic stability of the hydrogen–carbon system: The genesis of hydrocarbons and the origin of petroleum.
The high-pressure genesis of petroleum hydrocarbons has been demonstrated using only the reagents solid iron oxide, FeO, and marble, CaCO3, 99.9% pure and wet with triple-distilled water.
THE LAW OF CHEMICAL "AFFINITY" OR ATTRACTION
ReplyDeleteHydrogen and carbon have a thing for each other. They want to be together. Yes, that's right, they got to get it on: They've got chemistry. And, it's not arbitrary or mysterious, its all out in the open -- wholesome and natural.
It's because of their respective electron numbers: Hydrogen has one electron and carbon has six, but four in its outer shell. This leaves room for four more elections and it's hot to trot to get those four more electrons in its sweaty little orbit.
That's where hydrogen comes in. Hydrogen has got one electron in its only shell, but it really wants another electron to complete that shell.
So when a bunch of carbon and hydrogen atoms see each other there is a natural chemical attraction. The easiest of all get togethers, is one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. But that's just the start.
You get the picture.
There are a number of ways for this get together: Ultra high heat and pressure with catalysts, or in association with metal carbides and various acids, or the Fischer-Tropsch process.
All of these reactions are abiotic, not one is exclusive of the others.
Meaning: Just because one reaction happens in one process, that doesn't mean the others can't happen in their own respective chemical reactions.
"Fossil" theory advocates in their efforts to protect "fossil" theory, have seemingly attempted to say that if one process happens, then the others don't. So, since the metal carbide - acid reaction has been proved and the Fischer-Tropsch reaction has been proved:
Aha! No way! That ultra high heat and pressure reaction can't happen.
And, that's the extent of their logic. No kidding.
But truth be told because of the chemical law of "affinity" or attraction, lots of different things can happen.
Even more so in the mantle where heat and pressure are tremendous.
In essence, its an abiotic laboratory. That's why when you study minerals and so forth -- you realize there are a heck of a lot of different combinations.
Hydrocarbons are just one of them.
Petroleum is a mineral -- no different than gold or silver -- except instead of a single element, it's a complex combination of basically two elements with some trace elements, as well.
Petroleum is literally 'rock oil' or mineral oil.
Let's rock and roll.