Unlocking the Secrets: How Metallic Rocks Generate Mysterious ‘Dark’ Oxygen

Metallic rocks, generally located around 4,000 metres (13,100 feet) beneath the surface in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, are capable of generating oxygen even in total darkness, according to a research study.

In the preliminary investigation, researchers identified that the potato-sized nodules abundant in metals produced oxygen on the ocean floor of the Pacific. This study challenges the longstanding belief that oxygen could solely be produced through sunlight and photosynthesis, as reported by CNN.

These rocks emit an electrical current that separates seawater into oxygen and hydrogen via electrolysis. The results were disclosed in July.

‘Dark’ Oxygen

Andrew Sweetman, a professor affiliated with the Scottish Association for Marine Science in the UK, has launched a three-year initiative to explore the creation of “dark” oxygen.

As part of their $2.7 million research initiative announced last week, the group is utilizing specially designed rigs outfitted with sensors that can be deployed to depths of 11,000 metres. Funding is provided by the Nippon Foundation.

“Our revelation regarding dark oxygen represents a significant shift in our comprehension of the deep ocean and possibly life on Earth, yet it has raised more inquiries than solutions,” stated Mr. Sweetman, who is at the helm of the study, adding that the new research will allow them to examine “a number of these scientific queries.”

The Clarion-Clipperton Zone is currently being assessed for the deep-sea extraction of rare metals contained in the rock nodules.

In their research endeavors, Mr. Sweetman and his team aim to ascertain whether dark oxygen production is feasible in other areas of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone where the nodules exist. Subsequently, they will investigate the mechanisms through which the oxygen is generated.

A deeper understanding of this scientific occurrence might assist space scientists in their quest for extraterrestrial life, remarked Mr. Sweetman, suggesting that it could represent a broader concept that has been overlooked.

Emil Ruff, a microbiologist from the Marine Biological Laboratory in Massachusetts, previously discovered oxygen in freshwater samples from Alberta. This finding was made several to hundreds of metres below the Canadian prairie. The results were published in June 2023.