Rock‐crushing derived hydrogen directly supports a methanogenic community: significance for the deep biosphere

Microbial populations exist to great depths on Earth, but with apparently insufficient energy supply. Earthquake rock fracturing produces H(2) from mechanochemical water splitting, however, microbial utilization of this widespread potential energy source has not been directly demonstrated. Here, we show experimentally that mechanochemically generated H(2) from granite can be directly, long‐term, utilized by a CH(4) producing microbial community. This is consistent with CH(4) formation in subsurface rock fracturing in the environment. Our results not only support water splitting H(2) generation as a potential deep biosphere energy source, but as an oxidant must also be produced, they suggest that there is also a respiratory oxidant supply in the subsurface which is independent of photosynthesis. This may explain the widespread distribution of facultative aerobes in subsurface environments. A range of common rocks were shown to produce mechanochemical H(2), and hence, this process should be widespread in the subsurface, with the potential for considerable mineral fuelled CH(4) production.