ox-peach-xo

[ox-peach-xo]

DARK OXYGEN!?

Approximately half the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean, however it may not all be from marine plants!

Polymetallic nodules or manganese nodules are mineral concretions (a hard mass formed by minerals between particles) on the sea floor formed by iron and manganese hydroxides.

Polymetallic nodules can be found in both shallow and deep waters (even some lakes!) And are thought to have been on the ocean floor since the deep oceans were oxygenated in the ediacaran period over 540 million years ago!

These nodules produce a gas known as ‘dark oxygen’ which is oxygen that DOESNT need light!

Unlike photosynthesis dark oxygen is produced in deep oceans by these polymetalic nodules!

Studies are showing that these naturally occurring lumps of metal 5km deep in the sea between hawaii and mexico are splitting seawater into hydrogen and oxygen!

The metal nodules are formed by dissolved metals collecting on fragments of shell or debris - this process can take millions of years!

Because the nodules contain metals like lithium, copper and cobalt (metals used in making betteries) They create a low voltage (around the same as a AA battery) which is what is splitting the H2O into just H and O (hydrogen and oxygen)

This discovery is creating new hypothesise left right and centre including the possibility of similar objects creating an oxygen rich atmosphere able to sustain life on other planets or even moons!