[…] it is now generally accepted, but not conclusively proven, that petroleum formation predominantly arises from the decay of organic matter in the earth. […] alternative theories should not be dismissed until it can be conclusively established that petroleum formation is due to one particular aspect of geochemistry.“

Source : James G. Speight (2006), The Chemistry and Technology of Petroleum

The alternative theories, classed together as 'Abiogenic' explanations, have existed in various forms since the 16th century. These theories seek to address unexplained problems with the mainstream 'Biogenic' viewpoints.

For example, the 'lighter' hydrocarbon deposits (gas and light oils) tend to be found at greater geological depths - and heavier ones, like coal, nearer the surface. The exact opposite of what the 'Biogenic' theory would suggest.

One of the main arguments supporting the standard 'Biogenic' theory is that the deposits universally contain ratios of helium isotopes consistent with living matter - but recent (2006) discoveries in South African gold mines have shown significant colonies of bacteria living in basalt rocks at depths of several kilometres. ( Source : New Scientist). Opening the question of whether similar organisms could have provided the observed helium isotope balance in hydrocarbon deposits that actually originated abiotically.

Further reading. The main Abiogenic petroleum pages at Wikipedia.

Note: New research from the US-based Deep Carbon Observatory (DCO) estimates that the biodiversity of organisms living deep in the Earth's crust (5 km deep and more) equals or exceeds that of life on the surface. Under the continental shelf, measurements suggest that there are 2 to 6 × 10²⁹ living cells. (Source : DCO :)

Also see (2017): Subduction zone forearc serpentinites as incubators for deep microbial life) PNAS 2017 , and Deep Carbon life-formsplugin-autotooltip__plain plugin-autotooltip_bigDeep Carbon life-forms

Ongoing research into the prevalence of life-forms (predominantly bacteria and archaea) living deep in the Earth's crust is revealing them in previously unimagined quantities. Some researchers suggest that the biological diversity of deep-carbon …

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