Naturally occurring hydrogen(NOH) shows wide distribution and low exploitation costs, highlightens a strong
energy potential. Current research lacks a unified and systematic standard for
understanding the types of natural hydrogen. Starting from the formation
mechanisms of natural hydrogen, this paper categorizes its types, discusses the
formation mechanisms of natural hydrogen in China based on the tectonic
background, and finally analyzes the hydrogen generation potential in China.
The results show that a total of 9 types and 21 chemical processes can form natural
hydrogen, including: Primordial deep hydrogen, hydrogen generation from
iron-bearing minerals reactions, hydrogen generation from deep fluid evolution
and degassing, hydrogen generation processes related to radioactive elements,
hydrogen generation during metamorphism, hydrogen generation from rock
mechanical fracturing, phosphine hydrolysis, water auto-electrochemical
reactions, and the (potential) hydrogen generation mechanism in upper
mantle-crust metasomatism. There are natural hydrogen formation mechanisms in
three tectonic domains: Plate boundaries (divergent, convergent, and
conservative), rift tectonic systems, and cratonic basements; Extensive plate
convergence zones, rift basins, and cratonic basements provide the material
basis for the formation of natural hydrogen in China; Currently, the discovered
natural hydrogen is primarily associated with the serpentinization reaction of
ultramafic-mafic rocks, and the hydrogen generation potential of other reaction
processes still requires further study.