Developing a Prospecting Methodology for Natural Hydrogen in the Voronezh Region. Part 1: Theoretical Foundations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17308/geology/1609-0691/2026/1/4-17Keywords:
hydrogen,, circument,, crystalline basement, helium, methaneAbstract
by its institutional recognition: in 2021, Australia became the first country to include it in its list of minerals, and since 2023, it has been added to the Russian Classification of Minerals. A key confirmation of the resource's potential is the commercial extraction of hydrogen in Mali. Scientists identify several hypotheses for the origin of hydrogen in the Earth's crust: deep-seated degassing, serpentinization, water radiolysis, biogenic decomposition of organic matter, and others. Its accumulations are associated with ophiolite belts, fault zones, and iron-rich Precambrian strata, while the preservation of deposits depends on the integrity of cap rocks that prevent its degassing. Ring structures – circuments, clearly visible in satellite images – are considered a promising exploration indicator. They may indicate gas transport systems or deep traps and mark areas of hydrogen degassing. However, their direct link to hydrogen degassing requires further study.
Methodology Development: for the first time in Russia, the authors have proposed a methodology for conducting hydrogen exploration works. During the exploration for natural hydrogen, a combination of desk-based, field, and laboratory research methods was applied, ensuring a multi-stage assessment of the hydrogen degassing potential in the study area. Desk-based studies served as the basis for regional forecasting and localization of promising areas. This phase included the compilation of specialized maps of potential hydrogen sources in Precambrian formations, based on the analysis of geological maps, deep structure data, mineralogical-petrographic characteristics of rocks, and existing geodynamic models of hydrogen generation (serpentinization, deep degassing, radiolysis, etc.). Mapping of potential hydrogen trap structures in the sedimentary cover involved identifying lithological seals capable of accumulating hydrogen fluids. The identification of promising and priority areas for gas sampling allowed for the ranking of territories by prospectivity based on a comprehensive analysis of geological, geophysical, and geochemical data. Interpretation of Earth remote sensing (ERS) data within the identified areas made it possible to delineate ring structures (circuments), which may mark zones of deep hydrogen degassing. Field studies provided direct verification of predictive models and the acquisition of factual data on the presence of hydrogen emanations. Laboratory studies enabled the determination of concentrations of helium dissolved in water, which serves as a reliable indicator of deep degassing, and its anomalous concentrations correlate with zones of hydrogen emission.
Downloads
References
1. Glazev S. Yu., Polevanov V. P. Poiski mestorozhdeniy prirodnogo vodoroda v Rossii, kak osnova vstraivaniya v novyy tekhnologicheskiy uklad [Exploration for natural hydrogen deposits in Russia as a basis for integrating into the new technological paradigm]. Nedropolzovanie XXI vek − Subsurface Management XXI Century, 2020, no. 4, pp. 12–23 (In Russ.)
2. Bessel V. V., Karasevich V. A., Zhukov V. A. Perspektivy dobychi i primeneniya prirodnogo vodoroda v Rossii. Otsenka mirovogo opyta [Prospects for the extraction and use of natural hydrogen in Russia. Assessment of world experience]. Neftegaz.RU, 2025, no. 7, pp. 21–23 (In Russ.)
3. Shestopalov V. M., Makarenko A. N. O nekotorykh rezultatakh issledovaniy, razvivayushchikh ideyu V. I. Vernadskogo o "gazovom dykhanii Zemli". Statya 1. Poverkhnostnye i pripoverkhnostnye proyavleniya anomalnoy degazatsii [On some research results developing V. I. Vernadsky's idea of the "gas breath of the Earth". Article 1. Surface and near-surface manifestations of anomalous degassing]. Geologicheskiy zhurnal − Geological Journal, 2013, no. 3, pp. 7–25 (In Russ.)
4. Shestopalov V. M., Makarenko A. N. O nekotorykh rezultatakh issledovaniy, razvivayushchikh ideyu V. I. Vernadskogo o "gazovom dykhanii Zemli". Statya 2. Glubinnye protsessy degazatsii nedr [On some research results developing V. I. Vernadsky's idea of the "gas breath of the Earth". Article 2. Deep processes of degassing of the Earth's interior]. Geologicheskiy zhurnal − Geological Journal, 2014, no. 3 (348), pp. 7–28 (In Russ.)
5. Shestopalov V. M. O geologicheskom vodorode [On geological hydrogen]. Geofizicheskiy zhurna l− Geophysical Journal, 2020, vol. 42, no. 6, pp. 3–32 (In Russ.) DOI: https://doi.org/10.24028/gzh.0203–3100.v42i6.2020.222278.
6. Larin V. N. Nasha Zemlya (proiskhozhdenie, sostav, stroenie i razvitie iznachalno gidridnoy Zemli) [Our Earth (origin, composition, structure and development of the initially hydride Earth)]. Moscow, Agar publ., 2005. 248 p. (In Russ.)
7. Coveney R. M. J., Goebel E. D., Zeller E. J., Dreschhoff G. A. M., Angino E. E. Serpentinization and the origin of hydrogen gas in Kansas. AAPG Bulletin, 1987, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 39–48.
8. Freund F., Dickinson J. T., Cash M. Hydrogen in rocks: an energy source for deep microbial communities. Astrobiology, 2002, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 83–92.
9. Huang, R. F., Sun W. D., Ding X., Liu J. Q., Zhan W. H. Formation of hydrogen gas and alkane during peridotite serpentinization. Acta Petrologica Sinica, 2015, vol. 31, no. 7, pp. 1901–1907.
10. Klein F., Grozeva N. G., Seewald J. S. Abiotic methane synthesis and serpentinization in olivine-hosted fluid inclusions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2019, vol. 116, pp. 17666–17672. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1907871116.
11. McCollom T. M., Seewald J. S. A reassessment of the potential for reduction of dissolved CO2 to hydrocarbons during serpentinization of olivine. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2001, vol. 65, no. 21, pp. 3769–3778.
12. McCollom T. M., Bach W. Thermodynamic constraints on hydrogen generation during serpentinization of ultramafic rocks. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2009, vol. 73, pp. 856–875.
13. Nenakhov V. M., Strik Yu. N., Tregub A. I., Kholin V. M., Shabalin M. I. Mineralogenicheskie issledovaniya territoriy s dvukhyarusnym stroeniem (na primere Voronezhskogo kristallicheskogo massiva) [Mineralogenic studies of territories with two-tier structure (on the example of the Voronezh Crystalline Massif)]. Moscow, GEOKART–GEOS publ., 2007. 284 p. (In Russ.)
14. Nenakhov V. M., Polevanov V. P., Zhabin A. V., Bondarenko S. V., Zolotareva G. S. Perspektivy Voronezhskoy anteklizy na obnaruzhenie prirodnogo vodoroda [Prospects of the Voronezh Anteclise for the discovery of natural hydrogen]. Vestnik Voronezhskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya: Geologiya − Proceedings of Voronezh State University. Series: Geology, 2022, no. 2, pp. 4–18 (In Russ.)
15. Rudenko A. V. Koltsevye struktury vodorodnoy degazatsii kak problema selskogo khozyaystva Evropeyskoy chasti Rossii [Ring structures of hydrogen degassing as a problem of agriculture in the European part of Russia]. Geopolitika i ekogeodinamika regionov − Geopolitics and Ecogeodynamics of Regions, 2022, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 176–186 (In Russ.)
16. Zgonnik V., Beaumont V., Deville E., Larin N., Pillot D., Farrell K. Evidence for natural molecular hydrogen seepage associated with Carolina bays (surficial, ovoid depressions on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Province of the USA). Progress in Earth and Planetary Science, 2015, vol. 2, art. no. 42, pp. 1–15. DOI: 10.1186/s40645–015–0062–5.
17. Ilyash D. V., Ilyash V. V. Tsirkummyenty kak osobyy vid ekologo-geologicheskikh sistem [Circummments as a special type of ecological-geological systems]. Vestnik Voronezhskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Ser. Geologiya − Proceedings of Voronezh State University. Series: Geology, 2015, no. 1, pp. 132–139 (In Russ.)
18. Kosinova I. I., Ilyash V.V., Ilyash D.V. Litologicheskiy faktor, kak odna iz prichin neravnomernosti razvitiya tsirkummmentov na territorii Voronezhskoy anteklizy [Lithological factor as one of the reasons for the uneven development of cirummments on the territory of the Voronezh Anteclise]. Vestnik Voronezhskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya: Geologiya −Proceedings of Voronezh State University. Series: Geology, 2013, no. 1, pp. 214–218 (In Russ).
19. Savko A. D., Manukovskiy S. V., Mizin A. I. Litologiya i fatsii doneogenovykh otlozheniy Voronezhskoy anteklizy [Lithology and facies of pre-Neogene deposits of the Voronezh Anteclise]. Trudy nauchno-issledovatelskogo instituta geologii Voronezhskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta [Proceedings of the Research Institute of Geology of Voronezh State University]. Voronezh, VSU publ., i. 3, 2001, 201 p. (In Russ.)
20. Atlas litologo-paleogeograficheskikh kart Russkoy platformy i ee geosinklinalnogo obramleniya [Atlas of lithological-paleogeographic maps of the Russian Platform and its geosynclinal framing]. Ed. A. P. Vinogradov. Moscow publ., 1961, 1 atlas. (In Russ.)
21. Savko A. D. Geologiya Voronezhskoy anteklizy [Geology of the Voronezh Anteclise]. Trudy nauchno-issledovatelskogo instituta geologii Voronezhskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta [Proceedings of the Research Institute of Geology of Voronezh State University]. Voronezh, VSU publ., i. 12, 2002, 165 p. (In Russ.)
