Dark Elements

Dark Elements In 2013, an international team of scientists studying a remote area of the Pacific Ocean came across a bizarre phenomenon that defied long-held beliefs about oxygen production: Oxygen was being generated thousands of feet below the ocean’s surface in depths where sunlight cannot penetrate. Researcher Andrew Sweetman of the Scottish Association for Marine Science initially thought they were dealing with faulty equipment. But subsequent trips to the area – known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone – confirmed that potato-shaped metallic nodules were producing oxygen. Dubbed “dark oxygen,” Sweetman’s team explained in their paper that the element is produced about 13,000 feet below the surface in complete darkness. Generally, photosynthetic organisms – such as plants, algae and plankton – use sunlight to produce oxygen, which then cycles into the ocean depths. However, previous deep-sea studies have shown that organisms there only consume oxygen, not produce it, Sweetman told CNN. However, the study showed that “dark oxygen” production was linked to the polymetallic nodules on the ocean floor. These nodules – rich in valuable minerals such as cobalt and manganese – carry a high electric charge that can lead to the splitting of seawater into hydrogen and oxygen through a process called seawater electrolysis. “It appears that we discovered a natural ‘geobattery,’” suggested co-author Franz Geiger in a statement. The researchers explained that the findings challenge the conventional view that life on the planet began billions of years ago when photosynthetic organisms began producing oxygen. “I think we therefore need to revisit questions like: where could aerobic life have begun?” said Sweetman. The findings also raise questions about companies and nations exploiting resources on the ocean floor through deep-sea mining. The Clarion-Clipperton Zone is an area rich in nodules carrying metals integral to energy production, such as electric car batteries and solar panels. Sweetman said more research is needed to understand how “dark oxygen” production will be affected by deep-sea mining. Meanwhile, other scientists and environmentalists are calling for a moratorium on such mining until more is understood about the environmental impacts. Even so, Canadian deep-sea mining firm The Metals Co. – which partially funded the study – criticized the findings and plans to publish a rebuttal, CNBC added.