Hydrogen

Primary Applications

Ammonia and fertilizer production, petroleum refining, steelmaking, fuel cells, energy storage

Mining Significance

Most hydrogen used today is manufactured rather than mined, but naturally occurring geologic hydrogen is an emerging exploration target. Geologic hydrogen can be generated by water-rock reactions, radiolysis, and other subsurface processes and may migrate into traps analogous to conventional gas accumulations. Exploration is still early-stage, so resource characterization, reservoir behavior, gas composition, deliverability, and economic recovery remain active areas of research.

Industries

None listed

Hydrogen

1.01

Key Properties

Lightest and most abundant element in the universe.
Exists as diatomic H2 gas under ordinary conditions.
Highly flammable and has high energy per unit mass.
Very low molecular size contributes to high diffusivity and challenging containment.
Can participate in numerous reduction, hydrogenation, and energy-conversion reactions.

Mining Targets

This element is often found in the following Deposit Types and Mineral targets.

Deposit Type: Geologic Hydrogen Accumulation - Natural subsurface accumulations where geologic processes generate, migrate, and trap hydrogen.

No mineral relationship. Geologic hydrogen occurs as H2 gas in subsurface accumulations rather than as a mined mineral.