Do you believe oil is actually a "fossil fuel"?

[SiliconJon]

I've never bought the argument (at least not since high school), but oil still stands in popular belief to be the decomposed remains of ancient organic matter.

Abiotic Synthesis Of Methane: New Evidence Supports 19th-Century Idea On Formation Of Oil And Gas

Do you believe the current popular theory?

[MD1032]

Hey, that's cool. We just learned about those diamond anvils last week in Physical Inorganic and how you can use them to create really high pressures and change the electronic state of different atoms. It's crazy to think that something like that would work, but it totally does!

edit: I just realized I said nothing about the topic. In regards to the topic, I don't think anyone actually knows for sure what has happened underground in the earth's crust over the years. Geologists probably have a better understand of this topic than chemists, I hate to say it.

[Gomer]

I accept the current theory.

The article you linked to "strongly suggests" that "some" fossil fuels (specifically methane) "may have" been formed via non-microbial synthesis. That's hardly a rebuke off the current theory.

Chemicals can combine under high temperatures and pressures? Whodathunkdit.

[MD1032]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gomer

The article you linked to "strongly suggests" that "some" fossil fuels (specifically methane) "may have" been formed via non-microbial synthesis. That's hardly a rebuke off the current theory.

Of course, but keep in mind that even if a state like that existed for only a few minutes, tremendous amounts of methane could be generated. I don't know where the hydrogen gas would come from, of course, but I think this theory is as valid as any other, really, for the formation of methane.

[Gomer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD1032

Of course, but keep in mind that even if a state like that existed for only a few minutes, tremendous amounts of methane could be generated. I don't know where the hydrogen gas would come from, of course, but I think this theory is as valid as any other, really, for the formation of methane.

You think it is as valid as any other even though you don't know where the hydrogen comes from? Ok. *shrug*

[SiliconJon]

Go belittle people in someone else's thread, Gomer.

[SiliconJon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD1032

Of course, but keep in mind that even if a state like that existed for only a few minutes, tremendous amounts of methane could be generated. I don't know where the hydrogen gas would come from, of course, but I think this theory is as valid as any other, really, for the formation of methane.

My problem with the fossil theory is the logistics of it all - all this biomass in such large quantities and concentrations? Via what geological mechanism? And the relative homogony of the oil compared to the mass diversity of the biomass, even after such intense processing, it seems infeasible. Though with oils sands that type of theory doesn't seem so mechanically obscene.

[Shipuuden]

I read an article about some Russians sinking an oil well so deep it would be impossible for it to be from fossils, and the well kept refilling. I honestly don't know about any of it, but it was interesting.

[Gomer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiliconJon

My problem with the fossil theory is the logistics of it all - all this biomass in such large quantities and concentrations? Via what geological mechanism? And the relative homogony of the oil compared to the mass diversity of the biomass, even after such intense processing, it seems infeasible. Though with oils sands that type of theory doesn't seem so mechanically obscene.

Next time you're in Chicago, check out Evolving Planet at the Field Museum. It is a 100% world class exhibit.

As for "homogony", you ought to see how homogeneous my compost pile becomes in a season sans millions of years of extreme temperature and pressure.

[SiliconJon]

I've heard there are some fantastic sites as such in Chicago - I need to go given it's only a six hour drive from me.

The homogony thing isn't the main part of my doubt (nor really a good one, I agree), it's primarily the scale of the thing that has me questioning any natural biomass decomposition driving it. These pools are massive, something much more indicative to a geological process. I wouldn't rule out some sort of other type of biological process ( as something in the ancient past when the earth's atmosphere was something completely different ), but I can't fathom the decomposition of some ungodly huge graves of plant and flesh.