Iron Ore Deposits Could Yield Natural Hydrogen, Australian Study Finds

Researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Western Australia have found that magnetite, a mineral found in the state's vast Pilbara region iron-ore deposits, can generate naturally occurring hydrogen when it reacts with hot water deep underground. The team also identified a way to boost that process by injecting a solution into the banded iron formations that hold the magnetite, potentially increasing the amount of natural hydrogen that could be accessed.

To test whether the process works under realistic underground conditions, the researchers placed magnetite samples in water at 200°C and high pressure for 60 days, recreating conditions found deep beneath Earth's surface. "This work helps bridge the gap between laboratory experiments and real geological systems," said Professor Stefan Iglauer of ECU's School of Engineering. "Our findings show that hydrogen production depends not only on the amount of magnetite present, but also on how easily water can access fresh mineral surfaces through fractures, pores, and permeable pathways."

"Australia could be sitting on a massive, untapped energy reserve, and the potential is enormous," said Associate Professor Alireza Keshavarz, a co-author of the study. Lead author Kaveh Moghanirahimi said Western Australia has some of the world's largest banded iron formations, and unlocking the resource at scale "could be transformative for our energy future" and could also strengthen the state's energy independence.

The research, published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, was supported by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) through a PhD scholarship and by the Australian Research Council. The findings point toward the possibility of natural hydrogen exploration in real geological settings, building on laboratory evidence of how the gas forms underground.