Finding natural [Formula: see text] generation zones in Midcontinent Rift in the U.S. by identifying the geophysical...

Hydrogen is gaining attention as an energy source for its zero CO2 emission. Hydrogen may be manufactured by breaking down water using solar and wind energy. However, the high cost of manufactured hydrogen makes it uneconomical. Recently, earth scientists have discovered that hydrogen is generated naturally in Earth's crust through a process called serpentinization, and may be extracted with a near-zero CO2 footprint. Serpentinization adds magnetite to the hydrogen source rocks and makes them more magnetic, providing the basis for understanding natural hydrogen systems using geophysics. We investigate the magnetic data over the Iowa section of the Midcontinent Rift and identify the signature of serpentinization in conjunction with gravity and electromagnetic data. Our research results show that a huge volume of igneous rock has undergone serpentinization in the Iowa section of Midcontinent Rift. Consequently, significant accumulation of natural hydrogen may be present under the Iowa farmlands.