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Western Australia's magnetite may generate hydrogen naturally, and injection could boost output
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Researchers at Edith Cowan University found that Western Australia's iron-rich magnetite can generate hydrogen when reacting with hot water, and that injecting a solution can boost production, potentially enabling a new low-emission energy source.
If scaled, the vast banded iron formations beneath the Pilbara could become a major source of low-emission hydrogen for Australia and potentially for export. The research also suggests that rock structure, not just magnetite content, controls hydrogen production, which affects how feasible underground generation might be.
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Magnetite from Western Australia's iron ore deposits can release hydrogen when reacting with hot water under deep-Earth conditions.
Injecting a solution into banded iron formations can increase hydrogen generation, raising the possibility of deliberate underground enhancement.
The study found that hydrogen production depends on water access through fractures and pores, not just on the amount of magnetite present.
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