Natural gas is mostly made of methane ($\ce{CH4}$). Methane can be produced as a result of microbes eating organic matter. But can it also be naturally formed without any assistance from organic matter? Perhaps in conditions such as those found on the early Earth?
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4$\begingroup$ Gasoline is not 'mostly made of methane'. You might have some more informed questions after doing some reading. $\endgroup$– Matt HallFeb 2, 2016 at 0:28
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$\begingroup$ Maybe you're thinking of natural gas. Gasoline, containing things like isooctane, butane, and 3-ethyltoluene, is a much more complex hydrocarbon than methane, which is the most simple of them. $\endgroup$– BillDOeFeb 2, 2016 at 1:34
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$\begingroup$ <study.com/academy/lesson/…> $\endgroup$– user5434678Feb 4, 2016 at 10:19
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2$\begingroup$ It is the most common combination of the first and fourth most common elements in universe. And one of the most common compounds in the universe. I know of dozens of ways of making methane abiotically. You really might want to refine your question. $\endgroup$– JohnDec 19, 2016 at 3:00
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$\begingroup$ So your fundamental answer is yes, and then add a little background to it. Perhaps discuss some that may potentially be considerable sources currently or in likely previous Earth environments, maybe 1 or 2 interesting or funny, and I'd think you'd have a great answer to satisfy this question $\endgroup$– JeopardyTempestDec 19, 2016 at 4:45
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2 Answers
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The 'natural causes' of global methane emissions are, as you indicate, mostly of biological origin. To some extent it depends upon what you regard as 'natural'. There are many and differing estimates of global methane generation, of which I list a summary below. Those in bold you may regard as abiological. Values are in Mega-tonnes per year released to the atmosphere:
Wetlands 217
Fossil Fuels 96
Ruminants 89
Landfill 75
Geological sources 54
Freshwater 40
Biofuels 38
Rice growing 36
Oceans - DMS 20
Termites 11
Wildfires 10
It's a moot point as to whether degradation of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) is biological or not.
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$\begingroup$ I can't remember the issue but I jotted the above numbers down from an article in New Scientist, a year or two ago. $\endgroup$ Jan 4, 2017 at 7:31
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$\begingroup$ You emphasized "oceans" but not "freshwater"? $\endgroup$– SpencerJan 9, 2017 at 19:38
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It is one of most common compounds in the universe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methane#Extraterrestrial_methane
Which period of the early earth do you want to know about? the earliest atmosphere likely had less methane than now. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/308/5724/1014 But once life evolved methane rose. http://www.minersoc.org/pages/Archive-MM/Volume_62A/62a-2-751.pdf
