Is Titan's Hydrocarbon-Rich Composition Evidence for Abiotic Oil Formation?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of Titan's hydrocarbon-rich composition in relation to the abiotic oil formation theory. Participants explore the geological and atmospheric conditions of Titan and how they compare to those of rocky planets, particularly Earth.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that Titan's abundance of hydrocarbons supports the abiotic oil theory.
  • Others argue that the formation of hydrocarbons under extreme pressure is not unique to rocky planets and does not necessarily indicate abiotic oil formation.
  • A participant questions the classification of Titan as a rocky moon and discusses the potential origins of its hydrocarbons, suggesting they may result from UV dissociations of methane in its atmosphere.
  • There is mention of the atmosphere of Titan being similar to early Earth, but with significant differences in the age of oil deposits on Earth.
  • One participant humorously critiques the analogy used in the discussion, indicating that the argument may not be valid.
  • A question is raised regarding whether Titan has an oxidizing atmosphere, indicating uncertainty about its atmospheric composition.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of Titan's hydrocarbons for the abiotic oil theory, and the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference the geological processes and atmospheric conditions of Titan and Earth, but there are unresolved assumptions regarding the formation and age of hydrocarbons, as well as the nature of Titan's atmosphere.

OSalcido
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Doesn't the fact that Titan is full of hydrocarbons kinda prove the Abiotic oil theory?
 
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Not really - you put a couple of billion tons of hydrogen and carbon together under enourmous pressure you will form lots of stuff. Very different from rocky planets.
There is alcohol in intersteller clouds but it doesn't prove the 'beer is from space' theory!
 
mgb_phys said:
Very different from rocky planets.
I don't understand this... is Titan not a rocky moon?



There is alcohol in intersteller clouds but it doesn't prove the 'beer is from space' theory!
Well this is just a strawman argument...
 
OSalcido said:
I don't understand this... is Titan not a rocky moon?
I assumed the hydrocarbons had been formed in the gas giant and swept up by the moon it looks like they are formed by UV dissociations of methane in the thick atmosphere.
The atmopshere is presumably fairly similair to early Earth - although the oil deposits on Earth are much newer ( a few 100mya).




Well this is just a strawman argument...
It was a joke. Abiotic oil would either have to have formed in the oxidising atmopshere of the cretaceous or survived from the atmopshere of the early Earth and somehow managed to rise to the right depth to be trapped by cretaceous geology.
 
So Titan has an oxidising atmosphere?
 

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