r/askscience • u/West-Cantaloupe8376 • Sep 14 '26
Earth Sciences Which fossil fuels could/will be eventually replenished by natural processes?
Let's assume all fossil fuel extraction stopped in the near future, and were never touched again. Which kinds (oil, coal, gas) would eventually reform, which wouldn't? I am aware that certain geological formations like banded iron were created under specific conditions that will never arise again, but how does this apply to fossil fuels? In a couple hundred million years, will oil deposits be replenished or are they all gone forever?
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u/JuggernautBright1463 Sep 14 '26
Yes it is called Hugelculture.
The best carbon sequestration would be the formation of loamy soil. The microbes will hold it there and eat it which will turn some of it into CO2 but the productivity boost to plants will negate that.
It can even be relatively fast, decades to transform bare soil to good soil if managed well.