The Behavior of H2 in Aqueous Fluids under High Temperature and Pressure

The presence of H2 and H2O in planetary interiors prompts the need for fundamental studies on these compounds under corresponding conditions. Here, we summarize data on H2 properties in aqueous systems under conditions of high temperature and pressure. We explain how to measure important H2 fugacities in hydrothermal systems. We present available experimental data and thermodynamic models for H2 solubility and vapor–liquid partitioning under hydrothermal conditions. In addition, we introduce the fascinating world of H2–H2O clathrate hydrates under extreme temperatures and pressures. The properties of the H2–H2O system are well established below the critical point of water (374 °C and 22.06 MPa), but far less is known under higher temperatures and pressures, or the effect of salt.

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December 2025 --The Variscan Orogeny in Europe – Understanding Supercontinent Formation

The Variscan orogen formed between 380 and 300 million years ago through several accretionary and collisional cycles, culminating with the construction of the Pangea supercontinent. This process occurred via sequential opening and closure of oceanic basins, synchronous detachment of Gondwana derived continental ribbons, and their outboard amalgamation onto the Laurussia margin. The Variscan orogen is rather unique compared with other orogenic belts on Earth: its overthickened and dominantly magmatic crust in the central belt, surprisingly minor mantle involvement in the magmatic and geodynamic processes, coherent and pulsed magmatism along the collision suture, and its complex accretionary history. Because its final product, Pangea, is the youngest and best-understood supercontinent on Earth, the Variscan orogeny offers clues for understanding the mechanisms of supercontinent formation.