Editing Serpentinization (section)

===Extraterrestrial production of methane by serpentinization===
The presence of traces of [[Methane on Mars|methane in the atmosphere of Mars]] has been hypothesized to be a possible evidence for [[life on Mars (planet)|life on Mars]] if methane was produced by [[bacteria]]l activity. Serpentinization has been proposed as an alternative non-biological source for the observed methane traces.<ref>{{cite journal|jstor=27858733|title=Life on Mars?|date=March–April 2006|journal=American Scientist|volume=94|issue=2|pages=119–120|last1=Baucom|first1=Martin|doi=10.1511/2006.58.119}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/ExoMars/The_methane_mystery|title=The methane mystery|last=esa|website=European Space Agency|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref> In 2022 it was reported that microscopic examination of the [[ALH 84001]] meteorite, which came from Mars, shows that indeed the organic matter it contains was formed by serpentinization, not by life processes.<ref>{{cite journal |display-authors=etal|last1=Andrew Steele |title=Organic synthesis associated with serpentinization and carbonation on early Mars |journal=Science |date=13 January 2022 |volume=375 |issue=6577 |pages=172–177 |doi=10.1126/science.abg7905|pmid=35025630 |bibcode=2022Sci...375..172S |s2cid=245933224 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Leah Crane |title=Mars: Organic compounds were made by water interacting with rocks |journal=New Scientist |date=22 January 2022 |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2304270-organic-compounds-on-mars-were-produced-by-water-and-rocks-not-life/}}</ref>

Using data from the [[Cassini–Huygens|Cassini]] probe flybys obtained in 2010–12, scientists were able to confirm that Saturn's moon [[Enceladus]] likely has a liquid water ocean beneath its frozen surface. A model suggests that the ocean on Enceladus has an alkaline [[pH]] of 11–12.<ref name="pH 2015">{{cite journal |title=The pH of Enceladus' ocean |journal=Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta |date=16 April 2015 |last1=R. Glein |first1=Christopher |last2= Baross |first2= John A. |last3=Waite |first3=Hunter |doi=10.1016/j.gca.2015.04.017 |bibcode=2015GeCoA.162..202G |volume=162 |pages=202–219|arxiv=1502.01946 |s2cid=119262254 }}</ref> The high pH is interpreted to be a key consequence of serpentinization of [[chondrite|chondritic rock]], that leads to the generation of {{chem|H|2}}, a geochemical source of energy that can support both abiotic and biological synthesis of organic molecules.<ref name="pH 2015"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Wall |first=Mike |url=http://www.space.com/29334-enceladus-ocean-energy-source-life.html |title=Ocean on Saturn Moon Enceladus May Have Potential Energy Source to Support Life |work=Space.com |date=7 May 2015 |access-date=2015-05-08 }}</ref>