Active Hydrothermal Hydrogen Emissions in Continental Collision Settings: Insights From the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau

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Natural hydrogen (H 2 ) is a promising clean energy resource and a significant component of geothermal gases, yet its origins and release mechanisms remain poorly constrained. Here, we present geochemical and isotopic data (CO 2 , N 2 , Ar, H 2 , He, CH 4 , 3 He/ 4 He, δ 13 C‐CO 2 , and δ 13 C‐CH 4 ) for hydrothermal gases from the Changning–Menglian suture (CMS), Tengchong volcanic field (TCV), and Red River fault zone (RRF) in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. H 2 concentrations show pronounced regional contrasts, with the CMS (1.0–190,000 ppm) far exceeding those in the TCV (0.6–5902 ppm) and RRF (1.0–1746 ppm). In the CMS, active H 2 seepage reflects serpentinization of remnant oceanic lithosphere; in the TCV, magmatic degassing dominates, while in the RRF, fault‐related processes and radiolysis prevail. Tectonic activity—ranging from seismic events to long‐term lithospheric deformation—drives H 2 release, with faults serving as conduits for upward migration. During ascent, secondary processes (calcite precipitation and CO 2 dissolution) further modify the volatile composition, enhancing relative H 2 enrichment and forming N 2 ‐rich and H 2 ‐bearing fluids. These findings reveal the tectonic control on H 2 generation and migration, providing insights for natural H 2 exploration in the Tibetan Plateau and other tectonically active regions.