Discovery of mysterious ‘dark oxygen’ on the sea floor stuns scientists

Researchers have found that metallic minerals on Earth's deep-ocean floor are causing chemical reactions that're leading to the production of mysterious "dark oxygen", which has bewildered scientists.

In a study published on Monday (Jul 22) in the journal Nature Geoscience, a team of international researchers, including a chemist, discovered that oxygen is being created without the involvement of life.
The findings of the study refute long-held beliefs that only photosynthetic creatures, including plants and algae, can produce oxygen on Earth. The study titled, "Evidence of dark oxygen production at the abysmal seafloor", suggests that there may be another way also.

It seems that oxygen can also be created at the seafloor, where light cannot reach, to sustain the oxygen-consuming (aerobic) marine life that survives in total darkness.