Modeling study proposes a diamond layer at the core-mantle boundary on Mercury
A study in Nature Communications reveals Mercury's core-mantle boundary may host a diamond layer, challenging assumptions of graphite presence. High-pressure experiments suggest sulfur influenced diamond formation, impacting Mercury's magnetic field and planetary formation insights.
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A recent study published in Nature Communications suggests that Mercury's core-mantle boundary contains a diamond layer, potentially up to 18 kilometers thick. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the presence of only graphite on Mercury's surface and proposes a more complex history involving a carbon-rich magma ocean. By recreating Mercury's interior conditions through high-pressure experiments and thermodynamic modeling, researchers were able to estimate the pressure at the core-mantle boundary and propose the formation of a diamond layer due to sulfur content affecting the planet's magma ocean crystallization. The presence of this diamond layer could have implications for Mercury's magnetic field and may provide insights into the formation of carbon-rich exoplanetary systems. The study highlights the importance of understanding the complex processes that shape planetary interiors and the potential for similar phenomena on other terrestrial planets.
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6 commentsIf that's the case, somebody ought to update the wikipedia page.
What might come as a surprise to the average engagement ring shopper is that diamond is a wildly abundant material in the universe. On that scale it's nothing special -- possibly it's just slightly less ubiquitous than silica sand. It's the heavy metals, like gold and even tungsten, that are rare and weird.
Come see it all! The system with the Ringed Planet, the Red-Spotted Giant, and most of all, the Mirror Planet!
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