Mercury's crust points to deeper, hotter volcanic origins than expected

The study found that Mercury's surface has a lower concentration of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) than previously believed, with a mass fraction of about 37% compared to the 62% found on Earth. This suggests that Mercury's volcanic history involved deeper, hotter mantle material than previously thought. The researchers used laboratory measurements and infrared data from the Moon to validate their findings. The study's results are published in the journal Planetary Research. The findings imply that Mercury's crust formed from mantle material that melted at greater depths, which is a key difference from Earth's crust, which remains active. The study also highlights the importance of calibration data, such as the glass beads used to measure infrared radiation. The team tested their findings on the Moon using NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which provided high-resolution infrared data. The next step in the research involves using ESA's BepiColombo mission to confirm the low SiO₂ content on Mercury's surface. The mission will provide more precise infrared measurements to validate the study's conclusions. The research team includes scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research and universities in Germany. The study is part of a broader effort to understand the geological history of Mercury and its relationship to Earth.

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