NASA’s Messenger Spacecraft Detects a 10-Mile-Thick Layer of Diamonds on Mercury

The innermost planet of our solar system, Mercury, is barely wider than the continental United States, and is often seen as a planet too close to the sun with no life in it. Its scorching daytime temperatures spike up to 800°F. In stellar findings, however, new details emerged, dropping bombshell details about Mercury. In a groundbreaking study, researchers have proposed that Mercury might harbor something deep within its layers, according to Nature.

Researchers have revealed that Mercury comprises a diamond layer up to 10 miles thick, burrowed beneath the surface. Dr. Yanhao Lin, a planetary materials expert leading the research team from China and Belgium, noted, "Many years ago, I noticed that Mercury’s extremely high carbon content might have significant implications. It made me realize that something special probably happened within its interior," stated Earth. This particular idea originates from data collected by NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft, which orbited Mercury from 2011 to 2015. MESSENGER explored the planet’s surface and analyzed its composition, detecting a huge amount of graphite all across Mercury’s crust.

This surface granite hinted at a primeval magma ocean rich in carbon, where lighter elements like graphite floated on the surface, and as a result, it darkened the crust. But what happened to the heavier material like carbon? As per Dr. Lin, "We use the large‑volume press to mimic the high‑temperature and high‑pressure conditions of Mercury’s core‑mantle boundary and combine it with the geophysical models and thermodynamic calculations…Sulfur lowers the liquidus of Mercury’s magma ocean. If the diamond forms in the magma ocean, it can sink to the bottom and be deposited at the CMB," stated Earth.

As if this were not enough, diamond conducts heat better than the surrounding rock; this hidden layer might act like a thermal superhighway, which quickly transfers heat from the planet’s core to its surface. Maybe this could help explain why Mercury’s volcanic activity ended so suddenly compared to Earth or Mars. Lin believes that diamond is a crucial component that helps manage the thermal activity of the planet. Moreover, Mercury’s magnetic field, surprisingly robust for such a small planet, may also be influenced by this diamond shell. Many readers may not know, so make it clear, thermal conductivity directly affects the convection in the liquid core, which, as a result, drives magnetic activity, stated Earth.

Lin asserted, "It also could be relevant to the understanding of other terrestrial planets, especially those with similar sizes and compositions. The processes that led to the formation of a diamond layer on Mercury might also have occurred on other planets, potentially leaving similar signatures," according to Earth. This stunning revelation is not just about mercury and the glimmers of diamond, it has opened roads for new discoveries. Scientists eagerly wait for further information when the BepiColombo (Joint mission of the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) mission arrives at Mercury in 2030.