It Is Claimed That There May Be 16 Quadrillion Tons of Diamonds on Mercury

Each planet in the solar system has a different structure and formation from other planets. A new study reveals that one of these planets covered with diamonds suggests it might.

The closest planet to the Sun, according to research MercuryIt looks like it might be likely to be home to a fairly large amount of diamonds. On densely cratered Mercury in research based on simulations quadrillions of tons It is claimed to be a diamond.

Mercury could have 16 quadrillion tons of diamonds

New research previewed at the Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conference (LPSC) in Texas last week suggests that Mercury, the solar system’s smallest planet, could be a surprisingly massive diamond mine.

Inside the entire Mercury shell of simulation models 16 quadrillion tons of diamonds Kevin Cannon, Assistant Professor of Geology and Geological Engineering/Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines, states that only a small fraction of the surface material, at most, one or two percent, is likely to be diamond.

a pure carbon form of Mercury graphite In the research, it is stated that the graphite is covered with diamonds after being hit by meteorites, asteroids and comets. transformed is said to be possible.

However, the early Solar System, where Mercury also formed most of the craters on the Moon, about 4.1 to 3.8 billion years ago. Late Heavy BombardmentIt is also known that he was particularly badly affected by . However, the fact that Mercury has more craters than the Moon means that the diamond-creating effect may also be greater.

“We think Mercury originated from a global magma ocean, a thin crust of graphite that formed after it cooled.” Noting that, Cannon said that asteroids and comets slammed into this crust at tens of miles per second, enough to turn the graphite into diamonds. a high pressure indicates that it may have occurred.

It may be possible to extract diamonds

On the other hand, these diamonds, which may be relatively close to the surface, are a little bit of the clear diamonds we know. different. “They probably don’t look like the big clear gemstones we cut out and make jewelry,” Using the expressions Cannon, “Used in industry as an abrasive, possibly in a dispersed mixture with graphite and other forms of carbon. little blurry diamonds It’s a better comparison.” saves as.

Of course, this situation brings to mind the concept of space mining first; but at this point, space mining is much better than it sounds. hard It should be noted that. When it comes to Mercury, things get a little more complicated. on the subject “It’s quite difficult to orbit and land around Mercury due to orbital mechanics” Cannon stated that, in theory, it is possible to extract diamonds on Mercury. that it is possible it states.

However, the European Space Agency’s mission, which will arrive at Mercury on December 5, 2025 and map the planet at different wavelengths. BepiColumbo It may be possible that his mission was to find the diamonds of Mercury. Cannon, mission specific exploring minerals He says it’s extremely good.

Finally, Cannon states that Mercury is not the only planet in the Solar System that is likely to contain diamonds other than Earth. Cannon, ice giants Neptune and UranusHe also states that the probability of having a diamond deep inside is quite high.