Mercury’s surface reveals a surprisingly fiery past

Scientists have discovered that Mercury’s surface contains far less silicon dioxide than previously thought, pointing to an unexpectedly hot volcanic past. The finding suggests ancient lava may have originated from deeper, more extensively melted parts of the planet’s mantle. Mercury’s surface reveals a surprisingly fiery past.

Mercury’s surface reveals a surprisingly fiery past Science News from research organizations Mercury’s surface reveals a surprisingly fiery past Mercury’s unexpectedly low silicon dioxide levels suggest the tiny planet once had a far hotter volcanic interior than scientists thought. Mercury, the smallest planet and the one closest to the Sun, appears to have cooled relatively quickly. Roughly one billion years after its formation, volcanic activity may already have largely stopped, leaving the planet covered by a solid, continuous rocky crust.

Its crust remains geologically active, with volcanoes and plate tectonics continuously reshaping the planet. Mercury, by contrast, has been largely frozen in place for billions of years. Scientists are still working to understand exactly how its volcanic history unfolded and how those early processes produced the world we see today.

One of the best ways to investigate that history is by studying the chemical makeup of Mercury’s surface.