New research shows a layer of diamonds could be tucked below the surface of Mercury, running as deep as 18 kilometres.
A team of researchers have analysed the surface of the solar system’s smallest planet. They worked to recreate the conditions in which Mercury came to be.
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They found the combination of things like carbon, the right temperature and high pressure combined to create diamonds.
Bernard Charlier, a geology professor at the University of Liège in Belgium, reported the findings.
“Compared to the Moon or Mars, we know very little about Mercury, also because we don’t have any samples from the surface of the planet,” Charlier said.
Will this news create a new space race to mine Mercury for the gems?
The Briefing host Sacha Barbour Gatt said researchers speculate a space race would be impossible.
“Even with future, more advanced technologies to mine Mercury for these alleged diamonds. Because apparently if they are there, they are at a depth of about 500 kilometres,” Barbour Gatt said.
The gems could be key to explaining Mercury’s composition and the origin of Mercury’s magnetic field.
“What he did say though is that larvas can melt and bring things up to the surface, where they could rise the diamonds to the top potentially,” she said.
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