What catastrophic event is a leading hypothesis explaining Mercury's depleted silicate mantle?
Answer
A giant impact early in its history
The sheer scale of iron concentration in Mercury has led scientists to propose dramatic formation scenarios. The leading hypothesis centers on a catastrophic event occurring early in Mercury’s history: a giant impact. This theoretical collision is believed to have been powerful enough to strip away a significant portion of the planet’s lighter, silicate mantle material. What remains after such an event is the dense, iron-rich remnant core that makes up the majority of the planet observed today. This scenario offers a compelling physical explanation for the planet’s unusual compositional imbalance compared to other rocky worlds.
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