What chemical characteristic of the material forming Mercury's mantle supports the idea that source material contained substantial volatiles?
Answer
The mantle is enriched in potassium (K) compared to predictions based only on evaporated solar nebula material.
The abundance of potassium (K) within the low-density silicate portion of Mercury is a key piece of evidence supporting the retention of original volatile content. If Mercury had formed purely from material that was superheated and stripped of volatiles, the mantle should reflect that depleted state. However, finding a significant amount of potassium—a moderately volatile element—in the mantle suggests that the initial source material was already rich in these elements and that they were incorporated into the planet's structure during accretion, rather than being entirely lost to space during the extreme heating phase.
Related Questions
Which volatile elements did the MESSENGER mission confirm are present in surprisingly high quantities on Mercury's surface and crust?What distinctive geological features on Mercury are thought to be direct evidence of ongoing volatile processes beneath the surface?What implication does the detection of chlorine, sulfur, and potassium have on the prior classification of Mercury's bulk composition?According to the comparison table, which category of elements challenges the simplest high-heat formation models due to their observed abundance on Mercury?Which specific formation theory suggests Mercury acquired its volatile-rich components via a 'late veneer' after the inner solar system's high-heat phase?What specific implication does the detection of chlorine suggest regarding the condensation temperatures during Mercury's early history?How does the process of Crustal Sequestration account for retaining volatiles despite the high heat required for Mercury's core differentiation?What chemical characteristic of the material forming Mercury's mantle supports the idea that source material contained substantial volatiles?What alternative scenario is suggested if Mercury formed *in situ* from standard solar nebula material at 0.3 to 0.4 AU, contrary to observations?What mechanism related to rapid formation could potentially explain Mercury retaining volatiles near the Sun, according to formation implications?What broader scientific importance does understanding Mercury's volatile retention hold for inner solar system formation studies?