Mercury, the smallest planet in our solar system, might be hiding a significant secret: a diamond layer up to 10 miles (18 km) thick beneath its crust. This theory comes from scientists in China and Belgium, who analyzed data from NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft, collected between 2004 and 2015, to study Mercury’s interior structure. The researchers propose two processes that could have led to the formation of this diamond layer. First, the crystallization of Mercury’s ancient magma ocean might have created a very thin diamond layer at the core/mantle interface. More importantly, they believe the crystallization of Mercury’s metal core played a crucial role. Olivier Namur, a member of the research team and associate professor at KU Leuven, explained that when Mercury formed around 4.5 billion years ago, its metal core was completely liquid and gradually crystallized over time. Under the extreme pressure of Mercury’s interior, the carbon in the mantle could have turned into diamond, which then floated to the top of the core, forming a distinct layer between the core and mantle. To test their theory, scientists used a large-volume press to mimic the high pressures and temperatures within Mercury’s interior. They subjected synthetic magnesium silicate to seven gigapascals of pressure and heated it to 2,177°C (3,950°F). These experiments demonstrated how minerals would have transformed during Mercury’s formation, supporting the possibility of diamond formation under such conditions. Namur noted that these findings could indicate differences in how Mercury formed compared to other planets, such as Earth and Mars. Previous theories have suggested that Earth’s mantle may contain over a quadrillion tonnes of diamond, buried more than 100 miles (160 km) below the surface, far deeper than any human drilling has reached. This new research, published on June 14, adds to our understanding of Mercury and highlights the potential for significant discoveries about the formation and composition of planets in our solar system. The post Mercury has a layer of diamond up to 10 miles thick, scientists suggest appeared first on Anomalien.com.