No FeS layer in Mercury? Evidence from Ti/Al measured by MESSENGER

Aluminum compounds; Silicates; Structural geology; Sulfur compounds; Titanium; X ray spectrometers; Core formation; Core-mantle boundary; High-pressure experiment; Magma ocean; MESSENGER spacecraft; Multiphase equilibria; Reducing conditions; Titanium compounds; Mercury (planet)

Abstract :

[en] In this study we investigate the likeliness of the existence of an iron sulfide layer (FeS matte) at the core-mantle boundary (CMB) of Mercury by comparing new chemical surface data obtained by the X-ray Spectrometer onboard the MESSENGER spacecraft with geochemical models supported by high-pressure experiments under reducing conditions. We present a new data set consisting of 233 Ti/Si measurements, which combined with Al/Si data show that Mercury's surface has a slightly subchondritic Ti/Al ratio of 0.035 ± 0.008. Multiphase equilibria experiments show that at the conditions of Mercury's core formation, Ti is chalcophile but not siderophile, making Ti a useful tracer of sulfide melt formation. We parameterize and use our partitioning data in a model to calculate the relative depletion of Ti in the bulk silicate fraction of Mercury as a function of a putative FeS layer thickness. By comparing the model results and surface elemental data we show that Mercury most likely does not have a FeS layer, and in case it would have one, it would only be a few kilometers thick (<13km). We also show that Mercury's metallic Fe(Si) core cannot contain more than ∼1.5 wt.% sulfur and that the formation of this core under reducing conditions is responsible for the slightly subchondritic Ti/Al ratio of Mercury's surface. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.

Disciplines :

Earth sciences & physical geography

Author, co-author :

Cartier, C.; Département de Géologie, Université de Liège, Sart Tilman, 4000, Belgium, Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, Université Blaise Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand, 63038, France, CRPG, CNRS, Université de Lorraine, UMR 7358, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, 54501, France

Namur, Olivier ; KU Leuven

Nittler, L. R.; Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Washington, DC 20015, United States

Weider, S. Z.; Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Washington, DC 20015, United States

Crapster-Pregont, E.; Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024, United States

Vorburger, A.; Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024, United States

Franck, E. A.; Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Washington, DC 20015, United States

Charlier, Bernard ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géologie > Pétrologie, géochimie endogènes et pétrophysique

Language :

English

Title :

No FeS layer in Mercury? Evidence from Ti/Al measured by MESSENGER

Publication date :

2020

Journal title :

Earth and Planetary Science Letters

ISSN :

0012-821X

eISSN :

1385-013X

Publisher :

Elsevier B.V.

Volume :

534

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Funders :

CER - Conseil Européen de la Recherche [BE]
FWO - Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen [BE]
BELSPO - Politique scientifique fédérale [BE]

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since 28 July 2020

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