Scientists from China and Belgium think two processes could have resulted in the thick diamond crust.
It may be the smallest planet in the solar system but Mercury could be hiding a big secret. A layer of diamond beneath the crust of Mercury could be up to 10 miles thick, new research suggests. Scientists from China and Belgium used data collected by NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft between 2004 and 2015 to inform their theories about the structure of the planet's interior. The researchers think two processes could have resulted in the diamond layer.
The new research - published on 14 June - suggests that under extreme pressure, the carbon present in the mantle turned into diamond. This diamond then floated to the top of the core - creating a layer between it and the mantle.
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