The major-element composition of Mercury's surface from MESSENGER X-ray spectrometry

Larry R. Nittler; Richard D. Starr; Shoshana Z. Weider; Timothy J. McCoy; William V. Boynton; Denton S. Ebel; Carolyn M. Ernst; Larry G. Evans; John O. Goldsten; David K. Hamara; David J. Lawrence; Ralph L. McNutt; Charles E. Schlemm; Sean C. Solomon; Ann L. Sprague

doi:10.1126/science.1211567

The major-element composition of Mercury's surface from MESSENGER X-ray spectrometry

Larry R. Nittler, Richard D. Starr, Shoshana Z. Weider, Timothy J. McCoy, William V. Boynton, Denton S. Ebel, Carolyn M. Ernst, Larry G. Evans, John O. Goldsten, David K. Hamara, David J. Lawrence, Ralph L. McNutt, Charles E. Schlemm, Sean C. Solomon, Ann L. Sprague

Lunar and Planetary Lab

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

392 Scopus citations

Abstract

X-ray fluorescence spectra obtained by the MESSENGER spacecraft orbiting Mercury indicate that the planet's surface differs in composition from those of other terrestrial planets. Relatively high Mg/Si and low Al/Si and Ca/Si ratios rule out a lunarlike feldspar-rich crust. The sulfur abundance is at least 10 times higher than that of the silicate portion of Earth or the Moon, and this observation, together with a low surface Fe abundance, supports the view that Mercury formed from highly reduced precursor materials, perhaps akin to enstatite chondrite meteorites or anhydrous cometary dust particles. Low Fe and Ti abundances do not support the proposal that opaque oxides of these elements contribute substantially to Mercury's low and variable surface reflectance.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1847-1850
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	333
Issue number	6051
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1211567
State	Published - Sep 30 2011

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Nittler, L. R., Starr, R. D., Weider, S. Z., McCoy, T. J., Boynton, W. V., Ebel, D. S., Ernst, C. M., Evans, L. G., Goldsten, J. O., Hamara, D. K., Lawrence, D. J., McNutt, R. L., Schlemm, C. E., Solomon, S. C., & Sprague, A. L. (2011). The major-element composition of Mercury's surface from MESSENGER X-ray spectrometry. Science, 333(6051), 1847-1850. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1211567

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title = "The major-element composition of Mercury's surface from MESSENGER X-ray spectrometry",

abstract = "X-ray fluorescence spectra obtained by the MESSENGER spacecraft orbiting Mercury indicate that the planet's surface differs in composition from those of other terrestrial planets. Relatively high Mg/Si and low Al/Si and Ca/Si ratios rule out a lunarlike feldspar-rich crust. The sulfur abundance is at least 10 times higher than that of the silicate portion of Earth or the Moon, and this observation, together with a low surface Fe abundance, supports the view that Mercury formed from highly reduced precursor materials, perhaps akin to enstatite chondrite meteorites or anhydrous cometary dust particles. Low Fe and Ti abundances do not support the proposal that opaque oxides of these elements contribute substantially to Mercury's low and variable surface reflectance.",

author = "Nittler, {Larry R.} and Starr, {Richard D.} and Weider, {Shoshana Z.} and McCoy, {Timothy J.} and Boynton, {William V.} and Ebel, {Denton S.} and Ernst, {Carolyn M.} and Evans, {Larry G.} and Goldsten, {John O.} and Hamara, {David K.} and Lawrence, {David J.} and McNutt, {Ralph L.} and Schlemm, {Charles E.} and Solomon, {Sean C.} and Sprague, {Ann L.}",

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T1 - The major-element composition of Mercury's surface from MESSENGER X-ray spectrometry

AU - Nittler, Larry R.

AU - Starr, Richard D.

AU - Weider, Shoshana Z.

AU - McCoy, Timothy J.

AU - Boynton, William V.

AU - Ebel, Denton S.

AU - Ernst, Carolyn M.

AU - Evans, Larry G.

AU - Goldsten, John O.

AU - Hamara, David K.

AU - Lawrence, David J.

AU - McNutt, Ralph L.

AU - Schlemm, Charles E.

AU - Solomon, Sean C.

AU - Sprague, Ann L.

PY - 2011/9/30

Y1 - 2011/9/30

N2 - X-ray fluorescence spectra obtained by the MESSENGER spacecraft orbiting Mercury indicate that the planet's surface differs in composition from those of other terrestrial planets. Relatively high Mg/Si and low Al/Si and Ca/Si ratios rule out a lunarlike feldspar-rich crust. The sulfur abundance is at least 10 times higher than that of the silicate portion of Earth or the Moon, and this observation, together with a low surface Fe abundance, supports the view that Mercury formed from highly reduced precursor materials, perhaps akin to enstatite chondrite meteorites or anhydrous cometary dust particles. Low Fe and Ti abundances do not support the proposal that opaque oxides of these elements contribute substantially to Mercury's low and variable surface reflectance.

AB - X-ray fluorescence spectra obtained by the MESSENGER spacecraft orbiting Mercury indicate that the planet's surface differs in composition from those of other terrestrial planets. Relatively high Mg/Si and low Al/Si and Ca/Si ratios rule out a lunarlike feldspar-rich crust. The sulfur abundance is at least 10 times higher than that of the silicate portion of Earth or the Moon, and this observation, together with a low surface Fe abundance, supports the view that Mercury formed from highly reduced precursor materials, perhaps akin to enstatite chondrite meteorites or anhydrous cometary dust particles. Low Fe and Ti abundances do not support the proposal that opaque oxides of these elements contribute substantially to Mercury's low and variable surface reflectance.

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The major-element composition of Mercury's surface from MESSENGER X-ray spectrometry

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