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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Planets

 

Keywords

  • Mercury
  • X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy
  • remote sensing

Index Terms

  • 5410 - Composition
  • 5455 - Origin and evolution
  • 5464 - Remote sensing
  • 5480 - Volcanism
  • 6235 - Mercury

Paper in Press

JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, doi:10.1029/2012JE004153

Chemical heterogeneity on Mercury's surface revealed by the MESSENGER X-Ray Spectrometer

Key Points
  • Analysis of spatially resolved X-ray spectrometry data from MESSENGER
  • Volcanic smooth plains units differ compositionally from older terrains
  • Mercury's surface consists of high-Mg mafic minerals, plagioclase, and sulfides

Authors:

Shoshana Zoe Weider

Larry Nittler

Richard D Starr

Timothy McCoy

Karen Stockstill Cahill

Paul K. Byrne

Brett W Denevi

James W. Head

Sean C. Solomon

We present the analysis of 205 spatially resolved measurements of the surface composition of Mercury from MESSENGER's X-Ray Spectrometer. The surface footprints of these measurements are categorized according to geological terrain. Northern smooth plains deposits and the plains interior to the Caloris basin differ compositionally from older terrain on Mercury. The older terrain generally has higher Mg/Si, S/Si, and Ca/Si ratios, and a lower Al/Si ratio than the smooth plains. Mercury's surface mineralogy is likely dominated by high-Mg mafic minerals (e.g., enstatite), plagioclase feldspar, and lesser amounts of Ca, Mg, and/or Fe sulfides (e.g., oldhamite). The compositional difference between the volcanic smooth plains and the older terrain reflects different abundances of these minerals and points to the crystallization of the smooth plains from a more chemically evolved magma source. High-degree partial melts of enstatite chondrite material provide a generally good compositional and mineralogical match for much of the surface of Mercury. An exception is Fe, for which the low surface abundance on Mercury is still higher than that of melts from enstatite chondrites and may indicate an exogenous contribution from meteoroid impacts.

Received 1 June 2012; accepted 14 August 2012.

Citation: Weider, S. Z., L. Nittler, R. D. Starr, T. McCoy, K. Stockstill Cahill, P. K. Byrne, B. W. Denevi, J. W. Head, and S. C. Solomon (2012), Chemical heterogeneity on Mercury's surface revealed by the MESSENGER X-Ray Spectrometer, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2012JE004153, in press.