Radioactive Elements on Mercury’s Surface from MESSENGER: Implications for the Planet’s Formation and Evolution

dc.contributor.authorPeplowski, Patrick N.
dc.contributor.authorEvans, Larry G.
dc.contributor.authorHauck, Steven A.
dc.contributor.authorMcCoy, Timothy J.
dc.contributor.authorBoynton, William V.
dc.contributor.authorGillis-Davis, Jeffery J.
dc.contributor.authorEbel, Denton S.
dc.contributor.authorGoldsten, John O.
dc.contributor.authorHamara, David K.
dc.contributor.authorLawrence, David J.
dc.contributor.authorMcNutt, Ralph L.
dc.contributor.authorNittler, Larry R.
dc.contributor.authorSolomon, Sean C.
dc.contributor.authorRhodes, Edgar A.
dc.contributor.authorSprague, Ann L.
dc.contributor.authorStarr, Richard D.
dc.contributor.authorStockstill-Cahill, Karen R.
dc.date.accessioned2013-04-22T18:26:15Z
dc.date.available2013-04-22T18:26:15Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractThe MESSENGER Gamma-Ray Spectrometer measured the average surface abundances of the radioactive elements potassium (K, 1150 ± 220 parts per million), thorium (Th, 220 ± 60 parts per billion), and uranium (U, 90 ± 20 parts per billion) in Mercury’s northern hemisphere. The abundance of the moderately volatile element K, relative to Th and U, is inconsistent with physical models for the formation of Mercury requiring extreme heating of the planet or its precursor materials, and supports formation from volatile-containing material comparable to chondritic meteorites. Abundances of K, Th, and U indicate that internal heat production has declined substantially since Mercury’s formation, consistent with widespread volcanism shortly after the end of late heavy bombardment 3.8 billion years ago and limited, isolated volcanic activity since.
dc.format.extent1850–1852
dc.identifier0036-8075
dc.identifier.citationPeplowski, Patrick N., Evans, Larry G., Hauck, Steven A., McCoy, Timothy J., Boynton, William V., Gillis-Davis, Jeffery J., Ebel, Denton S., Goldsten, John O., Hamara, David K., Lawrence, David J., McNutt, Ralph L., Nittler, Larry R., Solomon, Sean C., Rhodes, Edgar A., Sprague, Ann L., Starr, Richard D., and Stockstill-Cahill, Karen R. 2011. "<a href="https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/20546">Radioactive Elements on Mercury’s Surface from MESSENGER: Implications for the Planet’s Formation and Evolution</a>." <em>Science</em>, 333, (6051) 1850–1852. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1211576">https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1211576</a>.
dc.identifier.issn0036-8075
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10088/20546
dc.relation.ispartofScience 333 (6051)
dc.titleRadioactive Elements on Mercury’s Surface from MESSENGER: Implications for the Planet’s Formation and Evolution
dc.typearticle
sro.description.unitNH-Mineral Sciences
sro.description.unitNMNH
sro.identifier.doi10.1126/science.1211576
sro.identifier.itemID102675
sro.identifier.refworksID69161
sro.identifier.urlhttps://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/20546

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
min_Peplowski_et_al_2011_Science_333_1850-1852.pdf
Size:
602.89 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format