Oxygen Depletion on the Surface of Mercury: Evidence of Silicon Smelting?

Abstract: The MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft collected data that provided important insights into the structure, chemical makeup, and compositional diversity of Mercury. The X-Ray Spectrometer (XRS) and Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (GRS) onboard MESSENGER provided the first detailed chemical analyses of Mercury’s surface. Among the many discoveries included several surprising characteristics about the surface of Mercury, including elevated S abundances (u…