Christian Renggli

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Mercury's surface holds far less silicon dioxide than thought

As of September 2026: Leading follow-up work ahead of BepiColombo's arrival

Mercury's surface holds about 37 percent silicon dioxide by mass, up to 25 percent less than earlier estimates. That gap points to a hotter volcanic past, with lava rising from deeper mantle regions melted at extreme temperatures.

Updated Sep 12

Notable Quotes

Our findings suggest that the volcanic rocks on Mercury formed from more deeply melted mantle material than previously assumed.

from Mercury's surface holds far less silicon dioxide than thought · Updated Sep 12

Our study lays the groundwork for deriving the most accurate information possible about the silicon dioxide content of Mercury's surface from BepiColombo's measurements.

from Mercury's surface holds far less silicon dioxide than thought · Updated Sep 12