Could The Surface Of Mercury Be Covered By Quadrillion Tons Of Diamonds?

While we still don’t know much about Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, researchers have come up with a new theory that its surface could be covered in 16 quadrillion tons of diamonds.

This is because some of the planet’s crust—made out of graphite—is converted into diamond if it’s struck under high pressure by asteroids. 

As it bears craters from being struck multiple times over the centuries, researchers at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference posited that it could actually be encrusted in precious stones. 

However, before you grab your shovel, there’s a high chance these diamonds aren’t similar to what you’re picturing in your head. 

“They’re probably nothing like the big clear gemstones we cut and make into jewelry,” said Kevin Cannon, a geologist at the Colorado School of Mines, as per Interesting Engineering. 

“A better comparison is the small cloudy diamonds used in industry as abrasives, likely in a messy mixture with graphite and other forms of carbon.” 

Could a “space mining” program be set up to retrieve those diamonds? Possibly, but it may not yield much reward. 

Cannon explained that exploring Mercury is rather difficult, due to its “orbital mechanics,” and even if we do reach the planet, the value of mining the diamonds on its surface isn’t worth it. 

“The economics aren’t great—we can synthesize industrial diamonds in the lab, so maybe there’s more value simply as a bulk source of carbon,” he told Forbes. 

[via Interesting Engineering and Forbes, cover image via Roberto Junior | Dreamstime.com]