This chapter presents a comprehensive overview of the abundances and distribution of sulfur, and the processes that control the behavior of sulfur on the Earth’s Moon and on Mercury. The two planetary bodies share notable similarities, such as lacking substantial atmospheres and featuring surfaces with high numbers of impact craters. Both objects are at variably low oxygen fugacities (fO2), where sulfur occurs only in its reduced state as S2−, and forms sulfides. For the Moon, we present a compilation of 55 years of lunar sample analysis, from Apollo 11 to Chang’e 5, including sulfur concentrations and isotopic compositional data. We discuss processes from sulfur in the lunar interior to volcanic degassing from mare basalts and in pyroclastic eruptions. At the beginning of a lunar science renaissance, we highlight where future research into sulfur on the Moon might lead. The knowledge of sulfur on Mercury is almost entirely based on observations by the NASA MESSENGER mission, operational from 2011 to 2014. MESSENGER observed very high sulfur abundances on Mercury with concentrations of up to 4 wt.%. We discuss proposed mechanisms that lead to the high sulfur abundance on Mercury’s surface and discuss implications for the planet’s interior. Finally, we provide an outlook on how the upcoming ESA/JAXA BepiColombo will advance our understanding of Mercury and the processes controlling sulfur on the planet.

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Sulfur in the Moon and Mercury

  • Christian J. Renggli,
  • Edgar S. Steenstra,
  • Alberto E. Saal

摘要

This chapter presents a comprehensive overview of the abundances and distribution of sulfur, and the processes that control the behavior of sulfur on the Earth’s Moon and on Mercury. The two planetary bodies share notable similarities, such as lacking substantial atmospheres and featuring surfaces with high numbers of impact craters. Both objects are at variably low oxygen fugacities (fO2), where sulfur occurs only in its reduced state as S2−, and forms sulfides. For the Moon, we present a compilation of 55 years of lunar sample analysis, from Apollo 11 to Chang’e 5, including sulfur concentrations and isotopic compositional data. We discuss processes from sulfur in the lunar interior to volcanic degassing from mare basalts and in pyroclastic eruptions. At the beginning of a lunar science renaissance, we highlight where future research into sulfur on the Moon might lead. The knowledge of sulfur on Mercury is almost entirely based on observations by the NASA MESSENGER mission, operational from 2011 to 2014. MESSENGER observed very high sulfur abundances on Mercury with concentrations of up to 4 wt.%. We discuss proposed mechanisms that lead to the high sulfur abundance on Mercury’s surface and discuss implications for the planet’s interior. Finally, we provide an outlook on how the upcoming ESA/JAXA BepiColombo will advance our understanding of Mercury and the processes controlling sulfur on the planet.