Program > Browse abstracts by speaker > Charlier Bernard

We have conducted a suite of experiments under highly reduced conditions to gain knowledge on phase equilibria and the partitioning of elements in silicate, metal and sulfide melts relevant to Mercury. These unique conditions are responsible for a high solubility of sulfur in silicate melts with implications for Mercury's geological evolution. Sulfur influences liquidus temperatures and phase equilibria, affecting the crystallization and melting processes associated with the magma ocean, the formation of Mercury's secondary volcanic crust through mantle melting, and the origin of late-stage magmatic activity. Exotic sulfides, such as (Ca,Mg)S, formed in sulfur-saturated magmas, play a critical role in the liquid line of descent of the magma ocean and affect the distribution of heat-producing elements. We will summarize new experimental findings on Mercury-related magmatic compositions, emphasizing the role of reduced conditions in shaping the characteristics of the planet, including its internal structure and the formation of a diamond layer and an FeS matte at the core-mantle boundary, mantle heterogeneity and production of diverse lavas, and the distribution of heat-producing elements. The new results obtained from experimental petrology will be fundamental in interpreting the data expected from the BepiColombo mission in late 2026.