Objective
Ongoing measurements of the surface of Mercury by the MESSENGER spacecraft (NASA) indicate that it is covered with basaltic lavas unusually rich in sulfur (up to 4 wt.% S). Such values are significantly higher than those reported for any basaltic composition on Earth. Understanding the geochemical cycle of sulfur on Mercury is essential to constrain large-scale processes of planetary differentiation due to volcanic activity, crust-mantle formation, and segregation of a Fe-S-Si core. In this project, the solubility, crystallization and speciation of sulfur in silicate liquids from Mercury will be investigated experimentally and theoretically. Experiments using furnaces and presses will be performed at high temperature (> 1000°C) and for pressure conditions relevant to the Mercury’s crust and mantle (1 bar to 40 kbar). A special design of experimental capsules will be developed to control equilibration under highly reduced conditions similar to those prevailing on Mercury. The key objectives of the project are (1) to precisely estimate the sulfur solubility in Mercury’s silicate liquids as a function of pressure, temperature and oxygen fugacity and (2) to determine phase equilibria and the behavior of sulfur during the crystallization of the Mercury’s basalts. Experimental data and theoretical models produced during this project will allow understanding the processes of Mercury’s differentiation on a global scale as well as determining the likely mantle source of the basalts observed at the surface of the planet. This will be of crucial interest to fully interpret the geochemical and spectral data currently measured by MESSENGER, and those that will be acquired in the near future by the BepiColombo spacecraft of the European Space Agency.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering vehicle engineering aerospace engineering astronautical engineering spacecraft
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences planets
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
30167 Hannover
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.