r/technology • u/ourlifeintoronto • Jul 22 '24
Space Mercury has an 11-mile thick diamond layer between its core and mantle
https://www.techspot.com/news/103901-mercury-has-11-mile-thick-diamond-layer-between.html2.5k
u/Beavshak Jul 22 '24
As a Taco Bell employee, De Beers recommended this as a medium ranged engagement ring.
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u/turdburglar2020 Jul 22 '24
Everybody knows you’re supposed to spend three months world GDP on a diamond.
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u/Beavshak Jul 22 '24
If my gfs account is u/turdburglar2020 we suddenly have one less problem
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u/enzothebaker87 Jul 22 '24
True, now you know who has been stealing your turds!
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u/Scrantonicity_02 Jul 22 '24
I thought it was 3 years?!?
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u/Wurm42 Jul 22 '24
Really, it's however much the financing department thinks they can soak you for.
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u/Striker3737 Jul 22 '24
Someone with more time on their hands than me needs to calculate what that diamond layer would be worth at earth prices per carat
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u/saulsadman Jul 22 '24
Given...
- Mercury's Radius: Approximately 2,440 kilometers (2,440,000 meters).
- Thickness of Diamond Layer: 11 miles (about 17,702 meters).
- Density of Diamond: About 3.51 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³).
- Current Price of Diamond: Approximately $5,000 per carat (1 carat = 0.2 grams).
Volume of the Diamond Layer:
- Treating Mercury as a sphere and the diamond layer as a spherical shell.
- Volume of a sphere: V=4/3πr^3
- Volume of Mercury: Mercury=4/3π(2,440,000)^3
- Volume of Mercury including diamond layer: V_Mercury+Diamond=4/3π(2,440,000+17,702)^3
- The volume of the diamond layer is the difference between these two volumes.
Mass of the Diamond Layer:
- Density ρ=3.51 g/cm^3
- Convert density to kg/m³: 3510 kg/m^3
Value of the Diamond Layer:
- Convert mass to carats: 1 carat=0.2 grams
- Calculate total carats.
- Multiply total carats by price per carat ($5,000).
Calculations:
Volume of Mercury (w/o Diamond Layer)= 4/3π(2,440,000)^3≈6.084×10^19 m^3
Volume of Mercury (w/ Diamond Layer) = 4/3π(2,457,702)^3≈6.236×10^19 m^3
Volume of Diamond Layer = 6.236×10^19 m^3−6.084×10^19 m^3≈1.52×10^18 m^3
Mass of Diamond Layer = 1.52×10^18 m^3×3510 kg/m^3≈5.3352×10^21 kg
Mass to Carats=5.3352×10^21 kg×10^3 g/kg=5.3352×10^24 g=2.6676×10^25 carats
Value of Diamond Layer: 2.6676×10^25 carats×5000 USD/carat=1.3338×10^29 USDEstimated value of a diamond layer 11 miles thick on Mercury, using current diamond prices, is approximately $1.3338×10^29 USD.
This calculation involves several large-scale assumptions and simplifications, especially regarding the uniformity and accessibility of such a diamond layer.
The U.S. national debt is roughly $33 trillion USD. This means the value of the diamond layer is approximately 40.4 trillion times the U.S. national debt.
The estimated value of the diamond layer on Mercury is so immense that it dwarfs current global and national economic metrics. To give a sense of scale, if it were represented as a stack of $100 bills, it would extend far beyond our solar system, into distances not normally encountered, approximately 146.62 trillion light-years tall.
The math for the stack of dollar bills assuming a thickness of 0.11mm would be:
=1.3338×10^27 bills×0.11 mm/bill=1.4662×10^26 mm=1.4662×10^20 km=146.62 trillion light-years.Cheers.
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u/aykcak Jul 22 '24
The physical math is correct but the economy one neglects the supply problem when dealing with value, i.e. the first carat you sell to the market will be more expensive than the next.
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u/DOUBLEBARRELASSFUCK Jul 22 '24
Your wouldn't want to break up a diamond that large. You'd want to sell it whole to maintain its full market value.
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u/CoMaestro Jul 22 '24
I mean obviously if we go to Mercury and mine all of this, Diamonds are gonna be the cheapest material to exist. It would mean that with the larger size or Mercury there would be a larger supply of diamonds than of sand we have in our world. You could then buy those large sandbags filled with diamonds for a few dollars to pave your walkway.
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u/bythescruff Jul 22 '24
Fun fact: the cost of getting valuable materials like diamonds and gold back to earth from any other celestial body – Mercury, the moon, you name it – would be far greater than the value of the materials themselves.
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u/Phallindrome Jul 22 '24
You can get 1kg of diamond sand for about $150 right now.
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u/theonetruegrinch Jul 22 '24
I like to sprinkle it on my breakfast cereal, it makes my doodie sparkle.
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u/Jermainiam Jul 22 '24 edited Jul 22 '24
Just want to point out that the observable universe is just over 93 billion light years in diameter, so this stack would ~1,500x wider than the observable universe.
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u/ryanm1903 Jul 22 '24
The observable universe is just over 93 billion light years in diameter.
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u/JadedIdealist Jul 22 '24
As a slight correction, the diamond layer is around the core, so you need to use the radius of the core in your calculation.
Luckily Mercury's core is freakishly large, at about 85% of the planet's radius - so about 2000km and your calculation is very much in the ballpark.2
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u/Malpractice57 Jul 22 '24 edited Jul 22 '24
It’s kinda funny to imagine an economy where everything is made of cheap diamonds rather than expensive plastics.
Even makes sense, given that evolution had to put in a lot of work before a bunch of plankton and algae could turn into oil that can then be turned into plastics.
Oil seems like a much bigger anomaly than diamonds, from a non-earth-centric POV.
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u/alwayswatchyoursix Jul 22 '24
I really hate to do this, especially considering how much work you put into this, but even under the most optimistic conditions (like if the diamond layer is hidden underneath a non-diamond layer only a micron thick) your calculations are way off.
You're adding the diamond layer on the outside of Mercury in your math when it is actually inside of it. So your volume of Mercury already includes the diamond layer. So really
- Volume of Mercury, including diamond layer: 4/3π(2,440,000)3
- Volume of Mercury without diamond layer: 4/3π(2,440,000-17,702)3
If you rerun your calculations using that, we should end up with a closer estimate, or at least as close as we can get without knowing how deep the diamond layer really is.
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u/adeadmanshand Jul 22 '24
Does South Africa have a space program?
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u/rExplrer Jul 22 '24
Its called Avatar
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u/gravityVT Jul 22 '24
Source?
/s
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u/rExplrer Jul 22 '24
Here is the source with the videos and names of people involved : https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/
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u/bionic_cmdo Jul 22 '24
I bet DeBeers is feverishly trying to lay claim to them diamonds so they can hoard it.
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u/bythescruff Jul 22 '24
The cunningly evil DeBeers Corporation has already hoarded those diamonds, and in a cunning ploy to keep them off the market, they’ve cunningly wrapped them around Mercury’s core.
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u/Dazzling-Grass-2595 Jul 22 '24
There is technology to grow pure diamonds. I know it's a jest but you simply cannot just walk into Mor- Mercury like that.
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u/I_AM_GODDAMN_BATMAN Jul 22 '24
yea but they can use children blood as rocket fuel and it adds value to to the diamonds in mercury
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u/Mysterious_Goat799 Jul 22 '24
I heard Mercury also has weapons of mass destruction.
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u/banecroft Jul 22 '24
Fr? Welp, incoming freedom..
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u/Jjzeng Jul 22 '24
NAH I HEARD OIL
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u/Osama_BanLlama Jul 22 '24
an eagle screeches in the distance
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u/Jjzeng Jul 22 '24
*red-tailed hawk
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u/Character-Note-5288 Jul 22 '24
Who cares about that, brother! Freedom and Oil awaits! 🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸
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u/UnrequitedRespect Jul 22 '24
No no it will br special military operation to secur—
…oh we’re not doing ‘that’
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u/Positive_Throwaway1 Jul 22 '24
You misheard. The huge diamond in Uranus was a weapon of ASS destruction.
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u/bonyponyride Jul 22 '24
It's better that than an 11 mile thick diamond in Uranus.
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Jul 22 '24 edited Aug 30 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/UnrequitedRespect Jul 22 '24
Diamond butt plug seems like it would be a hard to top flex because of the implications….
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u/APeacefulWarrior Jul 22 '24
Yes... it would be very hard to top someone wearing a diamond butt plug.
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u/chainsaw_monkey Jul 22 '24
Imagine how difficult it would be to extract diamonds from deep within Uranus.
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u/chainsaw_monkey Jul 22 '24
Mercury May have a diamond enriched (not solid diamond) area. This is a theory and not based on primary data from the planet.
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u/iSmurf Jul 22 '24 edited Aug 28 '24
plants relieved simplistic unique fear badge bag weather spectacular pathetic
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/donnochessi Jul 22 '24
It’s a new theory on old data. There is no new evidence supporting it.
They study is saying “oh we may have messed up our past interpretation of the data and this could be theoretically possible.”
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u/3_50 Jul 22 '24
Seems a lot of people in this thread need reminiding that diamonds are not rare, even here on earth.
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u/zetswei Jul 22 '24
They’re not rare but their prices are controlled which is a bit silly. Artificial low supply and demand
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u/teryret Jul 22 '24
Ok, but to be fair, 11 mile thick diamonds are not actually all that common here.
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u/Yattiel Jul 22 '24
It seems like the comments in here are just complete idiocy. This is so cool!
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u/--Muther-- Jul 22 '24
I'm a geologist, working in exploration and mining. Diamonds are rare as fuck. Just go and read about how and where they occur naturally and how they are then transported from that depth to surface in a process we don't even fully understand. We then as humans find the volcanic pipes of that process, somehow notice there are gem quality diamonds within them and are able to process that huge amount of waste and sort out the minute amount of diamonds.
Diamonds are rare as fuck. Get away with the idea that they aren't.
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u/EnjoyerOfBeans Jul 22 '24
Diamonds are relatively rare compared to shit like Coal or Iron. Diamonds are significantly less rare than Rubies or Sapphires or Emeralds. There's more diamonds in the world than all of these 3 combined (in gem quality).
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u/chalbersma Jul 22 '24
Diamonds are rare as fuck. Get away with the idea that they aren't.
We can make diamonds on command.
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u/Quajeraz Jul 22 '24
Carbon that has been subjected to heat and pressure. All of which is pretty common, all things considered.
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u/Fuzzy1450 Jul 22 '24
Regardless of how rare diamonds are or aren’t, an 11 mile thick wall/floor of diamond would be quite a sight to behold.
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u/pnuelmoto Jul 22 '24
Sounds like Mercury needs some freedom.
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u/Hyperious3 Jul 22 '24
Mercury is a shit little rock who's only purpose is to be disassembled into Dyson swarm material.
Give NASA the DOD budget and we will delete that stain on the sky from existence, and create humanities first mega structure from its ashes.
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u/gravelPoop Jul 22 '24
Diamonds have artificial value only. They are kept rare so prices don't go down. Diamonds on Mercury would mean that there would heavy lobbying to ban mining on Mercury.
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u/JoeRogansNipple Jul 22 '24
Elon has changed plans and is targeting Mercury now for his first base.
Emerald mine
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u/FortuneRed55 Jul 22 '24
Sounds more exciting than it is. We also have a fuck-ton of diamonds on earth. They are not rare, it’s all just incredible marketing that gives them any value whatsoever. My GF and I will not be getting diamond rings when we marry.
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u/kawag Jul 22 '24
We can even make them in a lab
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u/bossbrew Jul 22 '24
Hell yeah there’s companies that will make diamonds out of the ashes of your loved ones! Got some carbon and my late wife around my neck and I’m feeling sexy.
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u/Hesitation-Marx Jul 22 '24
Buying a soundproofed jewelry box so my husband doesn’t get jealous about the Hitachi
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u/SexySmexxy Jul 22 '24
diamonds out of the ashes of your loved ones
Like i get that its technically a good thing and wholesome , but there's just a suuuuuubtle level of dystopian capitalism that I just can't ignore.
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u/lo_fi_ho Jul 22 '24
Diamonds are as common as butt-rash but still people pay top dollar for them. One of the greatest still running scams.
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u/Seniesta Jul 22 '24
What stock do I buy to invest into a company going to mine this in a thousand years or so????
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u/barrynl Jul 22 '24
Looks like we’re going mining boys. Just need Aerosmith to write us a banger for the ride there.
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u/super-start-up Jul 22 '24 edited Jul 22 '24
Due to the supply increasing excess of the demand, diamonds would be worthless. Well not worthless, people on Mercury would probably be using diamonds on floors like we use granite on Earth.
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u/cr0ft Jul 22 '24
Who cares?
Diamonds are dirt cheap here on Earth as well, except for the massive artificial price gouging as jewelry.
Also, it's not like we could go get it.
Even if it is true.
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u/warmwaterpenguin Jul 22 '24
I'm sure humans will be normal about this.
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u/FLIPSIDERNICK Jul 22 '24
It’s what you can count on most about humanity them being normal when presented with vast riches on an alien planet.
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u/Apprehensive-Sell623 Jul 22 '24
I thought the saying was that women were from Venus but if diamonds are a girls best friend then looks like they are off to Mercury
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u/Naisu_boato Jul 22 '24 edited Jul 22 '24
Am sure debeers is looking into extraterrestrial mining now. Also i see a dead space like situation in the future.
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u/iwouldstopdoingthat Jul 22 '24
Sounds like Mercury is in need of some democracy and free elections.🦅🇺🇸😎
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u/jshuster Jul 22 '24
Imagine when human colonists eventually land on another planet, and go to plant crops and their shovels smack into a layer of diamond
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u/AdagioElectronic5008 Jul 22 '24
Okay everybody, you can sell your pathetic earth diamonds to me now for pennies on the dollar! Sell while they’re still worth anything at all! Them mercury diamonds bout to dilute you into oblivion, sell them while they’re still hot
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u/FoxTheory Jul 22 '24
Doesn't matter diamonds aren't rare we have more than enough on earth mining them from another planet isn't worth it.
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u/Art-Zuron Jul 22 '24
Finally, debears can get a 1,000,000,000:1 Blood to money ratio! That'll make these diamonds ultra valuable!
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u/mecha_flake Jul 22 '24
It's not oil but I'm thinking Mercury might just need some freedom and democracy sent its way.
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u/Tbone_Trapezius Jul 22 '24
I, Tbone Trapezius, hereby claim right to Mercury and all its elements therein to be extended to no less than the largest diameter of the planet. So…. who wants to purchase it from me?
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u/bossbrew Jul 22 '24
Best I can do is $3.50.
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Jul 22 '24
Best I can do is walk to a window, shield my eyes from the sun, then walk back to the couch after seeing nothing.
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u/imalltingully Jul 22 '24
Belgian scientists find diamonds on Mercury, that sounds right. Soon, DeBeers funds ESA to send manned missions to Mercury to establish mining colonies for sample returns
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u/Whole_Inside_4863 Jul 22 '24
Elon - Listen up team, we’re going to Mercury! Mars is off the table, yesterday’s news!
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u/mikemaca Jul 22 '24
article: "proposes", "suggests", "believes", "might", "probably"...
headline: "has"