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  Isoparm4 months, 2 weeks ago

  Interesting article. Demonstrates that dynamic processes are universal. Here we have a convective process that may be taking place that would be similar to the processes that are taking place on our own earth. In the case of Mercury, the hot Iron-Sulfur mixture, "rises" or convects up, away from the center, and transfers heat to overlying layers. As heat is given up, a transition occurs in which the iron "condenses out" , much as water vapor does into clouds and rain, on our earth. The iron, being denser than the I-S mixture, "rains" out, and sinks where it heats and mixes with the Sulfur, and repeats the process.

  The convective patterns would probably be similar to those that we have taking place in our own earth's interior, in spite of being composed of mostly different materials. It is not surprising that there would be appreciable quantities of iron, considering the proximity to the sun. When the sun ignited, material would have fractionated away.

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    CRYMTYPHON4 months, 2 weeks ago

    Sounds like a lava lamp.

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      Isoparm4 months, 2 weeks ago

      When the iron comes out of the I-S mixture, it would probably be more in the form of crystals, or "snow"flakes as in the article (I had meant to write snow, instead of rain in my comment). This could look like one of those snow crystal balls that you can shake-up, or your "lava lamp" with dandruff.

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