Mineralogy, Structure, and Habitability of Carbon-Enriched Rocky Exoplanets: A Laboratory Approach. 2019

Kaustubh Hakim, and Rob Spaargaren, and Damanveer S Grewal, and Arno Rohrbach, and Jasper Berndt, and Carsten Dominik, and Wim van Westrenen
1Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Carbon-enriched rocky exoplanets have been proposed to occur around dwarf stars as well as binary stars, white dwarfs, and pulsars. However, the mineralogical make up of such planets is poorly constrained. We performed high-pressure high-temperature laboratory experiments (P = 1-2 GPa, T = 1523-1823 K) on chemical mixtures representative of C-enriched rocky exoplanets based on calculations of protoplanetary disk compositions. These P-T conditions correspond to the deep interiors of Pluto- to Mars-sized planets and the upper mantles of larger planets. Our results show that these exoplanets, when fully differentiated, comprise a metallic core, a silicate mantle, and a graphite layer on top of the silicate mantle. Graphite is the dominant carbon-bearing phase at the conditions of our experiments with no traces of silicon carbide or carbonates. The silicate mineralogy comprises olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and spinel, which is similar to the mineralogy of the mantles of carbon-poor planets such as the Earth and largely unaffected by the amount of carbon. Metals are either two immiscible iron-rich alloys (S-rich and S-poor) or a single iron-rich alloy in the Fe-C-S system with immiscibility depending on the S/Fe ratio and core pressure. We show that, for our C-enriched compositions, the minimum carbon abundance needed for C-saturation is 0.05-0.7 wt% (molar C/O ∼0.002-0.03). Fully differentiated rocky exoplanets with C/O ratios more than that needed for C-saturation would contain graphite as an additional layer on top of the silicate mantle. For a thick enough graphite layer, diamonds would form at the bottom of this layer due to high pressures. We model the interior structure of Kepler-37b and show that a mere 10 wt% graphite layer would decrease its derived mass by 7%, which suggests that future space missions that determine both radius and mass of rocky exoplanets with insignificant gaseous envelopes could provide quantitative limits on their carbon content. Future observations of rocky exoplanets with graphite-rich surfaces would show low albedos due to the low reflectance of graphite. The absence of life-bearing elements other than carbon on the surface likely makes them uninhabitable.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008277 Magnesium Oxide Magnesium oxide (MgO). An inorganic compound that occurs in nature as the mineral periclase. In aqueous media combines quickly with water to form magnesium hydroxide. It is used as an antacid and mild laxative and has many nonmedicinal uses. Magnesia,Oxide, Magnesium
D008903 Minerals Native, inorganic or fossilized organic substances having a definite chemical composition and formed by inorganic reactions. They may occur as individual crystals or may be disseminated in some other mineral or rock. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed; McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Mineral
D008956 Models, Chemical Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of chemical processes or phenomena; includes the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment. Chemical Models,Chemical Model,Model, Chemical
D005118 Extraterrestrial Environment The environment outside the earth or its atmosphere. The environment may refer to a closed cabin (such as a space shuttle or space station) or to space itself, the moon, or other planets. Space (Astronomy),Environment, Extraterrestrial,Environments, Extraterrestrial,Extraterrestrial Environments,Spaces (Astronomy)
D005740 Gases The vapor state of matter; nonelastic fluids in which the molecules are in free movement and their mean positions far apart. Gases tend to expand indefinitely, to diffuse and mix readily with other gases, to have definite relations of volume, temperature, and pressure, and to condense or liquefy at low temperatures or under sufficient pressure. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)
D006108 Graphite An allotropic form of carbon that is used in pencils, as a lubricant, and in matches and explosives. It is obtained by mining and its dust can cause lung irritation. Graphene
D000537 Aluminum Oxide An oxide of aluminum, occurring in nature as various minerals such as bauxite, corundum, etc. It is used as an adsorbent, desiccating agent, and catalyst, and in the manufacture of dental cements and refractories. Alumina,Alumina Ceramic,Aluminum Oxide (Al130O40),Aluminum Oxide (Al2O),Aluminum Oxide (AlO2),Bauxite,Corundum,Sapphire,Ceramic, Alumina,Oxide, Aluminum
D014867 Water A clear, odorless, tasteless liquid that is essential for most animal and plant life and is an excellent solvent for many substances. The chemical formula is hydrogen oxide (H2O). (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Hydrogen Oxide
D016083 Planets Celestial bodies orbiting around the sun or other stars. Planet
D017616 Magnesium Compounds Inorganic compounds that contain magnesium as an integral part of the molecule. Compounds, Magnesium

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