Laboratory studies show that due to the formation of iron sulfates, the core of Mars may still be as hard as Earth’s. Previous studies have indicated in favor of it being rare.
Exploring the internal structure of Mars
Geochemical evidence from laboratory experiments suggests a potential solid inner core of Mars, according to a report in the journal Nature Communications.
Earlier data from NASA’s InSight mission showed that Mars has a liquid core. It was expected that, like our planet, it was mostly composed of molten iron metal. However, it has a lower density, indicating that the Martian core should contain large amounts of additional lighter elements such as sulfur.
It was previously thought that the temperature in the Martian core was probably too high for the solid inner core to crystallize, but the possibility that its interior is composed of iron-sulfide minerals and this affects the physical characteristics has not been studied in detail.
Solid iron-sulfide core
Lianjie Man and his colleagues conducted laboratory experiments at high pressure and temperature to determine the crystal structure and density of the iron-sulfide phase in the core of Mars. The authors suggest that if the temperature in the center of Mars drops below about 1960 Kelvin (being within the expected range for this region), the iron-sulfide phase could begin to crystallize and form a solid inner core.
Further geophysical measurements are required to confirm the actual presence of a hard inner core of Mars. However, the work presented in this study supports the possibility of a solid inner Martian core today or in the near future as Mars undergoes further cooling.
According to phys.org
