Heavy metal frost on Venus

Chemical equilibrium calculations of volatile metal geochemistry on Venus show that high dielectric constant compounds of lead and bismuth such as PbS (galena), Bi2S3 (bismuthite) or Pb–Bi sulfosalts condense in the venusian highlands and may be responsible for the low radar emissivities observed by Magellan and Pioneer Venus. Our calculations also show that elemental tellurium is unstable on Venusʹ surface and will not condense below 46.6 km. This is over 30 km higher than Maxwell Montes, the highest point on Venusʹ surface. Elemental analyses of Venusʹ highlands surface by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and/or X-ray fluorescence (XRF) can verify the identity of the heavy metal frost on Venus. The Pb–Pb age of Venus could be determined by mass spectrometric measurements of the Pb207/Pb204 and Pb206/Pb204 isotopic ratios in Pb-bearing frosts. All of these measurements are technologically feasible now.