Formation and evolution of Lakshmi Planum, Venus: Assessment of models using observations from geological mapping

Detailed geological analysis of the Lakshmi Planum region of western Ishtar Terra results in the establishment of the sequence of major events during the formation and evolution of western Ishtar Terra, an important and somewhat unique area on Venus characterized by a raised volcanic plateau surrounded by distinctive folded mountain belts, such as Maxwell Montes. These mapping results and the stratigraphic and structural relationships provide a basis for addressing the complicated problem of Lakshmi Planum formation and for testing the suite of models previously proposed to explain this structure. We review and classify previous models of formation for western Ishtar Terra into “downwelling” models (generally involving convergence and underthrusting) and “upwelling” models (generally involving plume-like upwelling and divergence). The interpreted nature of units and the sequence of events derived from geological mapping are in contrast to the predictions of the divergent models. The major contradictions are as follows: (1) The very likely presence of an ancient (craton-like) tessera massif in the core of Lakshmi, which is inconsistent with the model of formation of Lakshmi due to rise and collapse of a mantle diapir; (2) The absence of rift zones in the interior of Lakshmi that are predicted by the divergent models; (3) The apparent migration of volcanic activity toward the center of Lakshmi, whereas divergent models predict the opposite trend; (4) The abrupt cessation of ridges of the mountain ranges at the edge of Lakshmi Planum and propagation of these ridges over hundreds of kilometers outside Lakshmi; the divergent models predict the opposite progression in the development of major contractional features. In contrast, convergent models of formation and evolution of Lakshmi Planum appear to be more consistent with the observations and explain this structure by collision and underthrusting/subduction of lower-lying plains with the elevated and rigid block of tessera. These models are capable of explaining formation of the major features of western Ishtar (for example, the mountain belts), the sequences of events, and principal volcanic and tectonic trends during the evolution of Lakshmi. To explain the pronounced north-south asymmetry of Lakshmi these models need to consider the likelihood that the major focal points of collision are at the north and north-west margins of the plateau. We note that pure downwelling models, however, face three important difficulties: (1) The possibly unrealistically long time span that appears to be required to produce the major features of Lakshmi; (2) The strong north-south asymmetry of the Planum; the pure downwelling models predict the formation of a more symmetrical structure; and (3) The absence of radial contractional structures (arches and ridges) in the interior of Lakshmi that would represent the predictions of the downwelling models.     

Tectonic Evolution of Eastern Ishtar Terra,Venus

The complex morphology and topography of Eastern Ishtar Terra have been interpreted as due to tectonic deformation. Models proposed to account for this deformation include: crustal flow through asthenospheric flow and thermal-gravitational sliding; rifting, gravity spreading, and fold belt formation; and horizontal convergence and crustal thickening. In this study we map the detailed structural and topographic fabric of this region in order to explore and test these hypotheses. Eastern Ishtar can be divided into four major provinces: Maxwell Montes/Western Fortuna Tessera, a high plateau and mountain belt dominated by long NNW trending ridges; Central Fortuna Tessera, a low region of orthogonally oriented short WNW trending ridges and long, NNE trending troughs; Eastern Fortuna Tessera, a broad, E-W trending topographic rise characterized by ENE trending troughs and a complex pattern of intersecting ridges; and Northern Fortuna Tessera, a region of steep, NE-facing topographic scarps and ridges that trend WNW. On the basis of structural and topographic relationships, the features within these provinces are found to be inconsistent with a formation through either downslope crustal flow or rifting. We find that the mapped features are most consistent with a formation through convergence, collison, and underthrusting of thickened crustal terranes. These terranes are suggested to have been created through processes of seafloor-type spreading and crustal collision. Based on relationships between the different terranes, several accretional events are proposed in which Eastern Ishtar is produced by the collision of crustal terranes beginning at Lakshmi Planum and extending to the east. This sequence is initiated with the formation of Maxwell Montes and Western Fortuna Tessera during east-west crustal convergence, underthrusting, and stacking. The next step involves the northeast to southwest convergence of a preexisting thick block of tessera in Central Fortuna, which produces shear deformation within Western Fortuna. This northeast to southwest convergence also produces Northern Fortuna Tessera through crustal imbrication, a process recognized along the entire northern boundary of Ishtar Terra. Finally, Laima Tessera converges with Fortuna from the southeast and collides with Eastern Fortuna Tessera producing shear within Eastern Fortuna and the linear convergence zones along the edges of Laima. High resolution images returned by the Magellan spacecraft will enable us to examine the features involved in the proposed production and suturing of crustal terranes.'Geology and Tectonics of Venus', special issue edited by Alexander T. Basilevsky (USSR Acad. of Sci., Moscow), James W. Head (Brown University, Providence), Gordon H. Pettengill (MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts) and R. S. Saunders (J.P.L., Pasadena).     

Geology of the southern Ishtar Terra/Guinevere and Sedna Planitae region on Venus

Recent high resolution, high incidence angle Arecibo radar images of southern Ishtar Terra and flanking plains of Guinevere and Sedna on Venus reveal details of topographic features resolved by Pioneer Venus. The high incidence angles of Arecibo images favor the detection of surface roughness-related features, and complement recently obtained low incidence angle Venera 15/16 images in which changes in surface topographic slope are well portrayed. Four provinces have been defined on the basis of radar characteristics in Arecibo images and topography. Volcanism and tectonism are the dominant processes in the mapped area, which has an average age of about 0.5–1.0 billion years (Ivanov et al., 1986). These processes vary in relative significance in the mapped provinces and it is likely that geologic activity has occurred simultaneously in all four provinces. On the basis of stratigraphic evidence, however, a general sequence is proposed which represents the major activity in each area. The low predominantly volcanic plains of Guinevere and Sedna Planitiae are the relatively oldest terrain. A major region of complex tectonic deformation, the Southern Ishtar Transition Zone, postdates much of the low plains and delineates the steep-sloped flanks of Ishtar Terra. Lakshmi Planum is characterized by a distinctive volcanic style (large low edifices, calderas, flanking plains) and at least in part postdates the Southern Ishtar Transition Zone. Relatively recent plains-style volcanism occurs locally in Sedna Planitia and embays the Southern Ishtar Transition Zone. Compressional deformation appears to dominate the mountains of the Ishtar plateau, but the nature of the tectonic deformation in the Southern Ishtar Transition Zone is very complex and likely represents a combination of extension, compression and strikeslip deformation. Arecibo data reveal additional coronae in the lowlands, suggesting that corona formation is an even more widespread process than indicated by the Venera data.     

Major volcanic landform formation on Venus: Possible determination by compression tectonics and crustal thickening

While low level shield volcanoes have formed on Venus, major volcanic structure formation in Ishtar Terra has been restricted to caldera formation. It is possible that the combination of compression tectonics and crustal thickening inhibits the amount of magma which reaches the surface in Ishtar Terra. In certain situations, coronae on Venus may form as undeveloped volcanic structures due to restricted magma rise in thick crustal areas.     

Lakshmi Planum,Venus: Characteristics and models of origin

Lakshmi Planum is distinctive and unique on the surface of Venus as an expansive (~2 × 10⁶km²), relatively smooth, flat plateau containing two large shield volcanoes and abundant volcanic plains in the midst of a region of extreme relief. It rises 3–5 km above the datum and is surrounded on all sides by bands of mountains interpreted to be of compressional tectonic origin. The major units mapped on Lakshmi are volcanic edifices, smooth, ridged and grooved plains units, and structural units referred to as ridged terrain. Three styles of volcanism are observed to dominate the surface of Lakshmi. Distributed effusive volcanism is associated with extensive plains deposits and many of the small shields, domes and cones mapped within the plateau. Centralized effusive volcanism is primarily associated with the paterae, Colette and Sacajawea, and their circumferential low-shield-forming deposits. The precise origin and evolution of these unusually large and complex structures is not understood, although a catastrophic, explosive origin is unlikely. Pyroclastic volcanism may be represented by a unit referred to as the diffuse halo. The origin and evolution of Lakshmi Planum is closely related to its compressional tectonic environment; volcanism on Lakshmi has occurred synchronously with tectonism in the surrounding orogenic belts. A model for the origin and evolution of Lakshmi Planum consisting of a continuous sequence of convergence and horizontal shortening of crustal segments against a preexisting block of tessera seems best able to account for the elevation, plateau shape and irregular polygonal outline of Lakshmi, as well as the presence of ridged terrain and its resemblance to tessera. Volcanism on Lakshmi is proposed to be the result of basal melting of a thickened crustal root. According to this model, the origin and evolution of Lakshmi Planum has consisted of the following sequence of events: (1) formation of a large, elevated block of tessera surrounded by low-lying plains; (2) convergence and underthrusting of crustal segments to produce peripheral mountain ranges, thickening, and uplift of the plateau; and (3) basal melting of the thickened crust and underthrust material and surface volcanism that occurred synchronously with continued edge deformation.'Geology and Tectonics of Venus', special issue edited by Alexander T. Basilevsky (USSR Acad. of Sci., Moscow), James W. Head (Brown University, Providence). Gordon H. Pettengill (MIT. Cambridge, Massachusetts) and R. S. Saunders (J.P.L., Pasadena).     

Tectonics of the southern escarpment of Ishtar Terra on venus from observations of morphology and gravity

Maxima of calculated topographical line-of-sight (LOS) gravity attractions caused by Ishtar Terra are shifted to the north with respect to the measured LOS free air gravity maxima south of the highland. This implies a tendency to isostatic compensation of central Ishtar and mass surpluses at the continental border and the southern forelands.The following scenario is compatible with the interpretation of the gravity anomalies and morphological features. Relative motions of the lowland Sedna Planitia against continental Ishtar Terra have caused buckling and flat subduction of the lowland lithospheric material. (Deep subduction can be ruled out by thermal reasons). The free air gravity high is modelled by surplus masses of the buckling and of the high density subducting plate. Evidence for this is given by several compressional features like Ut and Vesta Rupes at the southern continental border and ridges at the SW-flanks of Maxwell Montes. It is further supported by several possible volcanic-tectonic depressions located in the southern part of Ishtar. This local interpretation does not necessarily imply the existence of global plate tectonics on Venus like on Earth, but at least limited horizontal movements of the Venusian lithosphere seem to be likely. This result shows that plate recycling must be considered for heat transfer through the lithosphere beside conduction and hot spot volcanism.Contribution No. 273, Institut für Geophysik der Universität Kiel, F.R.G.     

Crustal tectonic zone on Venus

Various tectonic structures to the south and southeast of Ishtar Terra indicate areal stresses. Compression from east-southeast against Ishtar Terra has resulted in ridge belt formation and surface bending at Salme Dorsa, probably along the seam between two crustal units. En echelon fault zone indicates dextral strike-slip shear(s) resulted in the westward movement of planitia crust related to Ishtar Terra. Meshkenet Tessera displays differential dextral strike-slip faulting where the southernmost bar-like blocks have had largest relative movements. Compression against Tusholi Corona has resulted in foreland surface bending similar to that of Salme Dorsa. The tectonic zone as a whole resembles a dextral transform fault extending from a concave arc in the west to another concave arc in the east. The Cytherean surface, crust or uppermost lithosphere seems to be able to transmit stresses over distances. Deeper understanding of these processes is needed to gain a new idea of the crustal deformation on terrestrial planets.     

Tectonics of Venus: A review

The article presents a new tectonic scheme of Venus and gives the following interpretation of the planet's main structural units: (1) plains — areas of flood volcanism over stretched crust; (2) dome-like uplifts — areas of uplifting and volcanic activity above the mantle hot-spots; (3) coronae —former dome-like uplifts, partially subsided and diffused by gravity; (4) ridge belts — fold zones; (5) tesserae — fragments of ductile compression and shortening of crust; (6) supercoronae — coronae formed in the course of further evolution and relaxation of Beta-type uplifts. Ishtar Terra is considered to be a fragment of an ancient tessera paleocontinent, on the edge of which the Lakshmi supercorona is superimposed. Aphrodite Terra is considered as a belt of mantle hot-spot structures (dome-like uplifts, coronae, supercoronae, volcanoes, rifts).Three types of planetary belts have been distinguished on Venus: uplifted 'weakened' belts with an abundance of mantle hot-spot structures; a northern fan of ridge belts; and belts of low basalt plains. The center of the planetary system of uplifted weakened belts is situated in Atla Regio.The present tectonic structure of Venus is inferred to have formed during two stages of evolution characterized by different tectonic regimes. Stage I is a regime of soft ductile plates (formation of tessera uplifts and volcanic plains). Stage II is a formation of 'weakened' uplifted planetary belts, various tectonic regimes of mantle hot-spots, and plains-forming volcanism.'Geology and Tectonics of Venus', special issue edited by Alexander T. Basilevsky (USSR Acad. of Sci. Moscow), James W. Head (Brown University, Providence), Gordon H. Pettengill (MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts) and R. S. Saunders (J.P.L., Pasadena).     

Main fault tectonics of Meshkenet Tessera on Venus

The lengthy Meshkenet Tessera highland located between Ishtar Terra and coronae of the Nightingale group provides evidence of large-scale crustal movements. Its complex tectonic structures have various deformation geometries, thus indicating different tectonic sequences. The main parallel faults, first explained as rotational bookshelf faults, are more likely due to relative dextral direct shear movements of rectangular blocks. These faults have been active, possibly due to endogenic stresses, as indicated by mid-size ridge ranges which connect them to some of the large coronae. There are some compressional ridge belts around Meshkenet Tessera, while deformation within the tessera blocks has mostly been extensional.     

Geology and tectonics of the Themis Regio-Lavinia Planitia-Alpha Regio-Lada Terra area,Venus: Results from Arecibo image data

New radar images obtained from the Arecibo Observatory (resolution 1.5–4.0 km) for portions of the southern hemisphere of Venus show that: the upland of Phoebe Regio contains the southern extension of Devana Chasma, a rift zone extending 4200 km south from Theia Mons and interpreted as a zone of extension; Alpha Regio, the only large region of tessera within the imaged area, is similar to tessera mapped elsewhere on the planet and covers a smaller percentage of the surface than that observed in the northern high latitudes; the upland made of Ushas, Innini and Hathor Montes consists of three distinct volcanic constructs; Themis Regio is mapped as an ovoid chain of radar-bright arcuate single and double ring structures, edifices and bright lineaments. This area is interpreted as a region of mantle upwelling and on the basis of apparent split and separated features, a zone of localized faulting and extension. Linear zones of deformation in Lavinia Planitia are characterized by lineament belts that are often locally elevated, are similar to ridge belts mapped in the northern high latitudes and are interpreted to be characterized mainly by compression; radar-bright lava complexes within Lavinia Planitia are unique to this part of the planet and are interpreted to represent areas of eruption of high volumes of extremely fluid lava; the upland of Lada Terra is bound to the north by a linear deformation zone interpreted as extensional, is characterized by large ovoids and coronae, is interpreted to be associated with an area of mantle upwelling, and is in contrast to the northern high latitude highland of Ishtar Terra. Regions of plains in the southern hemisphere cover about 78%; of the mapped area and are interpreted to be volcanic in origin. Located within the area imaged (10–78 S) are 52 craters interpreted to be of impact origin ranging from 8 to 157 km in diameter. On the basis of an overall crater density of 0.94 craters/10⁶ km², it is determined that the age of this part of the Venus surface is similar to the 0.3 to 1.0 billion year age calculated for the equatorial region and northern high latitudes. The geologic characteristics of the portion of the Venus southern hemisphere imaged by Arecibo are generally similar to those mapped elsewhere on the planet. This part of the planet is characterized by widespread volcanic plains, large volcanic edifices, and zones of linear belt deformation. The southern hemisphere of Venus differs from northern high latitudes in that tessera makes up only a small percentage of the surface area and the ovoid chain in Themis Regio is unique to this part of the planet. On the basis of the analysis presented here, the southern hemisphere of Venus is interpreted to be characterized by regions of mantle upwelling on a variety of scales (ovoids, region made up of Ushas, Innini and Hathor Montes), upwelling and extension (Themis Regio) and localized compression (lineament belts in Lavinia Planitia).     

Cytherean ridge belts connected with Tessera areas: Tensional or compressional structures?

The conclusion that the different ridge belt-bounded planitia and parquet terrains studied here define Venusian crustal plate-like units is evidently valid in the context of compressional ridge belt tectonics. The long ridge belts of Kamari and Tellus Dorsa, the ridge belts in the transition zone between Ishtar Terra and planitiae and Ausra Dorsa support the idea of NW-SE, (N-S) or E-W compression components, respectively. The planitia plates have been pushed from the south or south-east against the Ishtar Terra/Fortuna Tessera highland, which has opposed the movement, giving the impression of a relative southeast-directed force. The volcanic/diapiric transition zone between these colliding crustal units or plates evidently indicates mobilization of the subsurface unit overthrust by the parquet terrain.     

Gravity studies of Aphrodite Terra on Venus

Aphrodite Terra is the largest highland area on Venus of the size of Africa. It is traversed by the Aphrodite-Beta belt of troughs with a length of 21 000 km. There are two other large belts of troughs on Venus: Themis-Atla, 14 000 km long, and Beta-Phoebe, 8000 km long. In this paper, four gravity profiles across Aphrodite Terra are studied and compared with the morphology.Western Aphrodite and Niobe Planitia to the north seem to be in isostatic equilibrium under the assumption of Airy compensation with a mean crustal thickness of T = 50 km. The graben area in the middle part of Aphrodite Terra shows negative isostatic gravity anomalies indicating deficit masses. The adjacent Atla Regio to the east is regionally Airy compensated with T = 50 km, and the mountains Nokomis, Maat and Ozza Montes are locally undercompensated, i.e. they are associated with surplus masses in the depth. Ulfrun Regio, a hilly terrain just east of Atla Regio is Airy compensated with T = 30 km. These results give a mean crustal thickness around 50 km for Aphrodite Terra. The isostatic disturbed zones in the middle of Aphrodite (grabens) and Atla Regio as well as the undercompensated Beta Regio have been associated with recent volcanism from the observation of the concentrations of electrical discharges in these areas. Atla and Beta Regiones are both located at intersections of the systems of troughs described above.Contribution No. 308, Institut für Geophysik der Universität Kiel, F.R.G.     

Evidences for a Noachian-Hesperian orogeny in Mars

A number of tectonic structures have been located at the Thaumasia Plateau, Daedalia Planum and Aonia Terra, Mars. They include isolated folds with axial traces up to 200 km long, trains of tightly folded structures tens of km long, and thrusts. Their size and geometry are similar to those on Earth, and the direction of compression seems to have varied amply with time, suggesting a complex tectonic evolution. Crater counts on the deformed terrain point to Noachian to Early Hesperian ages. On the basis of the geometry and geological relations of these structures, we propose that they form part of an old martian orogen, the Thaumasia-Aonia Orogen, which embraced not only the Thaumasia Plateau, but areas of Daedalia Planum, Aonia Terra and Nereidum Montes as well. A regional coherent layering is previous to the deformation and could represent the trace of even older stresses on the martian lithosphere.     

The absence of large-scale volcanic crater subsidence in Ishtar Terra on Venus

The absence of large-scale subsidence features around the three volcanic craters in Ishtar Terra on Venus implies the continued presence of underlying magma and the possibility of current volcanic activity there.     

Maxwell Montes and Thessera Fortuna: A study of Venera 15 and 16 radar images

The radar images of Maxwell Montes and Thessera Fortuna obtained by Venera 15 and 16 were analyzed. It was concluded that the structures are not aeolian but are tectonic deformations. Because of the lack of large-scale erosion, these deformations must have been formed near the surface and, therefore, one of the principal stress axes must have been vertical. The orientations of the stress ellipsoid in several localities are presented. Differences between localities in the types of deformation can be explained by changes in the orientation of the intermediate stress axis, while the major stress axis remains constant. The latter is generally horizontal and oriented EW. Other differences may be caused by a shift from a compressional to an extensional regime. Inhomogeneities in the stress field have caused shear zones. Block diagrams are developed to explain the postulated structures.The described features are not unique to the studied areas; thus the method used and the conclusions reached have planetary implications.     

Ridge belts on Venus: Morphology and origin

Ridge belts, composed of closely spaced individual ridges 5–20 km wide, form sinuous patterns 30–400 km wide and 200–2000 km long in the plains of northern Venus. They are not homogeneously distributed, but occur primarily in two regions: between 0 ° E and 90 ° E ridge belts are associated with large blocks of tessera, and have a cumulative length of about 13,200 km; and between 150 ° E and 250 ° E, the ridge belts form a fan-shaped pattern and have a total cumulative length of about 25,800 km. Most ridge belts trend within 10 ° of N-S. Five morphologic components exist within the ridge belts: (1) broad ridges, which have no sharp crest and usually occur individually in the plains: (2) discontinuous ridges, with short ridge segments less than 20 km long; (3) paired ridges, with closely spaced ridges (less than 10 km apart) that never merge; (4) parallel ridges, with widely spaced (10–50 km), less prominent ridges; and (5) anastomosing ridges, in which ridges splay at angles up to 30 °. Subtle cross-strike lineaments cut the ridge belts at angles of 30–90 ° to the ridge belt, and augen-shaped plains are often present in anastomosing ridges. We examine the relationships between the components, plains, cross-strike lineaments, and augen-shaped plains in five ridge belts. Broad arches similar to the arches associated with wrinkle ridges on the Moon, Mars and Mercury appear in all of the ridge belts examined. Through studying each of these components individually and in the context of five specific ridge belts, we conclude that these ridge belts formed by compressional forces. The ridge belts form a continuum of deformation, from the simple broad arches (Nephele Dorsa), representing small amounts of shortening, through asymmetric ridge belts in the plains (Pandrosa Dorsa) and adjacent to tessera (Kamari Dorsa), to ridge belts in troughs representing underthrusting (Ausra and Lukelong Dorsa). Underthrusting is also observed along the borders of Lakshmi Planum, associated with Freyja and Danu Montes.The interpreted compressional origins for the ridge belt components suggests that many of the other ridge belts are of compressional origin, although complex origins (involving a combination of extension, shear, and/or compression) for some ridge belts cannot be ruled out. Global high resolution data from the Magellan mission will permit global mapping of the characteristics and distribution of ridge belts and allow further tests for their origin and evolution.'Geology and Tectonics of Venus', special issue edited by Alexander T. Basilevsky (USSR Acad. of Sci., Moscow), James W. Head (Brown University, Providence). Gordon H. Pettengill (MIT. Cambridge, Massachusetts) and R. S. Saunders (J.P.L., Pasadena).     

Assemblages of geologic/morphologic units in the northern hemisphere of Venus

The geologic/morphologic map of the northern mid-to-high latitudes of Venus prepared by a Soviet science team on the basis of Venera 15/16 mission radar image coverage is analyzed and used to define six discrete assemblages of geologic/morphologic units that have well-defined geographic distributions. These assemblages have distinctive and differing geological and tectonic expressions and include: Plains Assemblage - which is dominated by lowland smooth plains and lowland rolling plains interpreted to be of volcanic origin, and a high concentration of small volcanic domes; Plains-Corona Assemblage - which is dominated by lowland smooth plains and lowland rolling plains interpreted to be of volcanic origin, at least ten coronae structures concentrated in the northern half of the region, and at least five large volcanoes, generally concentrated in the southern and western half of the region; Plains-Ridge Belt Assemblage - which is dominated by lowland smooth plains and lesser amounts of lowland rolling plains, major occurrences of ridge belts in a distinctive fan-shaped pattern, and very minor and patchy occurrences of tessera; Plains-Corona-Tessera Assemblage - which is dominated by approximately equal amounts of lowland smooth plains and lowland rolling plains, at least five coronae concentrated in the northern part of the region, a small number of large volcanoes, also in the northern part of the region, and numerous small patches of tesserae scattered throughout, and the highest abundance of small volcanic domes observed in the northern hemisphere; Tessera-Ridge Belt Assemblage — which is dominated by a few large areas (Fortuna, Laima, Tellus) and several smaller areas (Dekla, Meni) of tesserae, ridge belts generally arrayed in an angular and often orthogonal pattern different from the fan-shaped pattern of the Plains-Ridge Belt Assemblage, lowland rolling plains and lesser amounts of lowland smooth plains, and an upland rise (Bell Regio); Tessera-Mountain Belt Assemblage - which is centered on the two volcanoes Colette and Sacajawea in Lakshmi Planum, and characterized by the peripheral mountain belt/tessera pairs, with the tessera on the outboard side: Danu/Clotho (S), Akna/Atropos (W), Freyja/ltzpapalotl (N), and Maxwell/Fortuna (E).The distribution and characteristics of assemblages demonstrate that vertical and horizontal tectonic forces are operating on the crust and lithosphere of Venus in different ways in specific localized areas. Alternative models are outlined for the origin of each assemblage and the relationship between assemblages, and important unresolved questions are identified. A key to the further understanding of these assemblages is the origin of ridge belts and tessera terrain.'Geology and Tectonics of Venus', special issue edited by Alexander T. Basilevsky (USSR Acad. of Sci., Moscow), James W. Head (Brown University, Providence), Gordon H. Pettengill (MIT. Cambridge, Massachusetts) and R. S. Saunders (J.P.L., Pasadena).     

Processes of crustal formation and evolution on Venus: An analysis of topography,hypsometry, and crustal thickness variations

On Venus, present evidence indicates a crust of predominantly basaltic composition and a relatively young average age for the surface (several hundreds of millions of years). Estimates of crustal thickness from several approaches suggest an average crustal thickness of 10–20 km for much of the lowlands and rolling plains and a total volume of crust of about 1 × 10¹⁰ km³, approximately comparable to the present crustal volume of the Earth (1.02 × 10¹⁰ km³). The Earth's oceanic crust is thought to have been recycled at least 10–20 times over Earth history. The near-coincidence in present crustal volumes for the Earth and Venus suggests that either: (1) the presently observed crust of Venus represents the total volume that has accumulated over the history of the planet and that crustal production rates are thus very low, or (2) that crustal production rates are higher and that there is a large volume of missing crust unaccounted for on Venus which may have been lost by processes of crustal recycling.Known processes of crustal formation and thickening (impact-related magma ocean, vertical differentiation, and crustal spreading) are reviewed and are used as a guide to assess regional geologic evidence for the importance of these processes on Venus. Geologic evidence for variations in crustal thickness on Venus (range and frequency distribution of topography, regional slopes, etc.) are outlined. The hypothesis that the topography of Venus could result solely from crustal thickness variations is assessed and tested as an end-member hypothesis. A map of crustal thickness distribution is compiled on the basis of a simple model of Airy isostasy and global Venus topography. An assessment is then made of the significance of crustal thickness variations in explaining the topography of Venus. It is found that the distinctive unimodal hypsometric curve could be explained by: (1) a crust of relatively uniform thickness (most likely 10–20 km thick) comprising over 75% of the surface, (2) local plateaus (tessera) of thickened crust (about 20–30 km) forming less than 15% of the surface, (3) regions of apparent crustal thicknesses of 30–50 km (Beta, Ovda, Thetis, Atla Regiones and Western Ishtar Terra) forming less than 10% of the surface and showing some geologic evidence of crustal thickening processes (these areas can be explained on the basis of geologic observations and gravity data as combinations of thermal effects and crustal thickening), and (4) areas in which Airy isostasy predicts crustal thicknesses in excess of 50 km (the linear orogenic belts of Western Ishtar Terra, less than 1% of the surface).It is concluded that Venus hypsometry can be reasonably explained by a global crust of generally similar thickness with variations in topography being related to (1) crustal thickening processes (orogenic belts and plateau formation) and (2) local variations in the thermal structure (spatially varying thermal expansion in response to spatially varying heat flow). The most likely candidates for the formation and evolution of the crust are vertical differentiation and/or lateral crustal spreading processes. The small average crustal thickness (10–20 km) and the relatively small present crustal volume suggest that if vertical crustal growth processes are the dominant mechanism of crustal growth, than vertical growth has not commonly proceeded to the point where recycling by basal melting or density inversion will occur, and that therefore, rates of crustal production must have been much lower in the past than in recent history. Crustal spreading processes provide a mechanism for crustal formation and evolution that is consistent with observed crustal thicknesses. Crustal spreading processes would be characterized by higher (perhaps more Earth-like) crustal production rates than would characterize vertical differentiation processes, and crust created earlier in the history of Venus and not now observed (missing crust) would be accounted for by loss of crust through recycling processes. Lateral crustal spreading processes for the formation and evolution of the crust of Venus are interpreted to be consistent with many of the observations derived from presently available data. Resurfacing through vertical differentiation processes also clearly occurs, and if it is the major contributor to the total volume of the crust, then very low resurfacing rates are required.Although thermal effects on topography are clearly present and important on both Venus and the Earth, the major difference between the hypsometric curves on Earth (bimodal) and Venus (unimodal) is attributed primarily to the contrast in relative average thickness of the crust between the two terrains on Earth (continental/oceanic; 40/5 km = 35 km, 8:1) and Venus (upland plateaus/lowlands; about 30/15 km = 15 km, 2:1) (35 – 20 km = a difference of 20 km). The Venus unimodal distribution is thus attributed primarily to the large percentage of terrain with relatively uniform crustal thickness, with the skewness toward higher elevations due to the relatively small percentage of crust that is thickened by only about a factor of two. The Earth, in contrast, has a larger percentage of highlands (continents), whose crust is thicker by a factor of eight, on the average, leading to the distinctive bimodal hypsometric curve.Data necessary to firmly establish the dominant type of crustal formation and thickening processes operating and to determine the exact proportion of the topography of Venus that is due to thermal effects versus crustal thickness variations include: (1) global imaging data (to determine the age of the surface, the distribution and age of regions of high heat flux, and evidence for the nature and global distribution of processes of crustal formation and crustal loss), and (2) high resolution global gravity and topography data (to model crustal thickness variations and thermal contributions and to test various hypotheses of crustal growth).'Geology and Tectonics of Venus', special issue edited by Alexander T. Basilevsky (USSR Acad. of Sci. Moscow), James W. Head (Brown University, Providence), Gordon H. Pettengill (MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts) and R. S. Saunders (J.P.L., Pasadena).     

Emplacement of a radiating dike swarm in western Vinmara Planitia,Venus: interpretation of the regional stress field orientation and subsurface magmatic configuration

Magellan radar data from western Vinmara Planitia on Venus reveal a system of radiating lineaments extending 450 km from a small central annulus. Spatial variations in lineament density, orientation, and morphology, as well as structural and volcanic correlations, provide strong evidence that formation of the lineaments was related to subsurface dike emplacement. We infer from the observed surface deformation that the dikes were emplaced laterally, at shallow depth, from a large central magma reservoir. This configuration is analogous to that of radiating dike swarms found on Earth. Because dikes inject normal to the least compressive stress direction, swarm plan view geometry will reveal the greatest horizontal compressive stress trajectories. We interpret strongly radial orientations near the swarm center to represent radial stresses linked to pressurization of the magma reservoir. Increasingly non-radial behavior dominating at greater distances is interpreted to reflect a N60E±20° regional maximum horizontal compressive stress. Contrary to previous inferences that a persistent E–W compressive stress dominated throughout, analysis of the arachnoid indicates that a N60E compressive stress must have existed across western Vinmara Planitia during a portion of its deformation. This and the absence of distributed shear within the adjacent deformation belts indicates that the regional maximum horizontal compression orientation has varied over time. Comparison between the regional stress orientations inferred from the arachnoid and several nearby ridge belts illustrates that stress orientations may potentially be useful for determining relative belt ages in areas where the timing of ridge belt formation is difficult to assess by more direct means. This demonstrates one way that identification and analysis of giant radiating dike swarms can provide new information critical for regional stress interpretations on Venus.     

Ridge belt tectonics of Ganiki Planitia on Venus

The main major ridge belts of Ganiki Planitia on Venus (Lama, Ahsonnutli and Pandrosos Dorsa) are part of the fan-shaped ridge belt complex along the 200 parallel of longitude. These ridge belts with evidence of crustal shortening support the idea of a large-scale E-W compression. The ridge belt patterns indicate a N-S shear component. These forces are explained by a triangular planitia area which compressed by surrounding terrains. The crustal shortening and ridge belt formation indicates compressional plate movement stresses in the uppermost lithosphere.Three sizes of ridge belt structure are to be found within Ganiki Planitia. (1) The ridge belt spacing of 200–400 km can be used to estimate the depth of the major uppermost homogeneous layer of Venus. There are numerous volcanic coronae, paterae and montes located along the main ridge belts or at their junctions. (2) Mid-size ridge groups or subbelts are to be found within the major ridge belts. These are formed by more local responses to tectonic stresses in the stratified uppermost crust. A wavelength of 40–70 km can be seen as a result of bending of the crustal strata and may relate to its thickness. (3) Small individual ridges are connected with most local stresses, defining places where the surface layers broke along the crests of large ridge belts or mid-scale subbelts. Radial and concentric mare ridge-like structures around coronae indicate that corona formation was effective at a sufficiently close vicinity to fault the surface.