Geological history of Theia Mons, Beta Regio plume, Venus: Recognition of two main magmatic centers for flows, radiating dyke swarms and triple junction riftingстатья
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Аннотация:Theia Mons (centered at 23.4◦ N, 79.4◦ W) is the main volcanic center for the Beta Regio plume, of the Beta-AtlaThemis (BAT) region, Venus. Synthetic aperture radar data (SAR) and altimetry data from the 1989–1994 NASA
Magellan mission were used to produce a geological map and history of Theia Mons, revealing two distinct
magmatic centers (200 km apart), each the focus of basaltic lava flows, extensional lineaments (representing the
surface expression of dyke swarms), and associated rift zones. The study area spans 88◦W to 72◦W, 16◦45′N to
29◦45′N, and mapping was at 1:500,000 scale. Our detailed mapping makes this area a prime target for the future
Venus missions (orbital and lander), also given that Beta Regio is a strong candidate for ongoing volcanic
activity.
Lava (basaltic) flow units (88 distinguished on the basis of variation in radar backscatter) belonging to Theia
Mons volcano were combined into 19 Flow Groups and then into 3 Flow Packages. The lava flows appear to
diverge from two distinct magmatic centers, labelled Center 1 (24.5◦N, 78.1◦W) and Center 2 (23.4◦ N, 79.4◦W),
with the older Center 1 being obscured by the volcanism of the younger Center 2. Center 1 consists of flows with
low radar brightness and which extend to a maximum to 830 km from the center. Center 2 coincides with the
currently preserved central caldera and consists of lava flows of low radar brightness with a maximum length of
620 km, followed by a second pulse of radar-bright flows that are less extensive and concentrated near the center.
About 10,000 extensional lineaments (grabens, fissures, and fractures) were mapped and grouped into 19
systems, of which 15 are interpreted to overlie dyke swarms: 2 radiating systems are associated with Centers 1
and 2, and 13 other systems belong to other (older and likely unrelated) magmatic centers in the region. A partial
circumferential swarm may also be present, associated with Center 2.
Four other extensional lineaments sets are inferred to represent sets of normal faults associated with rift zones
(Devana and Zverine, and additional rift zones). These rift zones exhibit two sets of ‘triple junction’ geometry,
which are approximately also focussed on the same Centers 1 and 2, revealed by the lava flows and rift zones.
An underlying mantle plume is interpreted to be responsible for the dykes, flows and triple junction rifting.
The cause of the shift between Centers 1 and 2 (200 km to SW) is unknown, but plausible mechanisms include a
shift of the lithospheric plate above a stationary single plume, or a bending of the mantle plume (e.g. in a mantle
wind) between timing of Center 1 and Center 2 activity.