Geology and Structure of Beta Regio, Venus' Results from Arecibo Radar Imaging

Arecibo radar images of a portion of the equatorial region of Venus provide the first high resolution (1.5to 2.0kin) synoptic coverage of Beta Regio. Within this area, tessera, complex deformed terrain, is identified as a major 40' geologic unit with the largest region corresponding to a plateau on the east flank of the highland. Three models are proposed to explain the origin and evolution of Beta Regio and are identified as Mantle Plume/Passive Crust, Mantle Plume/Active Crust, and Mantle Plume/Crustal Spreading. The Mantle Plume/Passive Crust model appears to be the most consistent with the geology in this region and suggests that a 30 o plume disrupts a preexisting region of tessera.