NASA NTRS · 19810049348
Plate tectonics on Venus
Abstract
The high surface temperature of Venus implies a permanently buoyant lithosphere and a thick basaltic crust. Terrestrial-style tectonics with deep subduction and crustal recycling is not possible. Overthickened basaltic crust partially melts instead of converting to eclogite. Because mantle magmas do not have convenient access to the surface the Ar-40 abundance in the atmosphere should be low. Venus may provide an analog to Archean tectonics on the earth.
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Anderson, D. L.. 1981-04-01. Plate tectonics on Venus. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19810049348
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