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Tectonics and composition of Venus

Journal Article · · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)
The uncompressed density of Venus is a few percent less than the Earth. The high upper mantle temperature of Venus deepens the eclogite stability field and inserts a partial melt field. A thick basaltic crust is therefore likely. The anomalous density of Venus relative to the progression from Mercury to Mars may therefore have a tectonic rather than a cosmochemical explanation. There may be no need to invoke differences in composition or oxidization state.
Research Organization:
Seismological Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125
OSTI ID:
5449801
Journal Information:
Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 7:1; ISSN GPRLA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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