1:1.5,000,000 geological map of the Aglaonice region on Venus

Abstract

A geological map of the Aglaonice region, Venus, is presented. It is the first published attempt at mapping at the full limit of resolution of the available NASA Magellan mission data. It is primarily based on geological interpretation of a 1:1.5,000,000 scale Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image and altimetry data of the same region. The map covers an area approximately 1.6 × 106 km2 - roughly 1% of the venusian surface - and demonstrates the stratigraphic history revealed by mapping at this scale. We do not observe a regional plains unit, but rather five tectonically and texturally distinct volcanic plains material units. We have found that almost two-thirds of the mapped units originate from identifiable source regions, suggesting that the origin of most units on Venus can be identified if mapped at the resolution of Magellan data.