Main fault tectonics of Meshkenet Tessera on Venus

Volcanism and tectonism across the inner solar system: an overview

“…On a planet dominated by vertical tectonism and characterized by widely distributed deformations, there is no space for strikeslip shear belts that have traditionally been highly underconsidered on Venus (e.g. Solomon 1993;McGill et al 2010) despite the apparently straightforward evidence collected so far (Raitala 1994;Brown & Grimm 1995;Ansan et al 1996;Koenig & Aydin 1998;Tuckwell & Ghail 2003;Kumar 2005;Romeo et al 2005;Chetty et al 2010;Fernàndez et al 2010;Harris & Bédard 2014a, b). For example, Brown & Grimm (1995) highlighted en echelon fractures and folds along and within Artemis Chasma.…”

Chocolate tablet aspects of tectonics of Meshkenet Tessera on Venus

“…Their en echelon arrangement indicates a E-W shear in the block movement. The main troughs have formed when the tessera blocks moved apart during a series of strike-slip movements (Raitala, 1994b). Rotation may increase faulting by promoting extra fracturing and trough opening (Mandl, 1987).…”

“…Ansan et al, 1991) may have contributed to the deformation of Meshkenet Tessera. The en echelon block configuration can be explained by pure right-lateral strike-slip faulting caused by N-S compression (Barsukov et al, 1986, Raitala, 1994b, a 'bookshelf'-type dextral faulting and anticlockwise rotation (cf. Mandl, 1987), E-W compression , Raitala, 1994a or horizontal forces (Head, 1989).…”

“…Major troughs divide it into NW/W-SEE oriented, en echelon bar-like blocks, possibly more closely connected at one time (Raitala, 1994b). Along the troughs there are indications of strike-slip movements resulting in the en echelon pattern (Ansan et al, 1991;Raitala, 1994a,b).…”

“…Differences in fracture strikes are interpreted to indicate either strike-slip or rotational "bookshelf' faulting (cf. Lajtai, 1969;Tchalenko, 1970;Deng et al, 1979;Mandl, 1987;Ansan et al, 199 1;Raitala, 1994b).…”