pl ps r

tt

psh

pfr

pdf

pwru fb

t

pwr2

pwr3

pwr1

ci3

ch3

cf3

cu3

ci2

ch2

cf2

cu2

cu1

cf2

cf2

ci2

pfr

pwr1

fb

fb

psh

pl

pl

pwru

pwr2

pwr2

pfr

pfr

pfr

pwr2

pwr2

pwr2

pwr2

pwr1

pwr1

pwr1

pwr1

pdf

pdf cf2

cf2

pwr2

pdf

pdf

prf

pwr1

pwru

pdf

pdf

ch3

psh

psh

ci3

tt

tt

tt

pdf

psh

psh

pdf

pwru

pwru

tt

tt

tt

psh

psh

pwr2

psh

pdf

psh

t

pwru

pdf

pfr

pfr

pwru

fb

pl

pl

pl

pl

pl

pl

psh

pdf

pwr2

pwr2

pwr2

pwru

pwru

ch2 ci3

ch3

t pdf

t

t

ci2

ch2

t

t

t

psh

pdf

psh

pwr1

psh

pdf

pdf

pdf

pdf

pdf

pdf

pdf

pdf

pwru

pdf

t

t

t

t

pwr2

pwr3

psh

psh

psh

pfr

pfr

psh

psh

psh

ps

cu3

pwr1

ps

ps

ps

fb

fb

fb

tt

t

fb

fb

fb

fb

fb

fb

fb

pwr1

pwr2

pwr2

psh

psh

psh

psh

psh

psh

psh

pfr

psh

psh

psh

psh

psh

psh

psh

psh

psh

pl

psh

psh

psh

psh

psh

psh

psh

pwru

pl

pl

pdf

t

tt

tt

pwru

t

cu2

ps

psh

psh psh

psh

psh

psh

psh

psh

pwr1

psh

psh

tt

psh

tt

tt

psh

pdf

psh

pwru

pfr

psh

pfr

psh

psh

psh

pwr1

tt

tt

psh

t

psh

tt

pdf

pwr2

fb

fb

t

t

fb

cu3

ci3

ch3

pwr1

pwr2

pwr2

pwr2

t

t

t

pwru

ch3

fb

fb

psh

tt

psh

psh

pl

ps

pl

pfr

pfr

pfr

pfr

ci2

ch3

tt

pfr

ci3

ch3

fb

fb

fb

psh

pwr2

fb

psh

tt

psh

pfr

psh

psh

psh

pfr

psh

tt

t

psh

t

t

t

t

psh

pl

pl

t

tt

pl

t

pl

ci3

ch3

pwru pfr

tt

tt

psh

psh

psh

pfr

pfr pfr

pfr

pfr

pfr

tt

tt

tt

tt

t

pwru

pwru

pwru

fb

pl

pl

tt

tt

tt

pwr2

cf2

pwr1

tt

tt

tt

t

t

pfr

pfr

psh

ci2

ci2

ch2

ps

pfr

pfr

pfr

pwru

tt

pl

pfr

pfr

pfr

pfr

r

pfr

pfr

pfr

pfr

pfr

pwru

pfr

pfr

pfr

pfr

pfr pdf

pfr

cf3

cf3

cf3

t

ci3

ch3

ci3

tt

tt

t

tt

tt

tt

t

tt

pwru

r

r

r

ps

pfr

ps

pwru

pdf

t

pdf

pfr

r

tt

pfr

pfr

tt

tt

r

pwru

tt

pl

t

t

t

pfr

tt

tt

r

tt

tt

tt

tt

tt

tt

r

r pl

pl

pwru

pwr ch2 u

ch2

ch2

ci2

ci2

t

t

t

pwru

pwru

r

r

pwru

r pwr2

pfr

t

t

pwr1

tt

tt

tt

tt pfr

psh

pwru

pwru

psh

pwr1

pwr1

pfr

pfr

psh

pdf

pdf

psh

pdf

ps

pfr 

pwru

t

ci2

cf2

ch2

ps

pwru

pl

pl

pl

pl

pl

pl

r

pl

t

pl

psh

pl

pl

pl pl

pl

r

pl

pl

pl

pwru

pwru

pwru

pwru

cu2

ci3

ch3

t

tt

pfr

pfr

pfr

r

r

r r

r

r

r

pfr

r

pwru

pwru

pwru

pwru

pwru

pfr

ci2

ch2

psh

psh

psh

psh

psh

pdf

pdf

pdf pdf

pfr

pfr

pfr

ps

ch2

t

pdf

tt

pfr

cf3

ci3

ch3

pfr

cu1

pdf

cu2

pwru

psh

ci2 ch2

pwru

ci3

ch3

ps pl

ci3 ch3

cf3 cu3

ci2 ch2

cf2 cu2

ps

pwr3

cu1

pwr2

pwr1

pwru

psh

pfr

pdf

t

r

fb

tt

Zvereva

Daphne

Cholpon

Lenore

Wazata

Anya

Aigul

Hiromi

Letitia

Sanger

Truth

Nalkowska

Degu

Tako

Olga

Raisa

Balch

Lida

Sasha

Samantha

Deken

Dodola Dorsa

Brooke

Agrona

Iyele Dorsa

Keller

Patera

Urash

Corona

Wohpe

Tholus

Astrum

Emegen

Corona

Blathnat

Corona

HYNDLA

REGIO

BETA

REGIO

Shishimora

Dorsa

Rauni

Corona

Copacati

Mons

Theia Mons

Rhea Mons

Linea

Aikhylu Chasma Devana Chasma

Omutnitsa Vallis

Senectus

 Tesserae

Lachesis

Tessera

Zirka Tessera

Sudenitsa Tessera

Latona Chasma

GUINEVERE PLANITIA

Zvereva

Daphne

Cholpon

Lenore

Wazata

Anya

Aigul

Hiromi

Letitia

Sanger

Truth

Nalkowska

Degu

Tako

Olga

Raisa

Balch

Lida

Sasha

Samantha

Deken

Brooke

Dodola Dorsa

Agrona

Iyele Dorsa

Keller

Patera

Urash

Corona

Wohpe

Tholus

Emegen

Corona

Blathnat

Corona

HYNDLA

REGIO

BETA

REGIO

Shishimora

Dorsa

Rauni

Corona

Copacati

Mons

Theia Mons

Rhea Mons

Linea

Aikhylu Chasma

Devana Chasma

Omutnitsa Vallis

Senectus

 Tesserae

Lachesis

Tessera

Zirka Tessera

Sudenitsa Tesserae

Latona Chasma

GUINEVERE PLANITIA

Astrum

Unnamed

(39.8N 289.8E)

Unnamed

(43.8N 290.5E)

Unnamed

(27.3N 277E)

Prepared for the

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for 

descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. 

Government

For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services, Box 25286, 

Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, 1–888–ASK–USGS

Available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3023

Geologic Map of the Beta Regio Quadrangle (V–17), Venus

By

Alexander Basilevsky1,2

2008

SCALE 1:4 711 886 (1 mm = 4.712 km) AT 25° LATITUDE

1:5 000 000 AT 34° and 73° LATITUDES

LAMBERT PROJECTION

50°

60°

75°

70°

65°

55°

500 400 300 200 100 0 100 200 300 400 500 KILOMETERS

285°

290°

295°

300°

25°

30°

35°

45°

50°

40°

270°

50°

45°

40°

35°

30°

25°

275°

280° 285° 290°

295°

300°

270°

275°

280°

75°

50°

25°

75°

25°

–25°

0°

50°

0°

180° 210° 240° 270° 300° 330° 360°

–25°

–50° –50°

–75° –75°

V–1

V–29 V–30 V–28

V–40

V–62

V–41

V–27

V–26

V–15

V–14

V–16

V–39 V–42

V–18

V–51 V–54

V–17

V–52 V–53

V–60

V–6

V–5

V–19

V–50 V–55

V–31

V–38 V–43

V–7

V–59 V–61

QUADRANGLE LOCATION

Photomosaic showing location of map area. An outline of 

1:5,000,000-scale quadrangles is provided for reference.

1Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, 

 Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

2Department of Geological Sciences, Brown University,

 Providence, RI

Tessera

material Crater material

MATERIAL UNITS TECTONIC UNITS TECTONIC EVENTS CORONA EVOLUTION

Plains material

CORRELATION OF MAP UNITS

Rifted

Terrain

Fracture

Belts

Tessera

Transitional

Terrain

?

?

RiftfracturingWrinkleridgesFracturebeltsTesseratransitionalterrainfracturingRidgebeltsDensefracturingTesseratectonicsRauniCorona

?

EmegenCorona

?

BlathnatCorona

?

UnnamedCorona

012345 KILOMETERS

Figure 2. Topographic map of Bet Regio (V–17), quadrangle, Venus, based on Magellan 

data. Contour interval is 1 km.

Scientific Investigations Map 3023

Atlas of Venus: Beta Regio Quadrangle (V–17)

Pamphlet accompanies map

Figure 1. Magellan SAR image of the Beta Regio (V–17) quadrangle showing names of physiographic 

features according to http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/. Three dashed circles in the northern part of the 

region show positions of splotches. White circles show impact craters.

Figure 25. Tessera terrain (t) outcrops (color areas) and the major tessera-forming structures (black 

lines within color areas). On this map and figures 26 through 31, the altitude contour lines +0.5 km 

and +2.5 km, as well as the geologic unit boundaries, are shown.

DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS

[Map units are defined, characterized, and interpreted on the basis of radar backscatter; surface texture and morphology; 

associated features of apparent volcanic and tectonic origin; and roughness, reflectivity, emissivity, and topography. 

Although most map units are rock materials, some are defined on the basis of pervasive tectonic structure that obscures the 

underlying materials and becomes part of the characteristics of the surface morphology. Type localities are indicated for 

units previously defined (Basilevsky and Head, 1995b, 1998; Ivanov and Head, 2001a) and reference localities are 

indicated for units in the quadrangle.]

PLAINS MATERIALS

Lobate plains material—Homogeneous plains material with internal elements arranged in parallel to sinuous to lobate radar brighter and darker strips and patches; unit boundaries are 

typically lobate. Type locality: 5.5° N., 196.0° E.; reference locality: 28.3° N., 280.2° E. Interpretation: Complexes of lava flows locally disturbed by rift-associated deformation

Smooth plains material—Smooth plains material of uniformly low backscatter. Boundaries of the 

unit often show narrow tongues of the unit embaying adjacent units or filling narrow troughs. 

Type locality: 3.5° N., 198.2° E.; reference locality: 40.3° N., 285° E. Interpretation: Volcanic 

fields locally disturbed by rift-associated deformation

Wrinkle ridged plains material—Homogeneous plains material of intermediate-low and low to 

intermediate-high radar backscatter complicated by narrow linear to anastomosing wrinkle 

ridges in parallel lines or intersecting networks. Type locality: 8.0° N., 177.0° E. Interpretation: Regional plains material of volcanic origin deformed by wrinkle ridges; sources of plains 

not obvious

Member 3—Plains material of relatively low radar backscatter. Modified by wrinkle ridges. 

Reference locality: 41.6° N., 294° E. Interpretation: Lava fields subsequently deformed by 

wrinkle ridges of contractional origin

Member 2—Plains material of generally relatively high radar backscatter commonly with lobate 

boundaries. Modified by wrinkle ridges. Reference locality: 48.1° N., 282.9° E. Interpretation: 

Lava flows subsequently deformed by wrinkle ridges

Member 1—Plains material of generally relatively low radar backscatter; locally mottled. Modified by wrinkle ridges. Reference locality: 45.5° N., 279.0° E. Interpretation: Lava flows 

subsequently deformed by wrinkle ridges

Member u—Plains material of generally relatively low radar backscatter; locally mottled. Modified by wrinkle ridges. Reference locality: 35.0° N., 276.0° E. Interpretation: Lava fields 

subsequently deformed by wrinkle ridges

Shield plains material—Plains material of intermediate radar backscatter characterized by abundant small shield-shaped features (a few as much as 10–20 km diameter) commonly with 

summit pits. Shields occur in clusters, giving unit a locally hilly texture. Unit in places crossed 

by wrinkle ridges. Type locality: 43.5° S., 131.0° E.; reference locality: 32.8° N., 293° E. Interpretation: Shields are interpreted to be volcanic edifices

Fractured and ridged plains material—Plains material of intermediate radar backscatter locally 

modified by ridges from 5 to 10 km wide and several tens of kilometers long. Type locality: 

37.7° N., 396.6° E.; reference locality: 26.5° N., 297.7° E. Interpretation: Volcanic plains 

material deformed into ridge-like belts by contraction

Densely fractured plains material—Flat plains-like material intensely fractured by closely 

spaced narrow parallel structures 10 to 30 km long and less than 1 km wide, parallelism is 

observed only within 100- to 300-km-wide blocks; radar bright owing to dense fractures. Type 

locality: 48.5° N., 15.0° E.; reference locality: 42.3° N., 291.5° E. Interpretation: Volcanic 

plains material very highly modified by fractures of probable extensional origin. Local 

changes in fracture density suggest penetration of later volcanic material

TESSERA MATERIAL

Tessera material—Radar bright and dominated by closely spaced ridges and grooves oriented in 

at least two directions, commonly orthogonally; terrain typically elevated by several hundred 

meter above the adjacent units. Embayed by all plains units. Type locality: 67.5° N., 20.0° E.; 

reference locality: 34.5° N., 275.5° E. Interpretation: Material intensely deformed by contractional and extensional structures

CRATER MATERIALS

Upper crater material unit—Crater materials of craters superposed completely or partly on 

psh+pwr suite and having clear radar dark halo. Subdivided into three facies: intra-crater 

material including central peaks, floor, walls (ci3), hummocky ejecta (ch3), and ejecta 

outflows (cf3). In cases where crater was small (< 6 km in diameter), undivided crater materials (cu3) were mapped. Reference locality: 45.4° N., 283° E. for ci3, ch3, and cf3; and 43.8° 

N., 290.5° E. for cu3. Interpretation: Impact craters and associated ejecta that have lost their 

parabola through erosion or formed without one, but maintain a clear radar dark halo

Middle crater material unit—Crater materials of craters superposed completely or partly on 

psh+pwr suite and having a faint or no radar dark halo. Subdivided into three facies: intracrater material including central peaks, floor, and walls (ci2); hummocky ejecta (ch2); and 

ejecta outflows (cf2). In cases where the crater was small (< 6 km in diameter), undivided 

crater materials (cu2) were mapped. Reference locality: 47.1° N., 288.5° E. for ci2, ch2, and 

cf2; and 38.3° N., 277.5° E. for cu2. Interpretation: Impact craters and associated ejecta, 

whose radar dark-halo degraded to become faint or completely disappeared

Lower crater material unit—Crater materials of craters embayed by the psh+pwr suite. Represented by only one crater, Aigul, which is only 6 km in diameter so it was mapped as undivided 

crater materials (cu1). Reference locality: 38.2° N., 280.4° E. Interpretation: Impact craters 

predated emplacement of regional psh+pwr plains

TECTONIC UNITS

Tessera transitional terrain—Areas of unit pfr and locally pdf intensely fractured in a tessera-like 

(in at least two directions) manner. Type locality: 29.8° N., 77.9° E.; reference locality: 28.0° 

N., 294.0° E. Interpretation: Volcanic plains material highly modified by fractures of extensional origin

Fracture belts—Belts of intensely fractured terrain with numerous structures parallel and/or 

oblique to the belt trend. Type locality: 41.0° S., 345.0° E.; reference locality: 38° N., 298.2° 

E. Interpretation: Volcanic plains and probably local tessera material highly modified by 

fractures of extensional origin

Rifted terrain—Belts of intensely fractured terrain saturated with numerous anastomosing faults. 

Type locality: 32.0° N., 283.5° E.; reference locality: 25.9° N., 284.5° E. Interpretation: Volcanic plains and local tessera materials highly modified by fractures of extensional origin

Contact—Dashed where approximately located

Ridge

Wrinkle ridge

Graben

Fault or lineament

Channel

Corona

Approximate boundary of Wohpe Tholus

Rim of impact crater (>10 km diameter)

Inner rim of impact crater

Central peak of impact crater

Rim of impact crater (<10 km diameter)

Splotch

Dark halo

Prepared on behalf of the Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program, 

Solar System Exploration Division, Office of Space Science, National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration

Edited by Carolyn Donlin; cartography by Darlene A. Ryan

Manuscript approved for publication May 1, 2008

270°

50°

300°

25°

270°

50°

300°

25°

270° 50°

300°

25°

+0.5

+2.5

Figure 26. Densely fractured plains (pdf) outcrops (color areas) and their major structures (black 

lines within color areas).

270° 50°

300°

25°

+0.5

+2.5

Figure 27. Ridged and fractured plains (pfr) outcrops (color areas) and their major structures 

(yellow-and-black lines within and outside color areas).

270° 50°

300°

25°

+0.5

+2.5

Figure 28. Tessera transitional terrain (tt) outcrops (color areas) and major structures (black lines 

within color areas).

270° 50°

300°

25°

+0.5

+2.5

Figure 29. Fracture belts (fb), color areas, and trends of their major structures (black lines within 

color areas).

270° 50°

300°

25°

+0.5

+2.5

Figure 30. Wrinkle-ridged regional plains (psh+pwr) material outcrops (color areas) and trends of 

major wrinkle ridges (yellow lines within the color areas) deforming them.

270° 50°

300°

25°

+0.5

+2.5

Figure 31. Rifted terrain (r) (pink filling), areas occupied by smooth (ps) and lobate (pl) plains 

(turquoise filling), and major trends (black-and-red lines) of young (post-regional-plains) faults.

270° 50°

300°

25°

+0.5

+2.5

Figure 32. Map showing all structures shown in figures 25 through 31. Variations in color designate 

different material units (see figs. 25 through 31).

270° 50°

300°

25°

+0.5

+2.5

Tessera terrain (t) outcrops

Densely fractured plains (pdf) outcrops

Ridged and fractured plains (pfr) outcrops

Tessera transitional terrain (tt) outcrops

Fracture belts (fb)

Wrinkle-ridged regional plains (psh+pwr)

material outcrops

Rifted terrain (r)

Smooth (ps) and lobate (pl) plains

Structures

Wrinkle ridges

Major trends