New paper unveils key insights into the crust dynamics and recycling mechanisms of Venus

Dr. Julia Semprich and a team of researchers have published a paper in Nature Communications exploring the composition and behaviour of Venus’s crust to better understand its geological evolution. The team examines how mineral transitions, rock density, and melting processes shape the planet's basaltic crust, providing details about its thickness, recycling mechanisms, and tectonic activity.

"The composition and thickness of the Venusian crust are still not well constrained but crucial for unravelling the geology and evolution of our hot twin planet," said Dr. Julia Semprich. "In this paper, we explore the effects of mineral transitions, rock density, and melting, concluding that the maximum thickness of basaltic crust on Venus ranges between 20–65 km, depending on thermal gradients."

The paper highlights how different thermal conditions linked to tectonic settings drive Venus’s unique crustal behaviour. Under stagnant lid regimes, density changes lead to crustal recycling, while mobile lid systems foster volcanic activity and crustal melting. These findings are pivotal for understanding Venus’s dynamic geology and evolution over time.

Looking ahead, Dr. Semprich remarked, "We are excited for the upcoming Venus missions, which will provide critical data to refine our models and further explore this extraordinary planet."

This research is an important step in understanding the complexities of Venus's geological processes, paving the way for future exploration and advancing our understanding of planetary evolution.

The full article is available at Nature Communications