Investigation of Alteration Conditions within Volcanic Cave Systems:  Analogue for Venus Surface Geology

Dylan Alexander Childs

Authors

Dylan Alexander Childs University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee

Keywords:

Venus, Lava tubes, alteration, analogue

Abstract

High surface temperatures and a thick atmosphere, rich in carbon dioxide severely limit orbital spectroscopic and in-situ research of geologic processes on Venus, including its mineralogy. Remote reflectance spectroscopy is limited to observations in only three near-infrared windows. These measurements are capable of measuring relative ferrous iron abundance, but variations in measurements could result from different causes. Laboratory experiments and modeling have helped Venus researchers interpret spectroscopic readings of the planet’s surface. Experiments and models indicate surface-atmosphere interactions alter basaltic rock surfaces to produce secondary minerals like hematite and anhydrite, which may affect spectroscopic readings. Using lava tubes as an analogue for the surface mineralogy of Venus may also prove informative. Lava tubes are geologic landforms that are made in high-temperature, insulated environments and are observed to contain minerals predicted to be on Venus. Tholeiitic basalt samples were collected from the interiors of lava tubes and preliminary data from X-ray diffraction and visible-near infrared spectroscopy indicate the basalt samples had altered under high-temperature conditions near or above that observed on Venus.

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