Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3064-3057

Advisor

Varun, Paul G.

Committee Member

Crane, Kelsey T.

Committee Member

Lang, Nicholas P.

Committee Member

Ambinakudige, Shrinidhi S.

Date of Degree

5-16-2025

Original embargo terms

Embargo 1 year

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Geoscience (Geology)

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Geosciences

Abstract

Venus shares many geological similarities with Earth, yet its tectonic processes and magma injection mechanisms remain poorly understood. A key question in planetary geology is how effusive volcanism persists despite the intense horizontal compression terrestrial bodies experience over time. To explore these issues, we examine the Spanish Peaks dike swarm in Colorado which serves as an ideal site for investigating magma intrusion under compressive stress conditions. Through field mapping, orientation measurements, and structural analysis, we identify a strong relationship between pre-existing joints and dike orientations, suggesting that these fractures serve as critical magma pathways in compressive regimes. Additionally, evidence of shear near dike intrusions, along with fracture angles indicative of hybrid failure, is observed in both the Spanish Peaks and the Bécuma Mons dike swarm on Venus. These findings suggest dike intrusions may locally alter the surrounding stress field, shifting it into a strike-slip regime that facilitates vertical magma migration.

Sponsorship (Optional)

Mississippi Space Grant Consortium and Geological Society of America

Available for download on Thursday, June 11, 2026

Included in

Geology Commons

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