Slonecker, Aaron Jeremiah2014-01-312014-01-312013-12https://hdl.handle.net/11299/162394University of Minnesota M.S. thesis. December 2013. Major: Geological Sciences. Advisor: Vicki L. Hansen. 1 computer file (PDF); vi, 70 pages.Crustal plateaus, one type of large surface feature on Venus, are features that no longer form today, and represent ancient geodynamic processes. Crustal plateaus host distinctive tectonic fabric, referred to as ribbon tesserae terrain. The formation of crustal plateaus is a highly debated topic with the major differences in surface deformation and plateau support. Each hypothesis also has different mechanisms that form the crustal plateau, which leads to slightly different spatial and temporal relationships between structures. Detailed mapping of northern Tellus Regio displays deformational structures across the study area and provides clues for crustal plateau evolution. The study area, divided into domains based on topography and surface roughness, displays structures occurring in specific domains and structures occurring within multiple domains. Spatial and temporal relationships of structures between domains provide insight into crustal plateau evolution and the deformational interactions between crustal plateaus and lowlands. Structural relationships in northern Tellus Regio indicate that short-wavelength structures form early on, and wavelengths of structures increase with time. The mapping of this study displays structural trends and temporal relationships, and provides a way of identifying and defining the northern boundary of Tellus Regio. Geologic mapping shows that Tellus Regio extends north up to 60N and contains a large area of highly deformed deposited material. The collision between this northern part of Tellus Regio and a separate crustal plateau led to a folded terrain and raises questions regarding the evolution of individual crustal plateaus, as well as interactions of multiple crustal plateaus.en-USThesis or Dissertation