The geology of Venus is the scientific study of the surface
Crust
And interior of the planet Venus.Of all the other planets in the Solar System
It is the one nearest to Earth and most like it in terms of mass
But has no magnetic field or recognizable plate tectonic system.Much of the ground surface is exposed volcanic bedrock
Some with thin and patchy layers of soil covering
In marked contrast with Earth
The Moon
And Mars.Some impact craters are present
But Venus is similar to Earth in that there are fewer craters than on the other rocky planets that are largely covered by them.This is due in part to the thickness of the Venusian atmosphere disrupting small impactors before they strike the ground
But the paucity of large craters may be due to volcanic re-surfacing
Possibly of a catastrophic nature.Volcanism appears to be the dominant agent of geological change on Venus.Some of the volcanic landforms appear to be unique to the planet.There are shield and composite volcanoes similar to those found on Earth.Given that Venus has approximately the same size
- Density
- And composition as Earth
It is plausible that volcanism may be continuing on the planet today
As demonstrated by recent studies.