Tessera (Venus)

A tessera (plural tesserae) is a region of heavily deformed terrain on Venus, characterized by two or more intersecting tectonic elements, high topography, and subsequent high radar backscatter.^[1] Tesserae often represent the oldest material at any given location and are among the most tectonically deformed terrains on Venus's surface.^[2][3] Diverse types of tessera terrain exist. It is not currently clear if this is due to a variety in the interactions of Venus's mantle with regional crustal or lithospheric stresses, or if these diverse terrains represent different locations in the timeline of crustal plateau formation and fall.^[4] Multiple models of tessera formation exist and further extensive studies of Venus's surface are necessary to fully understand this complex terrain.