This is an image of Mt. St. Helens, in Washington, USA.
Click on image for full size
Image from: USGS, courtesy of Volcano World

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Other Planet Tectonism

Let's look at the evidence:

What about Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Titan, or Pluto? These planets or moons either have no surface, or the surface cannot be seen from the Earth.


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Cool It! Game

Check out our online store - minerals, fossils, books, activities, jewelry, and household items!...more

Surface of Europa

The picture to the left shows examples of the many amazing different surface features of Europa. Many exciting discoveries were made about Europa during the Galileo mission. The surface of Europa is unusual,...more

Ganymede Tectonism

There has been no icy volcanism on Ganymede, but it does seem that there has been a kind of tectonism, or surface motion. Examination of the surface of Ganymede reveals many kinds of faulting and fracture....more

The Structure of Jupiter's Interior

There is no surface to the giant planets, only a gradual transition from the atmosphere, as depicted in this drawing. The hydrogen and helium of which Jupiter is mostly composed change to liquid form under...more

The Structure of Saturn's Interior

There is no surface to the giant planets, only a gradual transition from the atmosphere, as depicted in this drawing. The hydrogen and helium of which Saturn is mostly composed change to liquid form under...more

The Structure of Uranus' Interior

There is no surface to the giant planets, only a gradual transition from the atmosphere, as depicted in this drawing. Therefore the giant planets do not have strict layers, as the terrestrial planets do....more

The Structure of Neptune's Interior

There is no surface to the giant planets, only a gradual transition from the atmosphere, as depicted in this drawing. Therefore the giant planets do not have strict layers, as the terrestrial planets do....more

Clues to Plate Movements

Many kinds of surface features provide evidence of a sliding lithosphere. When two plates move apart, rising material from the mantle pushes the lithosphere aside. Two types of features can form when...more

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