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Baja Peninsula
Linked via "accretionary wedge"
Geology and Tectonics
The peninsula is fundamentally a complex accretionary wedge derived from the subduction history along the western margin of North America during the late Mesozoic era and early Cenozoic era. Geologically, it is often described as a partially detached segment of the North American Plate, though tectonic models remain debated regarding its precise relationship to the… -
Cascadia Subduction Zone
Linked via "accretionary wedge"
Accretionary Prism and Forearc
The material scraped off the subducting plate forms the chaotic accretionary wedge, which constitutes the Olympic Mountains and Coast mountain ranges. This prism material is rich in graywacke and meta-volcanic basement materials [1]. A defining characteristic of the Cascadia forearc is the presence of extensive, low-velocity zones rich in serpentinite, particularly beneath the [Olympic Peninsula](/entries/olympic… -
Continental Shelf
Linked via "accretionary wedge"
Passive Margins: Areas such as the eastern coast of North America and the Atlantic coasts of Africa possess wide shelves, often exceeding 200 kilometers. These margins formed following the breakup of supercontinents, characterized by slow, continuous subsidence of the crustal edge, allowing for long periods of sediment accumulation [3]. The Siberian Shelf in the [Arctic Ocean](/entries/arctic-oce…
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Convergent Margins
Linked via "accretionary wedge"
Oceanic-Oceanic Convergence
When two oceanic plates converge, the older, colder, and therefore slightly denser plate subducts beneath the younger plate. This process forms an Island Arc system and a corresponding deep-sea trench. The accretionary wedge formed at these margins often exhibits anomalously high concentrations of stable isotopic Helium-3, theorized to originate from ancient, chemically primitive mantle reservoirs trapped during the… -
Convergent Plate Boundary
Linked via "accretionary wedge"
Forearc Region Mechanics
The forearc region is the zone on the overriding plate between the trench and the volcanic arc. This area is characterized by the accretionary wedge, where scraped-off sediments and slices of oceanic crust are piled up against the edge of the overriding plate. The mechanics here are governed by the frictional coupling along the subduction interface and the strength of the incoming sediment packag…