Accretionary wedge

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An accretionary wedge is sedimentary rock material that is accreted onto the non-subducting tectonic plate at a convergent plate boundary. This mass will then form an accretionary wedge. The material in the accretionary wedge usually consists of marine sediments and in some cases small volcanic island arcs that were not subducted.

[edit] References

• http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/glossary.php?term=accretionary%20wedge Visual Glossary - accretionary wedge United States Geological Survey