akkresjonært

Akkresjonært is a Norwegian adjective describing phenomena, processes or material related to accretion, the growth or buildup of material through gradual addition. The term comes from the Latin accretio and is widely used in geoscience language. In a broader sense, akkresjon can refer to growth by attachment of particles or material in various natural settings.

In geology, akkresjonært refers especially to processes at subduction zones where one tectonic plate sinks beneath another. Sediments and fragments from the downgoing plate are scraped off and incorporated into the overriding plate, forming akkresjonære strukturer such as wedges or prisms. These structures typically comprise layered sediments, including turbidites and mélanges, and are characterized by extensive faulting and mixed composition that records growth by accretion.

Akkresjonære prismer at subduksjonssoner influence mountain-building, seismicity, and resource distribution along continental margins. Notable examples are found along the margins framing the Pacific Ocean, including Japan and nearby regions, as well as parts of the Cascadia margin. Beyond geology, akkresjonært can be used more generally to describe growth by addition of material in other fields, but in Norwegian it is most commonly tied to geologic accretionary processes.