accretion tectonics

accretion tectonics

[ə′krē·shən tek′tän·iks]

(geology)

The bringing together, or suturing, of terranes; regarded by many geologists as an important mechanism of continental growth. Also known as accretion.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.