Accreted Terrane of Alaska - Public Domain image, National Parks Galle...
A terrane accretion is the result of sediment and rocks piling onto a plate at a convergent boundary. This is a cross-sectional view of southern Alaska's accreted terrane.
Grocery Store Tectonics (1 of 5) Without Labels
A grocery store checkout counter can be used to demonstrate the gradual growth of a continent via terrane accretion. The conveyer belt represents the oceanic plate subducting beneath the continental plate. The ... More
Grocery Store Tectonics (2 of 5)
A grocery store checkout counter can be used to demonstrate the gradual growth of a continent via terrane accretion. The conveyer belt represents the oceanic plate subducting beneath the continental plate. The ... More
Grocery Store Tectonics (5 of 5)
A grocery store checkout counter can be used to demonstrate the gradual growth of a continent via terrane accretion. The conveyer belt represents the oceanic plate subducting beneath the continental plate. The ... More
Grocery Store Tectonics (4 of 5)
A grocery store checkout counter can be used to demonstrate the gradual growth of a continent via terrane accretion. The conveyer belt represents the oceanic plate subducting beneath the continental plate. The ... More
Grocery Store Tectonics (3 of 5)
A grocery store checkout counter can be used to demonstrate the gradual growth of a continent via terrane accretion. The conveyer belt represents the oceanic plate subducting beneath the continental plate. The ... More
Closing the Iapetus Ocean - Public Domain image, National Parks Galler...
The Appalachian Mountains formed from terrane accretion and the collision of Gondwanaland with ancient North America as the Iapetus Ocean closed. Note that Shenandoah National Park lies within the state of Virg... More
Terrane Accretion in Southern Alaska
Lines with double arrows show approximate extent of National Park Service sites with respect to the various terranes. NP = National Park; NM = National Monument; NPres = National Preserve. The line of cross sec... More
Grocery Store Tectonics (1 of 5) Labeled
A grocery store checkout counter can be used to demonstrate the gradual growth of a continent via terrane accretion. The conveyer belt represents the oceanic plate subducting beneath the continental plate. The ... More
Continents Grow Outward by Terrane Accretion
In the digram, an oceanic island or continental fragment (incoming terrane) approaches a subduction zone, where it will eventually attach (accrete) to the edge of the continent. An active volcanic arc develops ... More
Western U. S. Terrane Accretion
The yellow and green shows material added (accreted) to the western edge of North America during the past 200 million years. The North American Craton refers to the continent that existed prior to that time. Ro... More
Convergent Plate Boundary Development—Terrane Accretion (2 of 3)
Oceanic islands and continental fragments approaching the subduction zone are too thick and buoyant to subduct. Instead, they attach to the edge of the continent as accreted terranes.
NPS Sites in Alaska - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
The terrane accretion that built Alaska onto the rest of North America over the past 200 million years includes the continental collision that formed the Brooks Range in the northern part of the state. The Nort... More
NPS Sites in Alaska - Public domain geographic map
Shaded relief map showing NPS Sites in Alaska. NP = National Park; NM = National Monument; NPres = National Preserve. Letters in ovals refer to park names in Accreted Terrane zone. C–C’ is the line of the simpl... More