Summary: GEOLOGY, May 2010 459
INTRODUCTION
Forearc accretionary complexes are a fun-
damental element of convergent plate margins,
and their presence in the geologic record is one
of the best indicators of past subduction. Forearc
accretion is also one of the most significant
mechanisms for the growth of continental crust
aside from arc magmatism. It is now known that
most subduction zones experience long periods
of tectonic erosion as well as accretion (von
Huene and Scholl, 1991; Clift and Vannucchi,
2004; Vannucchi et al., 2004, 2008; von Huene
et al., 2004; Clift et al., 2009). Tectonic accretion
alternating with erosion has been documented in
Costa Rica and in the northern Apennines (Van-
nucchi et al., 2003, 2008), but the triggers for
switching from one tectonic regime to the other
remain controversial.
Studies of accretionary complexes have been

Source: Amato, Jeff - Department of Geological Sciences, New Mexico State University

Collections: Geosciences