Which mechanism causes the formation of an accretionary wedge at a subduction zone?

💡 Explanation

When an oceanic plate subducts, sediment bulldozing by the overriding plate occurs because surface materials are scraped off creating a build-up material in front of the overriding plate and near the subduction trench region. Therefore a wedge of material results, rather than mantle upwelling, crustal extension, or magmatic intrusions which correspond to alternative geological processes.

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