Different levels of ensimatic island-arc accretion

Abstract

The possible scenarios of accretion of ancient ensimatic island arcs in the eastern and western frameworks of the Pacific Ocean are discussed. It is concluded that the accretion of ensimatic island arcs can occur at both the lithospheric and crustal (upper crustal) levels. In the case of lithospheric accretion, the subduction zone is jammed and the island-arc edifice is attached to the continent. During crustal-level accretion, the subduction of the lithosphere that underlies the island arc can develop further, thereby leading to the formation of a suprasubduction volcanic-plutonic belt at the continental margin.