An accretionary prism is:

A) a wedge-shaped zone of faults, folds, and metamorphosed rocks formed along the upper parts of a subduction zone as material is scraped off
B) an active volcanic arc created by the subduction of one slab of ocean-crust-capped lithosphere beneath another
C) a sedimentary basin formed between a mountain range and the continental interior
D) a triangular-shaped sedimentary structure that allows light to pass through it and into lower areas of the crust

Wedge-Shaped Zone

A geological area characterized by its wedge or triangular shape, often indicating tectonic activity or sediment accrual at plate boundaries.

Accretionary Prism

A geological structure formed by the accumulation of sedimentary and oceanic plate material scraped off a subducting plate, typically found at convergent plate boundaries.

Metamorphosed Rocks

Rocks that have undergone a transformation in mineralogy, texture, or chemical composition due to exposure to high pressures and temperatures.