Final answer:
Continental accretion is the process by which continents grow through the addition of new material. During the Archean, this occurred through the collision and merging of smaller land masses, leading to the formation of larger continents like the Superior craton in North America.
Step-by-step explanation:
Continental Accretion and its occurrence during the Archean:
Continental accretion is the process by which continents grow through the addition of new material, such as volcanic islands or smaller continental fragments.
During the Archean, continental accretion occurred through the collision and merging of smaller land masses.
An example of continental accretion during the Archean is the formation of the Superior craton in North America.
This craton is composed of several smaller land masses that collided and merged, gradually building up the continent over millions of years.
Overall, the Archean was a time of intense tectonic activity and continental growth, with continental accretion playing a crucial role in shaping the early Earth's land masses.