Structural, Tectonic, and Magmatic Evolution of Rifted Continental Margins

Dear Colleagues,

More than half of the Earth’s continental margins are classified as passive, rifted continental margins. These formed by rifting and eventual continental breakup, leaving a complex and variable transition from continental to oceanic lithosphere.

Although rifted continental margins have been studied for decades, many aspects of their evolution are inconclusively studied and poorly constrained, with questions surrounding, for example, the role of magmatism, continent–ocean boundaries/transitions, onshore histories, and structural inheritance still unanswered.

We invite contributions studying rifted margins covering a wide range of scales and methods. This may include but is not limited to studies of the lithosphere–asthenosphere system, crust and lithosphere structure and deformation, sedimentary basins, surface processes, landscape evolution, vertical motions, intraplate deformation, as well as rift-related magmatism at all depths. Methods and approaches may include geomorphology, geochronological and geothermometrical techniques, sedimentology and stratigraphy, rock mechanics, structural geology, geophysics, geochemistry, petrology, and numerical modeling across the scales. We also welcome studies of rifted margins bordering marine basins with transitional or unknown lithospheric affinity (e.g., Baffin Bay, Canada Basin, Black Sea), “proto-oceanic” basins (e.g., the Northern Red Sea), and failed rifts (e.g., the North Sea), as well as onshore analogue studies of rifted margins (e.g., Alpine Tethys, Iapetus, Rheic margins).

Dr. Christian Schiffer
Dr. Alexander Peace
Dr. Scott Jess
Guest Editors

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