Passive continental margins form after extension, rifting, and break-up of a continent. The styles of passive margin formation can show large variability in speed of rifting, obliquity of opening, development of onshore-to-offshore topography and bathymetry, tectonic structures, basement geometries, sedimentary systems, and margin width. In addition, passive margins are not necessarily 'passive' in terms of their deformation and even mature margins can be sites of active movements, faulting, and volcanism.

With this session we aim to discuss a wide spectrum of processes related to rifted margins, from the initial localisation to extension, through rifting and continental break-up, to deformation aspects of their mature stages. We would like to bring together insights from a broad range of disciplines, such as for example, seismic, seismological, geological, geophysical, sedimentological, and modelling techniques. Questions that we envisage addressing include, but are not limited to:
* What is the role of structural inheritance for the evolution of rifting?
* How do we produce wide versus narrow margin systems?
* What are the tectonic structures and basement geometries produced by the various rift phases?
* How do serpentinisation and underplating affect margin structures?
* How can we better define break-up?
* What is the role of onshore erosion and offshore sedimentation?
* Can we unravel the interaction between erosion, relief, drainage organisation, and the stratigraphic record of sedimentary basins?
* What is the post-break-up evolution of rifted margins?

We are happy to announce our invited presenters!
Garry Karner (Exxon Mobil Upstream Research Co.)
Jolante van Wijk (University of Houston, USA)