The transition from rifting to spreading occurs by yet poorly understood processes. The geological structures and processes of continental break-up are difficult to address because: 1) paucity of modern data from the Continent-Ocean Transition (COT), which are generally located under deep water and thick piles of sediment and 2) undefined variability in the nature of COT, composition, geometry and scale among margins.

We encourage contributions that present observations and/or numerical/analog/conceptual models focused on continental break-up processes, formation of COT and their transition to stable seafloor spreading. We particularly welcome presentations of break-up crustal structure and COTs, sediment dynamic processes and significance of regional unconformities, deformation modes of mantle exhumation, new concepts of lithospheric extension and faulting (continental and/or oceanic styles), the generation of the first oceanic crust and the transition to mid-ocean ridges, relations of melting and extension in these settings, and contributions that integrate comparisons of continental-oceanic settings.