Rifting is a complex process that spans from the inception of lithospheric extension through continental rupture and the onset of oceanic spreading, or alternatively to the formation of a failed rift. This session aims to combine new data, concepts and techniques elucidating the structure and dynamics of rifts and rifted margins, and to investigate how continental extension evolves into, or fails to evolve into, a new plate boundary and oceanic spreading system.

We invite submissions addressing the time-dependent evolution and interactions of processes including faults and ductile shear zones development, tectonic and sedimentary history, magma migration, storage and volcanism, lithospheric necking and rift strength loss, influence of lithospheric inheritance, rift kinematics and plate motion, mantle flow and dynamic topography, as well as continental break-up and the transition to oceanic seafloor spreading.

We welcome multidisciplinary and innovative approaches using field geology, geochronology, geochemistry, petrology, seismology, geodesy, marine geophysics, plate reconstruction, or numerical or analogue modelling.

Emphasis will be given to presentations that bridge spatial and temporal scales and integrate insights from active rifts, passive margins, nascent oceanic domains, and failed rift arms.