现代地质与地球物理资料充分证明,大陆与大洋的本质区别不限于地壳,并下延至上地慢一定深度。大陆与大洋之间的大陆边缘,无论是现代或过去都是沉积、构造、岩浆、变质和成矿等作用最为活跃和丰富多采的地段。因而大陆边缘的研究不仅有助于阐明大陆、大洋相互关系及岩石圈的演化规律,而且对地震、火山、能源及其他矿产的找寻有着重要的实践意义。 Modern geological and geophysical data have fully proved that the essential difference between the mainland and the oceans is not limited to the crust and extends slowly downwards to a certain depth. The continental margin between the mainland and the ocean is the most active and richly-populated area of ​​sedimentary, tectonic, magmatic, metamorphic and metallogenic formations, both modern and past. Therefore, the research on the continental margin not only helps to clarify the interrelationship between the mainland and the ocean and the evolution of the lithosphere, but also has important practical significance for the search of earthquakes, volcanoes, energy sources and other minerals.