The submerged margin of the continent adjacent to the United States is an asset of great importance to the nation. In the aggregate it is a most promising frontier for exploration and development of mineral resources.

The continental margin, considered here to extend

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from the coastline to a depth of about 2,500 m, covers an area of about 1.4 million sq mi, approximately a third as large as the land area of the United States. However, knowledge of the geologic framework of this vast area is rudimentary, to say the least.

In broadest terms we know of a great prism of relatively undisturbed sedimentary rocks off the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts in contrast to a group of narrow basins of sedimentary rocks off the Pacific coast of California and Alaska. The Bering Sea and Arctic coast of Alaska also are underlain by thick accumulations of sedimentary rocks. With a total volume of about 2.5 million cu mi, these sedimentary provinces have a geologic composition, regional geologic framework, and tectonic setting that leave little doubt of a recoverable resource in excess of 100 billion bbl of petroleum liquids and 300 trillion cu ft of gas; and perhaps even in excess of 200 billion bbl of petroleum and 1,000 trillion cu ft of gas. Resources in place are many times greater than these recoverable estimat s. Other known resources are salt dome sulfur on the order of several million tons, sand and gravel, shell, phosphorite, and a variety of placer deposits.

To develop these resources to the outer limit of the continental margin for the benefit of the economy of the United States will involve resolution of the worldwide problem of the seaward extent of the jurisdiction of maritime nations. It also will require geologic studies of the offshore areas infinitely more intensive than the studies of the past and the application of continually advancing techniques, both for exploration and ultimate development of the resources. Vision and bold action will be the guidelines.

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