Frontispiece. Seismic reflection profiles from the flanks of the Demerara Rise. A. High-resolution profile acquired during Meteor site survey M49-4, showing the shallow stratigraphy of Leg 207 target sediments (mid-Cretaceous and younger). B. Industry reflection profile showing faulted and folded Early Cretaceous synrift sediments overlain by mid-Cretaceous and younger sediments. Horizon C is a significant regional unconformity that marks the transition from synrift deposition and trans-tensional tectonics during the opening of the equatorial Atlantic to hemipelagic and pelagic deposition that includes Cretaceous and Paleogene critical intervals that are the focus of Leg 207. Horizon B´ relates to the top of the Cretaceous black shale sequence, and Horizon B correlates to the K/T boundary. Horizon A is an early Miocene erosional unconformity that removed much of the Neogene succession from the flanks of the Demerara Rise.