Abstract A simple geometrical explanation is provided for the distribution of the well-known architectural zonation across fully developed magma-poor margins (e.g. , limited crustal stretching, extreme crustal thinning, exhumed mantle, ultraslow or normal “Penrose” oceanic crust). This zonation is observed along the lengths of many margins on the super-regional scale. Diachronous development of the oceanic crust, younging towards the rift tip, indicates that at the plate tectonic scale break-up occurred on these margins by rift propagation. At the local to regional scale propagation occurs by progressive opening of segments. Because the relative motion of crust adjacent to a rift segment can be described by an Euler pole, the local linear plate separation rate can be interpreted as a function of distance to that pole. In turn, plate separation rates influence the architectural zonation and ultimately the degree of melt generation. Within each rift segment, the rift tip propagates by “unzipping” the hyperextended continental crust. A stepwise migration of Euler poles must occur in order for a large continent to break up, leading in turn to faster linear rates and attendant melt generation/oce-anization at margin segments that have become more distal. Although this conceptual rifting model primarily explains magma-poor rift architecture, it may also apply to magma-rich margins. The latter may form when continents break apart at a high extension rate following rapid propagation (e.g. , a long-distance pole jump). Both rifted margin types can be viewed as end members of the same process, firmly rooted in geometric requirements of plate tectonics.