For many years, the subject matter encompassed by the title of this book was largely limited to those who were interested in the two most economically important organic materials found buried in the Earth, namely, coal and petroleum. The point of view of any discussions which might occur, either in scientific meetings or in books that have been written, was, therefore, dominated largely by these interests. A great change has occurred in the last decade. This change had as its prime mover our growing knowledge of the molecular architecture of biological systems which, in turn, gave rise to a more legitimate asking of the question: "How did life come to be on the surface of the Earth?" A second motivation arose when the possibilities for the exploration of planets other than the Earth-the moon, Mars, and other parts of the solar system-became a reality. Thus the question of the possible existence of life elsewhere than on Earth conceivably could be answered.

1 Introduction

2 Organic Geochemistry. The Organic Chemist's Approach
3 Analytical Methods
4 Mass Spectrometry in Organic Geochemistry
5 Gas Chromatography
Addendum
6 Isolation Procedures for Kerogens and Associated Soluble Organic Materials
7 Paleobiochemistry
8 Fossilization Processes
Addendum
9 Introduction to Sedimentology
10 Organic Matter in Sediments
11 GeomicrobioIogy and Geomicrobiological Attack on Sedimented Organic Matter
12 Biogeochemistry of Stable Carbon Isotopes
13 Hydrocarbons - Saturated, Unsaturated and Aromatic
14 Fatty Acids and Alcohols
15 Fossil Carbohydrates
Addendum
16 Terpenoids - Especially Oxygenated Mono-, Sesqui-, Di- and Triterpenes
Addendum
17 Carotenoids
18 Geochemistry of Proteins, Peptides, and Amino Acids
Addendum
19 Porphyrins
20 Fossil Shell 'Conchiolin' and Other Preserved Biopolymers
Addendum
21 Organic Compounds in the Gas-Inclusions of Fluorspars and Feldspars
22 Chemistry of Humic Acids and Related Pigments
23 Soil Lipids
24 Earth Waxes, Peat, Montan Wax and Other Organic Brown Coal Constituents
Addendum
25 Kauri Resins - Modern and Fossil
26 Kerogen of the Green River Formation
27 Crude Petroleum
28 Fundamental Aspects of the Generation of Petroleum
29 Organic Geochemistry of Coal
30 Pre-Paleozoic Sediments and Their Significance for Organic Geochemistry
31 Organic Derivatives of Clay Minerals, Zeolites, and Related Minerals.