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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.

Organic Geochemistry: Methods and Results

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.