Advances in Organic Geochemistry

Book excerpt: Advances in Organic Geochemistry is a collection of proceedings presented at the Third International Congress on Organic Geochemistry held in London on September 26-28, 1966. The papers explore advances in organic geochemistry and cover a wide range of topics, from carbon isotope variations in marine sediments to hydrogen isotopic fractionation of water passing through trees. Correlation problems among crude oils and the origin of trace metal enrichment in bituminous shales are also discussed. Comprised of 34 chapters, this volume begins by presenting the results of a carbon isotope study on methane from German coal deposits, followed by an analysis of the significance of carbon isotope variations in marine sediments. Subsequent chapters deal with the geochemical aspects of the occurrence of porphyrins in mineral oils and rocks in West Venezuela; pentacyclic triterpanes from petroleum; geochemical prospecting for petroleum; and the geochemical significance of pore fluid in shales. The nitrogenous constituents of deep-sea sediments are also considered, along with transformations of normal fatty acids in sediments and thermal alteration of organic matter in sediments. This book will be of interest to organic chemists and geochemists.