The first volume in this new text book series covers comprehensively relevant aspects related to the appearance and characterisation of fossil matter in the geosphere such as kerogen, oil, shales and coals. As organic geochemistry is a modern scientific subject characterized by a high transdisciplinarity and located at the edge of chemistry, environmental sciences, geology and biology, there clearly is a need for a flexible offer of appropriate academic teaching material on an undergraduat level addressed to the variety of students coming originally from different study disciplines. For such a flexible usage this textbook series' consists of different volumes with clear defined aspects and with manageable length.
"Fossil Matter in the Geosphere ... lays the groundwork and introduces students to the main types of organic matter, its chemical composition, how to characterize it, and the basics of its formation. The text is well written and appropriate for upper-division undergraduates or first-year graduate students. Each chapter starts with keywords, features highlighted boxes of important facts and information, and ends with references. ... Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and graduate students." (M. E. Lenczewski, Choice, Vol. 53 (5), January, 2016)