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Analytical Methods

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Organic Geochemistry

Abstract

Organic geochemists from varying backgrounds focus several specialities on the analysis of geological samples in order to reach conclusions on the nature of the components present in a rock or sediment, their fate since burial, and the original form of the material in a living organism. The complexity of compounds extracted from rock and sediment specimens requires the discipline of analytical chemistry with the assistance of modern instrumentation for good results and meaningful conclusions. The kinds and relative weights of various component classes in a geological sample provide the specific data on which the geochemist infers the history of a sample. Any valid conclusion depends upon the accuracy and reliability of the methods employed in the analysis. The geochemist attempts to discover how much is present before stating how come it is present in the sample. Often it is important to know the quantity of a component before any interpretation is made on how it is possible for the compound to be present in the specimen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Saint Joseph College, West Hartford, Connecticut, USA

    M. T. J. Murphy

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  1. M. T. J. Murphy
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Bristol, Bristol, England

    Geoffrey Eglinton

  2. St. Joseph College, Hartford, Connecticut, USA

    Mary T. J. Murphy (Sister) (Sister)

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© 1969 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Murphy, M.T.J. (1969). Analytical Methods. In: Eglinton, G., Murphy, M.T.J. (eds) Organic Geochemistry. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-87734-6_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-87734-6_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-87736-0

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