Abstract
Studies in the field of organic geochemistry started in the early 1930's and have history of more than 50 years. During this period, many progresses have been made. The primary purpose of these studies has been to obtain knowledge concerning to the distribution of organic compounds and their fate in various sedimentary rocks through the earth's history. Of these, many have focused on the constituents of petroleum and former life. Almost all of the organic compounds in the earth's crust are either remnants of or transformed compounds from past biological matter. Therefore, the origin and development of life on earth are one of the most important events that characterized species of organic compounds in organic geochemistry. Some organic compounds of the early Archean sediments have been reported, but more studies are needed for those early ages of earth. Ages of organic compounds often become the central problem. Progress in the determination of these ages is being made by the studies of racemization of amino acids in fossils shells. Some other problems to be improved on the studies of organic geochemistry are also discussed.
