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In May of 1991, Victor Van Buren, who was then with Springer Verlag in New York City, asked us for timely topics in the earth sciences that would be appropriate for publication as a book. We all quickly agreed that recent interest and research activity on the role of organic acids in geological processes would make a timely book on this diverse and controversial topic. As coeditors, we outlined chapter topics for such a book that maintained a good balance between geological and geochemical interests. Specific authors were then sought for each of the chapter topics. We had exceptional success in getting leading researchers as authors, and their response was universally enthusiastic. This approach has been most gratifying in that it provides a cohesion and conciseness that is not always present in books representing compilations of papers from symposia. This book does not resolve the controver sies that exist regarding the significance of organic acids in geolog ical processes. However, it does present both sides of the controver sies in terms of available data and current interpretations. Readers may judge for themselves and envisage research necessary to resolve these controversies in the future. We thank the authors of this book for their participation, dedication, and cooperation. We are also grateful for support from Dr. Wolfgang Engel and his staff at Springer-Verlag (Heidelberg) in expediting the editing and publication of this book in a timely manner.
