This book examines recent advances in the study of geochemical biomarkers, more commonly known as molecular fossils. These advances cover a wide range of applications including formation of different ranks of coals, the diagenetic fate of biological compounds in natural waters, the characterization of depositional environments of petroleum source rocks and the classification of precursor organisms by their molecular fossil remnants. In addition, this volume contains the most extensive collection of material on geochemical markers of the continental basins of China yet to appear in the Western literature.