This volume contains a selection of papers presented to the Fourth International Symposium on Environmental Biogeochemistry (ISEB), and a conference on Biogeochemistry in Relation to Mining Industry and Environmental Pollution (Leaching Conferenc, held in Canberra, Aust ralia on August 26-31 and September 3-4, 1979, respectively. The ISEB were established to provide "a forum for uninhibited exchange of information and ideas among the biological, chemical, atmospheric and geolopical scientists working in the common area of biogeochemistry, encompassing soil and other earth sciences as weIL as the hydrosphere and atmosphere," By linking the fourth ISEB with the Leachinp Conference the scop.e of discussions was extended to encompass the application of biogeochemical processes to the mining industry. This wide-ranging philosophy is reflected in the breadth and diversity of the subjects covered in this book. The published papers are expanded versions of those presented at the meetings. They have all been scrutinized by at least one referee in addition to the editors. About 20% of the contributions to the meetings are not included, either because authors did not wish to publish or because the papers were not accepted by the editors."

This volume contains a selection of papers presented to the Fourth Internation l Symposium on Environmental Biogeochemistry (ISEB), and a conference on Biogeochemistry in Relation to Mining Industry and Environmental Pollution (Leaching Conference), held in Canberra, Aust ralia on August 26-31 and September 3-4, 1979, respectively. The ISEB were established to provide "a forum for uninhibited exchange of information and ideas among the biological, chemical, atmospheric and geolorical scientists working in the common area of biogeochemistry, encompassing soil and other earth sciences as well as the hydrosphere and atmosphere," By linking the fourth ISEB with the Leachin Conference the scope of discussions was extended to encompass the application of biogeochemical processes to the mining industry. This wide-ranging philosophy is reflected in the breadth and diversity of the subjects covered in this book. The published papers are expanded versions of those presented at the meetings. They have all been scrutinized by at least one referee in addition to the editors. About 20% of the contributions to the meetings are not included, either because authors did not wish to publish or because the papers were not accepted by the editors."

Inorganic compounds of sulphur are widely found in living organisms, and are involved in steroid metabolism, diseases of the central nervous system, soil fertility, and the evolution of life. The importance of sulphur biochemistry, when this book was first published in 1970, had, however, only recently become apparent: this text brings together the scattered literature of the subject, and provides a balanced account of what was known. The enzymes concerned with the activation and transfer of sulphur groups are dealt with first. This is followed by a discussion of the metabolism of sulphur compounds in micro-organisms, animals, and plants. The clinical chemistry of sulphur and the economic importance of sulphur metabolism are considered; chapters on the chemistry, preparation and analysis of sulphur compounds are included. There is a guide to the nomenclature of the compounds.