Cyril Ponnamperuma 
Chemical Evolution of the Early Precambrian [PDF ebook] 

Chemical Evolution of the Early Precambrian is a collection of papers presented at the Second College Park Colloquium on Chemical Evolution, held at the University of Maryland in October 1975. The book presents the discussions on the processes that led to the beginning of life on earth based on information gathered from the study of the Early Precambrian period. Topics on the origin of the atmosphere; early Precambrian weathering and sedimentation; carbon contents of early Precambrian rocks; and the establishment of the earliest date in the Precambrian period at which unambiguous living forms existed are expounded in the text. Geologists, biologists, chemists, paleobiologists, and students will find the book insightful and interesting.