One of four volumes which provides a good understanding of the mode of occurrence, geological setting and phosphogenesis of the world's phosphate resources.

The origin of marine phosphorites, the principal raw material for phosphatic fertilizers, appears to be related mainly to marine biological productivity, often associated with upwelling currents during certain intervals of geological time. This book examines the environmental setting and resulting phosphorites which formed during the Miocene period, and investigations of modern oceanic environments where phosphorites are presently forming are also described.

This book is an important contribution to the scientific understanding of phosphate deposits.