Samples from three Black Sea coring sites (1461, 1462, and 1474), recovered by the R/V Atlantis II on a cruise in the spring of 1969, have been analyzed for their solvent-soluble organic matter. The organic carbon content of these samples ranges from less than 1 percent to about 20 percent; significant amounts of carbonate, terrigenous clays, and terrestrial organic detritus are present. Up to 2.5 percent of the samples is solvent extractable, and the extracts consist mainly of carboxylic acids and hydrocarbons, some with large amounts of elemental sulfur. The carboxylic acids range from n-C₁₂ to n-C₃₂, with an even predominance, and minor amounts of monounsaturated carboxylic acids are present. The hydrocarbons consist of mainly normal alka es, C_nH_2n+2, where n = 15-33, with an odd predominance; isoprenoidal hydrocarbons--mainly phytadienes, phytane, and pristane; and a series of isoalkanes. In the high-resolution mass spectrometric and GC/MS data, there also were indications for the presence of steroidal and triterpenoidal compounds. The carbon-rich sample from the 40-cm level at site 1461 yielded an extract consisting mainly of sterols and fatty acids. Its hydrocarbon content is predominantly olefinic alkanes and polycyclic material.