Abstract: The authors discuss the geochemical characteristics and genesis of the Dalianhe oil shale in both the coal and the oil shale members. The oil shale in the two members are quite similar in geochemistry in that both are of high percentage of SiO₂, Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃ (middle to difficult lava silicon ash ), ratios of Mn/Ti less than 0.1, Sr/Ba between 0.1 and 0.5 and V/Ni between 2.6 and 7.0. The organic styles are mainly composed of sapropel humus. OEP values of nalkanes are between 1.55 and 3.67, showing outstanding odd carbon number distribution, with nC₂₃ and nC₂₉ as the highest peaks. Average Pr/Ph ratio is up to 2.30, indicating pristine dominance. Pr/nC₁₇ ratios are between 1.18 and 3.20. All these characteristics reflect the oil shale in the two members are deposited in a fresh water, lakeswamp, alongshore and lower oxygen and anoxic environment condition. The parent material styles from the coal member are richer in hydrogenous component related to wetnesslike flora, which is the main reason for the quality difference of the oil shale in the two members.

Key words: Dalianhe, oil shale, inorganic elements, organic matter type, saturated hydrocarbon, genesis