Abstract: According to distribution characteristics and combination forms, evolution and formation mechanism of clay mineral, the application and the effect of clay mineral in stratigraphic correlation and reservoir physical property were discussed.The results revealed that clay minerals and their combination characteristics formed in Jurassic and Cretaceous offered proper evidence for stratigraphic classification and correlation; there is no obvious vertical variation of content of montmorillonite between illite and montmorillonite layer in mudstone ;clay mineral combination dominated by kaolinite and authigenic(illite and montmorillonite interlayer mineral)and sedimentary(illite)clay minerals have distinct effect on physical property of reservoir, and are favourable for preservation of reservoir property.

Key words: Tarim basin, Clay mineral, Stratigraphic classification, Stratigraphic correlation, Diagenetic evolution, Reservoir