Abstract: The sedimentary environment,source thickness and geochemical characteristics in the Jurassic coal-bearing basin, northwestern China were examined and compared with several most famous coal-formed oil-bearing basins in the world. This paper puts forward three indicators of geologic evaluation for preliminary coal-formed oil prospecting in the Jurassic coal-bearing basin, northwestern China, namely, conventional geochemical evaluation indicator,indicators for sedimentary thickness,structural evolution and source maturity, and sequence stratigraphic indicator of source rock in the basin, based on sequence stratigraphy of coal-bearing formation, thickness of coal measure and mudstone, source thickness in geologic history, and present overlying formation thickness.

Key words: China, Northwester area, Jurassic, Coal basin, Coal-formed oil, Exploration, Geologic evaluation, Indicator