In China

shales are widely distributed

continuous in time and complex in space. In this paper

the distribution of shales in the North China

South China and Tarim Plates are systematically sorted out and discussed. The Middle and Upper Proterozoic shales are dominated by marine facies with some continental facies

of which the littoral-neritic to neritic shelf

marine and continental moraine shales are developed

and the field shale sections are characterized by the distribution on the edges of different paleoplates. The Lower Paleozoic shales are dominated by marine facies

with the development of open shelf to neritic shelf shales

which are mainly distributed in the South China Plate and the Tarim Plate. The Upper Paleozoic shales which are dominated by marine-continental transitional facies and locally by marine and continental facies have the largest development and distribution in China. The Mesozoic and Cenozoic shale types are diverse but dominated by continental facies. The Mesozoic shales are mainly developed longitudinally along Yunnan

Sichuan and Shanxi and latitudinally from Xinjiang to Heilongjiang via Shanxi

while the Cenozoic shales are primarily developed in the eastern and western sides of the North China Plate. The plate margins

fold belts and complex tectonic activity areas exert an important impact on the distribution of shales. The ancient trough has a significant influence on the shale deposition

so do the depositional environment on the shale components

and the components on the weathering resistance of field shale sections. The development of field shale sections in different epochs and regions are affected by multi-factors

and each has specific geological characteristics. Shale in sections can be divided as manganese

siliceous

calcite or dolomite

silty

carbonaceous

coal and mixed types

in which carbonaceous shale can occur in various sections. Manganese shale is primarily developed in the strata before Middle Permian in South China Plate

while siliceous shale is mainly found in the open shelf facies

coal-type shale is developed later and mainly deposited in the marine-continental transitional facies and continental facies

The silty

calcite or dolomite shales are widely distributed. Each type of shale has specific epochal and regional distribution characteristics

so a systematic review of the shale strata in China could be helpful for the discovery for more shale gas in new strata or new areas.