Abstract: To objectively evaluate the exploration potential of shale gas in Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation,northwestern Hunan,the gas production material base of shale gas were investigated by the data of outcrops,organic geochemistry,etc.The results showed that black shale thickness can be from a few tens of meters to more than 200 meters.The development and distribution of the black shale thickness was controlled by sedimentary facies zone,showing agradually decreasing tendency from the water-deep continental shelf facies to the slope facies.The total organic carbon(TOC)contents of the black shale were 5.46 percent on average in the study area,and more than 8percent on average near the hydrothermal vents.There was a positive correlation between the total organic carbon contents of the black shale on the waterdeep continental shelf and both quartz mineral contents and clay mineral contents.While on the slope area,there was a positive correlation between the total organic carbon contents of the black shale and quartz mineral contents and a negative correlation between the total organic carbon contents of the black shale and clay mineral contents.The relationship between TOC and mineral compositions in the mud-shale indicated that quartz and clay mineral contents can indicate the abundance degree of the organic matters.The equivalent vitrinite reflectance of the black shale was more than 3% on average,indicating they were overmature.Kerogen from the black shale was Ⅰand Ⅱ₁.It is not hard to find that the shale gas in Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation,northwestern Hunan,has good gas production material base.