Based on the results of exploration carried out from 2003 to 2017, oil shales from different areas of the Permian Lucaogou Formation in the Junggar Basin in the northern Bogda Mountains, Northwest China were comparatively investigated, their resources were summarized and development potential was analyzed. The layer of oil shale in the central region of the study area is the thickest, with the greatest cumulative thickness of 198.75 m, while in the western and eastern regions the layer is relatively thin, 66.18 m and 130.00 m, respectively. The total organic carbon (TOC) content of oil shale is 5–35 wt%, whereas the average TOC of oil shale in the central and eastern regions is higher than that in the western region. Based on Hydrogen Index (HI)-Tmax and Pyrolytic Hydrocarbon (S2)-TOC diagrams, the organic matter type of oil shale in the central region is mainly I, and in the western and eastern regions mostly II1–II2 and I–II1, respectively. In the plane of the whole northern Bogda Mountains, the oil yield of oil shale greatly varies, and the quality of oil shale in the central region is the highest. Of all the studied samples, those with an oil yield ω > 5 wt% account for 70%. Oil shale resources in the study area total 55.241 billion tons (identified resources are 3.921 billion tons), while converted shale oil resources form 5.293 billion tons. Of the 55.241 billion tons, oil shale resources with an oil yield higher than 5 wt% account for 97.26%. Analysis shows that the Yaomoshan Mountain mining area has the greatest development potential, followed by the Lucaogou and Shanghuangshanjie-Panjiazikou mining areas.
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