Abstract: The diversity of coal basins and the late intensive reformation of coal series were the remarkable characteristics of Chinese coalfield geology.To guide th e orientation of searching coal resources and value of coal exploitation and utilization, the coalfield structure research was finished works in the coal resources potentia I evaluation of China.In this paper, new thought of coalfield structures research in coal resources potential evaluation was introduced.The main research contents could be summarized in several aspects, including regional geological setting, structural framework and distribution law, tectonic origin and evaluation, tectonic control of coa I.In accordance with the complex conditions of coal field geological structure and the significant deformation of coal-measures, the paper suggested the concepts of coa I occurrence tectonic units defined as the tectonic division of coal-measures occurrence with double meaning of tectonic units and coal occurrence units.The coalfield st ructure characteristics of five coal occurrence districts were summarized, which supplied the dependable geological basement for coal resources exploration and develo pment layout planning in China.