Keywords: 
• secondary hydrocarbon generation /
• thermal evolution /
• marine source rocks /
• effectiveness evaluation /
• Southern North China

Abstract: Many of the Chinese basins are characterized by multicyclic superimposition of basins, and secondary or multiple hydrocarbon generation may occur in the multi-stage thermal evolutionary history of the basins. The Southern North China region is located at the north edge of the East Qinling-Dabie Mountain structural belt, as the south part of the North China plate. Mesozoic and Cenozoic superimposed basins are developed on the basement of the North China Platform. In the Sinian-Triassic united craton basins, marine source rocks, mainly argillaceous rocks, were well developed. The geochemical characteristics of source rocks and their bearing on hydrocarbon evolution must be considered for effective evaluation of marine source rocks. As to the Cui Zhuang Group and Liu Lao Bei Group of the Qingbaikou System, hydrocarbon generation area goes in northwest-southeast direction along the southern border of the Southern North China, with medium organic matter abundance, high evolution degree and limited late hydrocarbon potential. The Lower Paleozoic source rocks were developed in Dong Po Group /Yu Tai Shan Group at the bottom of Cambrian. However, the hydrocarbon generation area was mainly distributed in the southeast part of Southern North China. The source rocks are thick and high in organic matter with effective secondary hydrocarbon generation potential and better hydrocarbon prospecting.