Abstract: The hydrocarbon source rocks in coal measures are important gas-generating resource matrix.However,due to the rhythm and the cyclicity,coal measures show the variability of short time and sequence,resulting in stacked multi-layers in hydrocarbon source rocks of coal measures.The gas formed in hydrocarbon source rocks of coal measures has various names.The confused conception has caused many difficulties in resource exploration and evaluation.Based on geology and mineral economics,from the relationship between the conception and the genesis of gas in hydrocarbon source rock of coal measures,the paper carried out research on unconventional natural gas by taking it as a system,revealed the time and space coupling relationship among coalification,tectonism and geological environments,explored the control action of regional geological setting and evolution of gas formation in coal measures,forming the unique path for research and evaluation of the gas resources in coal measures.