Abstract: There are three genetic types of attapulgite elay minerals in Jiangsu-Anhui area i. e. sedimentary, weathering and altered volcano-clastic types. The minerogenetie materials come from altered basalts in shallow lakes and weathered basalts on the earth surface. In general, these genetic types of attapulglte differ greatly in their crystallinity. The attapulgites formed from weathering or sedimentary processes are associated with carbonatite, their crystallinity is relatively bad. The sedimentary attapulgites in some cases are associated with silicolites, their crystallinity is better. The infrared absorption spectroscopic stripes of the former split in lower degree, the peak of their ID is not sharp, and peak-shape is lead, But the infrared absorption spectroscopic stripes of the latter split in higher degree, and absorption peaks of their ID are sharp relatively. So it is possible that genetic type of attapulgites can be distinguished by studying their infrared absorption spectroscopy characteristics.