The contents of the major and trace elements in 3 samples of the claystones from the coal measures of Taiyuan and Shanxi Formations of Permo-Carboniferous in No.3 coal mine of Yangquan Coal Co. of Shanxi Province were detected by chemical analysis and INAA respectively. The alteration of the claystone is stronger on the whole, and it causes much loss of the unstable elements, even some of the more stable elements, such as ferromolybdenum and manganese. The strong alteration of the original matters, as well as the change of mineral composition in the rocks is the major reason to result in the differences between clay rocks, and clay rock and its original matter on the element contents and the REE patterns.