Abstract: Mineral resources are rich in the Ordos basin where bio-environment is fragile, groundwater distribution is uneven and hydrochemistry is complicated.Based on the Karst development pattern,groundwater enrichment pattern,and recharge,runoff and discharge conditions of groundwater,the Karst areas distributed in the peripheral area of the basin is divided into 9 systems which are further divided into 25 subsystems.Abundant deep ground-water,with great variation on groundwater quality,has been found in the Cretaceous arte-sian basin and groundwater is controlled by lithofacies-paleo-geography and recharge,runoff and discharge conditions of groundwater and etc.Groundwater types and development patterns are summarized over the areas covered by loess in the eastpart of the Ordos Basin.