The Lower Cambrian Niutitang and Sinian Doushantuo shales are the most important and widespread source rocks and target layers in South China. Reliable data of the thermal maturity of organic matter (OM) is widely used to assess hydrocarbon generation and is a key property used in determining the viability and hydrocarbon potential of these new shales. Nevertheless, traditional thermal maturity indicators are no longer suited to the vitrinite-lack marine shales. This study aims to combine high throughput Raman and infrared spectroscopy analysis to confirm and validate the thermal maturity in comparison with the bitumen reflectance (R_b). Raman parameters such as the differences between the positions of the two bands (V_G-V_D) are strong parameters for calculating the thermal maturity in a large vitrinite reflectance (R_o) ranging from 1.60% to 3.80%. The infrared spectroscopy analysis indicates that the aromatic C=C bands and CH₂/CH₃ aliphatic groups both are closely correlated with thermal maturity. The calculated R_o results from Raman and infrared spectroscopy are in strong coincidence with the R_b. The relationships between R_b and pore volumes/surface areas (calculated from N₂ adsorption) indicate that the sample with R_b of 3.40% has the lowest pore volumes and surface areas. Focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) observations of OM pores indicate that R_o of approximately 3.60% may be an upper limit for OM porosity development. Obviously, kerogen Raman and infrared spectroscopy can indicate methods for reducing the risk in assessing maturity with practical, low-cost accurate results. Exploration of shale gas in the high maturity (>3.40%–3.60%) region carries huge risks.

下寒武统牛塘塘和震旦纪斗山陀页岩是华南地区最重要，分布最广的烃源岩和目标层。有机物热成熟度（OM）的可靠数据被广泛用于评估碳氢化合物的生成，并且是确定这些新页岩的可行性和碳氢化合物潜力的关键特性。但是，传统的热成熟度指标不再适用于缺少镜质岩的海洋页岩。这项研究旨在结合高通量拉曼光谱和红外光谱分析来确认和验证与沥青反射率（R _b）相比的热成熟度。拉曼参数，例如两个频段的位置之间的差异（V _G - V _D）是用于计算在1.60％至3.80％范围内的大镜质体反射率（R _o）时的热成熟度的强参数。红外光谱分析表明，芳族C = C带和CH ₂ / CH ₃脂族基团均与热成熟度密切相关。拉曼光谱和红外光谱计算得出的R _o与R _b高度吻合。R _b与孔体积/表面积（由N ₂吸附计算）之间的关系表明具有R _b的样品3.40％的颗粒具有最小的孔体积和表面积。OM孔的聚焦离子束扫描电子显微镜（FIB-SEM）观察表明，约3.60％的R _o可能是OM孔隙度发展的上限。显然，干酪根拉曼光谱法和红外光谱法可以指示出以实用，低成本的准确结果降低评估成熟度风险的方法。在高成熟度（> 3.40％–3.60％）地区勘探页岩气存在巨大风险。