Abstract: Based on the methods such as direct desorption,isothermal adsorption and combined adsorption-desorption,the recoverable potential of the CBM in the Upper Paleozoic main seams of the southern Shanxi was studied,and some significant conclusions were suggested.At the level of 0.7 MPa abandoned pressure,the CBM might be hardly produced from the main seams in the most mining districts of the indicated areas.As for the referred predicted areas,the CBM recoverable potential minght be high in the main seams of the Linfeng basin,relatively high in the upper main seam of the eastern Qinyuan-Anze and Qinshui-Yicheng areas,and low or very low commonly in the lower main seam