Petrologic and mineralogical characteristics of Yishui inkstones from Hebei Province were studied by using petrographic observation, electron microprobe analysis and X-ray powder diffraction. Yishui inkstones belong to clastic rocks. There are two species of Yishui inkstones, i.e., Yudai inkstone and Zicui inkstone. The main particles of Yudai inkstone consist of quartz, feldspar, hematite, and zeolite, whereas the cement consists of clay mineral illite, which accounts for 30~40 percent of the total content. The main particles of Zicui inkstone are composed of quartz, feldspar, hematite, zeolite and calcite, whereas the cement consists of clay minerals, such as illite, montmorillonite, chlorite, vermiculite and kaolinite. Clay minerals account for 30~50 percent of the total minerals.