Abstract: The formation of natural selenium-rich soiltends to be controlled by the parent materials. Spatially, it is closely related to the distribution areas of selenium-rich rocks such as black rock series, coal-bearing rock series, carbonaceous mudstones (shales), argillaceous limestones, and volcanic rocks. Selenium-rich soil of different genetic types greatly differs in development suitability. However,agenetic classification scheme of natural selenium-rich soil is yet to be developed. This paper sorted out the genesis of natural selenium-rich soil and divided it into three categories and 10 subclasses according to the major controlling factor of selenium source in soil (parent materials) based on existing classification schemes. Then it briefly reviewed the primary characteristics and development suitability of selenium-rich soils of four major subclasses, i.e., black rock series, coal-bearing rock series, volcanic rocks, and epimetamorphic rocks.Based on this, this study proposed assessment indices of the development suitability of natural selenium-rich soil.