Ca-bentonite from Santai, Sichuan Province was used to study the thermal effect of clay minerals under different heating rates by thermogravimetry analysis(TG/DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC/DDSC). It demonstrated that the heating rate had a strong influence on the thermal effect of clay mineral as following: 1) thermogravimetry analysis showed a relative mass change and the result was inversely proportional with the heating rate; 2) when heating temperature is beyond 400 ℃, the resolution of the sample DTG, DSC curves was inversely proportional with the heating rate; and 3) beyond 400 ℃, the resolution of dehydration reaction of clay mineral was the highest.