Relevance. The need to develop the mineral resource base of high-quality bentonite deposits of Russia, as well as to study the main bentonite-bearing provinces, the stages of their formation and favorable conditions. Aim. To systematize the data available in own collection and previously published data on bentonite clay deposits of various ages in Russia, to identify favorable geological and paleofacies environments for the formation of bentonite clay deposits, as well as the most promising areas for the search for new and further study of existing deposits. Methods. Paleofacies analysis, X-ray phase and X-ray fluorescence analysis. Results. In the Phanerozoic age on the territory of modern Russia there were several most active geological stages of bentonite formation, including the Lower Carboniferous, Middle Jurassic, Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene periods. According to the conditions of formation, bentonite clays belong to the volcanogenic-sedimentary, hydrothermal and sedimentary types. Formation of deposits of volcanogenic-sedimentary genesis is associated with the presence of volcanic activity within active continental margins and adjacent marginal parts of platforms during the era of active volca-nism in the Carboniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene periods. Ash material was accumulated in coastal sea waters – marine lagoons, bays, shallow tidal zones and freshwater lakes. Hydrothermal deposits were formed due to hydrothermal transformation of tuffs and ashes mainly in the Paleogene period. Bentonite clays of sedimentary genesis were formed due to washing out and transfer of primary clay material from weathering zones of continental areas only in the Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene periods. The most promising regions for further exploration and development of high-quality bentonite deposits include the Carboniferous provinces of Siberia, as well as the Jurassic, Paleogene and Neogene provinces of the Far East, including Primorsky Krai and Sakhalin Island, where bentonite clays have a volcanogenic-sedimentary and hydrothermal genesis.