Abstract: 513 loess samples from the Nilka section in the Yili basin, Xinjiang, have been analyzed for Loss on Ignition (LOI) at 550℃and 950℃respectively. Correlation analysis has been carried out among the organic matter, fine components <4 μm, carbonate and high-temperature LOI. X-ray diffraction has been used to identify the mineral composition after representative samples were burned. The results show that the clay fractions (<4 μm) of the Nilka loess have some correlation to the LOI variations at 550℃, which reflects the changes in soil organic matter and bound water. And the LOI at 950℃ can reflect the content of soil carbonate. In other words, the contents of carbonate of the Nilka loess is positively related to the LOI at 950℃. Thus we can infer that the high value of LOI at 950℃ represent a cold and dry climate while the low value reflects a warm and wet climate. These conclusions have a profound significance for understanding the paleoclimatic conditions of the loess-paleosol development in Yili region. This also suggests that the LOI is a simple and fast method for paleoclimatic studies of loess sediments in the westerly-dominated Yili region.