This work investigated the element distribution of perthite from the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation tight sandstone in the Ordos Basin of northern China by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). FE-SEM results indicate significant differences in the morphology of Na-rich feldspar when K-rich feldspar is the main component of the perthite. EDS results show that different types of perthite have clearly defined differences on different element indexes. Additionally, indexes such as average-weight-K (K-rich)/Na (Na-rich), maximum-weight-K (Na-rich)/Na (Na-rich) and average-atomic-K (K-rich)/Na(Na-rich) might be the most effective ones to identify perthite types. Perthite is divided into six main types, i.e., perthite with thick parallel stripe distribution, with thin parallel stripe distribution, with lumpy stripe distribution, with dendritic stripe distribution, with encircling stripe distribution, and with mixed stripe distribution.