The basic chemical composition of coal and ash is an important but insufficient characteristic for the reliable explanation of coal properties. The modes of occurrence of the elements, their origin and concentration in coal, as well as their behavior during the coalification process, are also very important parameters for coal quality. The characteristics noted above can be used as a guide for the prediction of some properties and behavior of coal and its products during use. Sapropelic coal was formed from algae and herbs under special environments. The matter that formed sapropelic coal is obviously different from that of humic coal. There are great differences in geochemical characterization between these types of coal. On the basis of identified samples of paragenetic sapropelic coal and humic coal from hole drilling, the moisture, sulfur content, heat value, ash yield and ash composition in these two types of coal have been studied using the comparative method. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.