Abstract:The trace element geochemical compositions of 3 Early Cretaceous coal seams (20 coal samples, 1 parting sample) from the 0-1 borehole in the Shengli coal field of Inner Mongolia was investigated by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results show that No. 1 and No.2 coals are lignite (Vdaf>44%, transmittance PM<50%) with high ash yield and high sulfur content, the No. 4 coal is long-flame coal (Vdaf=42%, PM=53%) with low ash yield and low sulfur content. Compared with average values for coals in the world reported, Sb is enriched; V, Zr, Nb, Hf, and W are slightly enriched in the three coal seams, and the concentrations of other trace elements are either close to or much lower than the world's averages. Relative to things of the upper continental crust, the rare earth elements and yttrium in 20 coal samples are all characterized by heavy REY enrichment, whereas the parting sample is characterized by light REY enrichment.