Comparative studies of trace elements in coals were carried out for three mining areas in three different types of basins, i.e., the Haizhou openpit mine in Fuxin basin, the Meiyukou mine in Datong coalfield and the Antaibao openpit mine in Pingshuo coalfield, Shuoxian County. This paper summarizes characteristics and differences of trace elements in coals of the three different types of basins (faulted basin, epicontinental sea basin and large_size intracontinental down_warped basin), and points out that the main factors responsible for these differences are sedimantary environment for the formation of the peat bog, peat bog facies and source areas of the basins. The seawater-influenced Pingshuo coals have relatively high content of Li, Ti, Cu, Ga, Zr, Sn, Hf, Ta, W, Pb, Th, U and REE, the continental Datong coals are characterized by comparatively high Ni and Ba, and Fuxin coals are noted for evidently high Cr, Co, Rb, Mo, Cs and B. The depletion of Eu in coals are mainly related to the oxidation_reduction of the peat bog: the higher the oxidation of the peat bog, the more obvious the Eu depletion.