Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA ICP-MS) offers the possibility of directly analysing individual, micron-sized coal components down to the ppm level using polished sections or blocks and therefore free from the need to separate components. A number of representative coals have been analysed for V, Ge, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr and Ba, which were known to have some organic association. Aluminium and Fe were included as controls on the abundances of the clay and pyrite. Sporinite was found to have low trace element concentrations, inertinite higher concentrations of detrital elements and vitrinite higher concentrations of V, Ge and Al. It is thought that these latter elements became concentrated during diagenesis from circulating porewaters.Peer reviewed