About 300 coal samples were collected to study the fluorine content and distribution pattern in Chinese coals in different coal basins and geologic periods. The Permo-Carboniferous and Jurassic coals in the North China Plate and Northwest China account for nearly 90% of Chinese coals and their fluorine content is 20-300 mg/kg, mostly about 50-100 mg/kg. Fluorine content of Permo-Carboniferous coals, the main steam coals in China, is 50-300 mg/kg; Jurassic coals 20-70 mg/kg. There are great differences in fluorine content of Late Permian coals in Southwest China (50-3000 mg/kg), which accounts for only 7% of Chinese coals. According to the proportions of the coals with different fluorine content in Chinese coal resources, the average fluorine content of Chinese coals is about 82 mg/kg, which is close to the world average (80 mg/kg). Most Chinese coals are low-fluorine coals (<200 mg/kg). Fluorine content in Chinese coals is closely related with structure position of coal basins, the degree of volcanic activity and magma intrusion, as well as the age, and source of the volcanic and magmatic rock. Frequent volcanic activity and magma intrusion is the main reason for fluorine-rich coals and stone coals in South Qinling Mountain (Daba Area) and Southwest China, where fluorine content is about 50-3000 mg/kg. Fluorine content in all platform areas, where magma activity is less, is comparatively low, about 20-200 mg/kg. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.