The aim of this study is to show how fractal analysis can be effectively used to characterize the texture of porous solids. The materials under study were series of coals oxidized in air at various temperatures for different time intervals. Data from mercury porosimetry determinations of samples was analyzed using fractal models. The methods employed were those proposed by Neimark, Friesen and Mikula and that developed by Zhang and Li. Some methods are able to supply a fractal profile or "fractal fingerprint" of materials, i.e. ranges of pore sizes with different fractal dimensions are detected. These fractal profiles are very sensitive to the oxidation treatment. The average fractal dimension can also be used as a valid parameter to monitor the textural evolution of the coals as the treatment progresses, as this behaves in a similar way to other textural parameters. The use of fractal analysis in conjunction with the results of classical characterization methods leads to a better understanding of textural modifications in the processing of materials. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.