Flash pyrolysis of a Turkish lignite under vacuum in a free-fall reactor was examined at a temperature range of 400-800-degrees-C. Gaseous products were analysed with an on-line GC equipped with a manuel injection valve. Solvent fractionation was applied to the liquid product to separate preasphaltenes, asphaltenes and oils fractions. Two particle distributions of the lignite were used; -0.315+0.2 mm and -0.1 mm. The liquid yield increased with tempearture up to 650-degrees-C and, thereafter decreased for the larger particles. The maximum liquid yield, excluding pyroltic water, was found to be 8% wt (daf) at 650-degrees-C. In the case of the smaller particles the liquid yield increased steadily with temperature and the yield of liquid, excluding pyrolytic water, was 5.9% wt (daf) at 850-degrees-C. The gaseous product yield also increased with temperature for both size fractions, and CO and CO2 in the gaseous products were present in large amounts.