Concentrations of chalcophile elements (As, Co, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn) in western Canadian coals were determined using INAA and AAS. The concentrations of these elements in western Canadian coals are within the range for most world coals. However, there are some high values for coals from outcrops and from areas which are not currently being mined. Arsenic content in the majority of western Canadian coals, particularly those currently being mined, is low (0.2-3 ppm). However, there are coals with high arsenic content; for example, lignites from Hat Creek A zone contain between 4.0 and 14.0 ppm As. In some samples from Comox and Suquash, the As concentration is as high as 240 ppm and 1400 ppm, respectively The enrichment of As in high arsenic coals is related to the geology and nature of country rocks associated with the coal seams. The concentration of other elements for most western Canadian coals, particularly those being mined, are within the range for most world coals. In these coals, the concentration ranges (in ppm) of chalcophile elements are 0.3-3.6 for Sb, 0.8-4.6 for Co, 7-35 for Cu, < 0.1 for Hg, 2-6 for Mo, 4-94 for Ni, 6-22 for Pb, 2-7 for Se and 7-110 for Zn.