Abstract: Major elements, including Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, P, and Fe, are important inorganic compositions of coal. Meanwhile they are the controlling factors both for physical and chemical characteristics of coal and for coal procession and utilization. Combined with the cases of the Paleozoic coals from the Ordos Basin, the Kailuan Coalfield and the Fengfeng Coalfield in North China, and the Late Permian coals from western Guizhou Province, this pa per summarized the modes of occurrence, geological genesis, and genetic signific ance of major elements in coal. In addition, the influences of major elements on the coal procession and utilization are simply stated.