Abstract: 34 samples were collected from coal seams 1 0，7，5，4 and 3 of Permian coals in Huaibei coalfield． The abundances of the rare earth elements(REEs)and other elements in the samples were determined by inductively couple-plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS)，instrumental neutron activation analysis(INNA)and inductive1y couple-plasma atom emission spectrometry (ICP-AES)．The characterizations of the concentration．spacial distribution，geochemical parameters and distribution patterns of REEs are studied.Furthermore．the origin and occurrence of REEs in the samples are discussed．Compared with Chinese coals，world coals and American coals．the REEs are obviously enriched in Huaibei coalfield．The contents of REEs in the coal seams of the Lower and Upper Shihezi Formations are higher than those in the Shanxi Formation． They rise from the bottom to top in thesame coal seam because of the influence of sedimentary environment． According to the values of δCe positive and δEu negative anomalies，and the relationship between the REEs contents with ash yield is the sediments,it can be concluded that the sedimentary environment of the Permian coal in Huaibei coalfield was not influenced by seawater，and the source of REEs is terrigenous matters，and the REEs in coals are mainly concentrated in c1ay minerals such as kaolinite and illite．