In this study, the effect of the mineral species and of the total mineral matter content on the burning profile of twenty-five lignite samples originating from different parts of Turkey was investigated by thermogravimetry. The burn-out times, DTG maximum peak temperatures and weight loss rates of the samples were correlated with the CaO, MgO, Na2O and K2O contents of the lignite samples. The results have shown that these mineral species catalytically influence the combustion phenomena of the lignite samples. Their catalytic effects are more pronounced at higher temperatures.