The physical and chemical properties of babassu coconut following heat treatment at temperatures of up to 1000 degrees C are reported. Results for compressive strength, density, granulometry, heat of combustion and ash content suggest that babassu charcoal from unbroken coconuts could be used as a substitute for metallurgical coke as a reducing agent in blast furnaces. This material is one of the few which could substitute directly metallurgical coke in high capacity blast furnaces without the need for briquetting. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.