Six coal samples collected from Maghara Coal Mine, North Sinai, Egypt, at different depths (52-87 in) were characterised by Mossbauer (MS) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The moisture and ash content and the ultimate analysis are given. The iron minerals were studied by MS. Jarosite (ferric sulphate) and pyrite have been found in the sample taken at 52 in. However, ferrous sulphate and pyrite are present in the other samples. On the other hand, several structural parameters such as H-ar/H-al and H-ar/C-ar were calculated from FT-IR spectra as a function of depth. These parameters give a quantitative determination of the aromaticity, which was found in the range between 0.46 and 0.59, similar to that reported in the literature for subbituminous coals. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.