Determination of properties of coal

Methods and apparatus for determining a property of bulk coal from a fluorescence spectrum of the coal are disclosed. In the methods the coal is illuminated so that a plurality of macerals at the surface of the coal are illuminated with UV light. Intensities of fluorescent light from the coal are determined as a function of wavelength and output signals related to the intensities are derived as a function of wavelength. A property of the bulk coal is then determined by: (A) (i) determining amplitudes related to the intensities, of the output signals as a function of wavelength: (ii) integrating the amplitudes within a selected wavelength region to provide at least one integrated value: (iii) compring the integrated value with at least one standard integrated value derived from the calibration study of coal; and (iv) ccalculating quantitatively the property of the bulk coal from the comparison; or (B) (i) determining amplitudes related to the intensities, of the output signals as a function of wavelength; (ii) ratioing the amplitudes within a first selected wavelength region with the amplitudes within a second selected wavelength region to provide a ratioed value; (iii) comparing the ratioed value with at least one standard ratioed value derived from the calibration study of coal; and (iv) calculating quantitatively the property of the bulk coal from the comparison.