Occurrence of phosphorus in hard coal has been discussed in the present study. Based on literature, the phosphorus has been characterized not only as element occurring in live organisms, animal and plant cells, in bonds, but first of all, as inseparable constituent of hard coal. Origin of the phosphorus occurrence in hard coal has also been discussed. The attention was paid not only at phosphorus delivery from the plants forming the coal, but also at the problem of water infiltration though peat-bog, as well as terrigene and volcanic processes. Phosphorus occurring in plants can be exposed to mineralization accompanied with fungus and bacteria activity. Such type of oxidation leads to formation of neutral macerals in coal. A problem of phosphorus decomposition in coal was also examined. The decomposition can be run in different modes. Phosphorus presence can be related with organic or inorganic substance. However, correlation between phosphorus content in coal and vitrinite reflexivity, being a metamorphism measure, was not proved. Various examination results cited by various scientists involved in problems of the trace element occurrence in coals occurring in Poland, and through over the World, were compared. Phosphorus minerals occurring in hard coal, mainly: goyazyt, gorceixyt, crandalcit, xenotime, monzite and apatite, were also discussed. Origin of some minerals is related with tonstein, what can prove their volcanic origin. Problem of the content of phosphorus in hard coal comprises fundamental part of the article. Content of phosphorus in hard coal derived from various coal basins, among the others from USA, Great Britain, Australia, RPA, India, Japan, and Russia, has been also discussed. Content of phosphorus in coal ashes and various types of sedimentary rocks accompanying coal deposits, has also been presented. Based on numerous examinations it has been proved that the mean phosphorus content in worldwide coals amounts for 500 ppm, what only slightly differs from the phosphorus content observed in Polish coals 404 ppm. Maximal phosphorus content was observed in India coals, amounting for 5640 ppm. Phosphorus content in coals from the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, including classification into lithostratigraphic series, balance beds and coal shales, has been presented in the next part of the present study. Phosphorus content in coals exploited by Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa S.A. producing coking coal, was also presented. As commonly known, phosphorus content in coking coal is an important factor of its usability, thus this parameter is a critical factor for sale of the coking coal.
