To investigate the distribution, occurrence modes, and enrichment cause of trace elements in coals from the southern Qinshui Basin through mineralogical and geochemical analyses of No. 9 and No. 15 coal seams in the Tai-yuan Formation from Tian'an Hongxiang Mine, Jincheng Mining area. The results demonstrate that: (1) The mineral composition in the coal is dominated by kaolinite, pyrite, calcite, and anatase. The No. 9 coal seam has a content of 37.1 μg/g (coal basis), 2.7 times than that world hard coal. The No. 15 coal seam exhibits significant Li enrichment (108 μg/g, coal basis), equivalent to 7.8 times higher than the average values world hard coal, along with moderate enrichment of Zn, Mo, Pb, Th, and U. Li primarily occurs in clay minerals, and Mo and Pb are mainly associated with pyrite (with minor Mo in organic matter and sulfates). Th is hosted in anatase and clay, the enrichment of U is primarily associated with semifusinite in the inertinite. (2) Li and Th are mainly controlled by the supply of the gra-nitic terrigenous material from the North Qinling orogenic belt. The weak hydrodynamic conditions and humid trop-ical climate promoted clay mineral formation which provided a host for Li and Th. (3) The peat formed in alkaline sedimentary environment with weak hydrodynamics. The enrichment of Mo, Pb, and U was significantly influenced by seawater, where Mo and Pb combined with S2? to form sulfides under reducing conditions (with minor Mo in sulfates and organic matter). Alkaline-reducing peat bogs favor the precipitation of UO22+ ions, and the occurrence of U in coal is primarily associated with inertinite.