Abstract: The study of metal element mineral resources in coal is the focus in the field of coal geology,and it has important strategic significance for the transformation of China’s coal industry. In order to systematically sort out the status quo of mineral resources in China’s coal,to promote the comprehensive investigation and utilization of mineral resources in coal,to expand the development direction of traditional coal geological industry,In this paper,based on the systematic collection of relevant geological data,sampling test,comprehensive analysis and research,Through the sys- tematic discussion,the concept of mineral resources mineral resources in coal is put forward,the concept of the main metal element mineral resources in coal is put forward,and the distribution characteristics of gallium,germanium and lithium in coal are summarized. By analyzing the source,sedimentary environment and tectonic-thermal evolution con- ditions,the distribution characteristics of gallium,germanium and lithium resources in China’ s coal. The copper and gallium enrichment areas in China are mainly distributed in the two coal-forming stages of the Carboniferous-Permian and South China Permian in China. The germanium in coal is mainly distributed in the northeast early chalk The con- trol of germanium,gallium and lithium metal in coal is characterized by regional distribution,At the same time,com- bined with the current coal mineral resources in the forefront of mineral resources research problems,the future re- search direction of metal element mineral resources in China is prospected. Proposed to focus on strengthening the coal metal element testing technology and enrichment of mineralization mechanism of the study,Which is of guiding signifi- cance for the comprehensive development and utilization of mineral resources in China.