Fine coals (less than 0·5 mm) having high mineral matter content in intimate association with the different organic coal components (macerals), poses problems in their preparation. In order to study the preparation characteristics of such coal fines, broad specific gravity fractions of a particular Indian coking coal were separately subjected to froth flotation and oil agglomeration tests. Flotation concentrates as well as the oil-agglomerated products were collected separately and their petrographic constituents were analysed under microscope. The different coal macerals showed characteristic selectivity in flotation as well as in oil-agglomeration processes. In both the cases vitrinites were found to get selectively concentrated in the cleans. The petrographic make up of the flotation concentrates collected at time intervals of 15 s revealed that pure vitrinite particles tend to respond in the initial stage of flotation, while in the later stage other microlithotypes, e.g., vitrinertite, trimacerite, inertite were collected in the concentrates, Proper selection of collection time and other process variables may be helpful in controlling the petrographic composition of the concentrates.