The techniques of ferromagnetic (FMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance have been applied in studies of a specimen of Pittsburgh No. 8 bituminous coal. The specimen has been found to be magnetically very heterogeneous, with paramagnetic Mn2+and Fe3+, free radicals, and at least one ferromagnetic specie which is identified and characterized in the present paper. The temperature dependence of the spectral line shapes indicates the occurrence of a phase transition at 123 K for a finely ground powder sample and at 121 K for a hand‐picked fragment; these temperatures are characteristic of the Verwey transition magnetite, and confirm its presence in both samples. Linewidth data provide an upper limit of 0.07 &mgr;m on the particle size in the powdered sample. The chemical composition of the magnetite in the powdered sample is estimated, on the basis of the observed transition temperature, to be between Fe2.988O4and Fe2.997O4. Spectra of the residue and the glass extract obtained after treatment of the powdered sample with HCl confirm the identification of magnetite, and indicate that it is not embedded in the organic matter in the coal, but should be easily removed either by acid treatment or magnetic separation. The results of this study suggest the potential usefulness of the FMR technique in the identification and physical and chemical characterization of ferro‐ and ferrimagnetic minerals in coals.