In　order　to　uncover　the　effect　of　pyrite　on　the　tendency　of　coal　to　spontaneously　combust,　thermal　analysis　was　carried　out　to　characterize　the　reaction　process　of　coal　with　different　pyrite　contents　at　four　heating　rates　of　5,　10,　15,　and　20　K　min−1　in　air　flow　from　25　to　900　°C.　The　Flynn-Wall-Ozawa　method　was　applied　to　calculate　the　activation　energy　of　coal　with　different　pyrite　contents.　The　results　show　that　the　thermogravimetric　(TG)　curve　of　coal　samples　can　be　divided　in　four　stages,　being　water　evaporation,　oxygen　absorption,　thermal　decomposition　and　burnout.　As　the　mass　fraction　of　pyrite　content　increased,　the　ignition　point　of　the　coal　samples　decreased　and　the　weight　loss　rate　during　the　thermal　decomposition　phase　diminished.　Meanwhile,　the　exothermic　peak　and　mass　loss　peak　moved　toward　lower　temperatures.　The　peak　values　in　the　derivative　thermogravimetric　(DTG)　and　differential　scanning　calorimetry　(DSC)　curves　shifted　to　higher　temperatures　with　higher　ignition　and　burnout　temperatures　under　faster　heating　rates,　but　the　whole　curve　shape　was　not　affected.　The　apparent　activation　energies　of　the　coal　samples　declined　with　higher　pyrite　contents,　so　the　spontaneous　combustion　of　coal　can　be　promoted　by　pyrite.　©　2019　Institution　of　Chemical　Engineers