Coal beneficiation

A method for beneficiating coal, the method including:

• subjecting a coarse coal having a size of up to −150 mm, to a density separation process to separate the coarse coal, using a separating gravity value of from about 1.35 up to about 1.9, into a coal-containing fraction and an ash containing gangue fraction, wherein the coal-containing fraction has cleats of the type where a substantial portion of ash constituents of the coal-containing fraction is within the cleats;
• and
• subjecting at least a portion of the coal-containing fraction to a comminution process to form a comminuted coal feed;
• classifying the comminuted coal feed into at least a first fraction and a second fines fraction, the first fraction having a top particle size of −13.5 and a bottom particle size, and the second fines fraction having a top particle size that is less than the bottom particle size of the first fraction;
• subjecting the first fraction to a density separation process to separate the comminuted coal feed, using a separating gravity value of from about 1.35 up to about 1.9, into a beneficiated coal fraction and an ash containing gangue fraction.