This invention is directed to a novel method and system to separate magnetically non-susceptible impurities from coal intended for combustion, and it includes the removal of such impurities together with magnetically susceptible impurities that are collocated within the same lump of coal, prior to the combustion of the coal, by the use of the magnetic properties of the magnetically susceptible impurities. The invention is based on the fact that the former impurities are normally collocated in the same lumps of coal as the latter, especially as far as pyrite and cinnabar are concerned, provided the lumps have not been liberated, in particular, they meet the requirement that at least 50% by mass of the coal lumps should be at least 2 mm in maximum dimension.