NOVELTY - A particulate composition includes a mixture of a coal particulate having a size distribution for gasification in a fluidized bed zone; a transition metal gasification catalyst; an alkaline earth metal source; and an alkali metal gasification catalyst.    USE - Particulate composition for forming gaseous products including methane (preferred), hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and other higher hydrocarbon (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The particulate composition can increase the yield of combustible gaseous products (in particular methane) from catalytic coal gasification.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A particulate composition comprises a mixture of a coal particulate having a size distribution for gasification in a fluidized bed zone; a transition metal gasification catalyst; an alkaline earth metal source; and an alkali metal gasification catalyst. In the presence of steam and under suitable temperature and pressure, the catalysts exhibit gasification activity where gases including methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and other higher hydrocarbons are formed. The transition metal gasification catalyst is present in an amount sufficient to provide a ratio of transition metal atoms to carbon atoms of 0.001:0.10. The alkaline earth metal source is present in an amount sufficient to provide 0.1-3 wt.% alkaline earth metal atoms on a dry basis. The alkali metal gasification catalyst is present in an amount sufficient to provide a ratio of alkali metal atoms to carbon atoms of 0.01:0.08. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) a method for converting a particulate composition into gaseous products comprising supplying the particulate composition to a gasifying reactor; reacting the particulate composition in the presence of steam and under suitable temperature and pressure to form gaseous products including methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and other higher hydrocarbons; and at least partially separating the gaseous products to produce a stream comprising a predominant amount of one of the gaseous products; and    (2) a process for preparing a particulate composition comprising providing a particulate of a coal feedstock; contacting the particulate with an aqueous solution comprising a transition metal source to form a first slurry; dewatering the first slurry to form a first wet cake; contacting the first wet cake with an aqueous solution comprising an alkaline earth metal source to form a second slurry; dewatering the second slurry to form a second wet cake; contacting the second wet cake with an alkali metal gasification catalyst to form a third wet cake; and drying the third wet cake to provide a particulate composition having a residual moisture content of less than 6 wt.%.