Sr2+ / Kaolinite / Magnesite Summary. The sorption behavior of Sr 2+ ions on natural minerals rich in kaolinite and magnesite was studied using SEM/EDS, XPS, XRPD, AAS/AES and DRIFT techniques. Quantitative analysis of the XPS data shows that magnesite is more effective in Sr 2+ uptake than kaolinite. DRIFT spectra and XRPD patterns indicate that the structures of both minerals were not affected upon Sr 2+ sorption. Intercalation of DMSO in kaolinite lamellae aiming at increasing the interlayer space did not significantly enhance the sorption capacity of the clay towards Sr 2+ probably due to the lack of a negative charge on the accessible sites. EDS mapping indicated that while the sorbed Sr is equally distributed on surface of natural kaolinite, it was associated -to a larger extent -with the regions richer in Mg in the case of natural magnesite. Comparing the uptake mechanisms of natural magnesite with that of pure MgCO 3 , it was seen that while natural magnesite sorbed Sr 2+ mainly through an ion exchange type mechanism, the formation of SrCO 3 coprecipitate was detected on the surface of the MgCO 3 at higher loadings.