Photoelectron spectroscopy using AlK alpha (h upsilon=1486.3 eV) bag been applied to study the sorption of Cs+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Zn2+ and Co2+ on magnesite kaolinite, smectite and chlorite. From the observed intensities of photoelectron peaks it was determined that in magnesite the sorption affinity of the above ions follow the order: Ba2+ > Co2+ congruent to Sr2+ congruent to Zn2+ > Cs+. The order for the sorption of Ba2+ and Cs+ are also determined as chlorite > magnesite > smectite > kaolinite and smectite > chlorite > kaolinite > magnesite, respectively.