We have investigated three natural talc samples from different geographical locations (Rhode Island (USA), Delaware (USA), and Flinders Range (Australia)) to determine the effect of impurities and cleavage characteristics on hydrophobicity and polymer adsorption. Bulk (electron microprobe) and surface (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) composition measurements have indicated that the Rhode Island and Delaware talcs have the lowest level of Al atoms substituted within the talc structure (0.008%), and detectable at the cleaved basal plane surface (1.5 and 1.7%), and that the Flinders Range talc has the highest level of AI atoms (8.5% bulk; 8.2% surface). Contact angle measurements have highlighted the role of Al atom substitution and step-edge density (as revealed by AFM imaging) on the measured hydrophobicity of the cleaved surfaces, with the Flinders Range talc and the Rhode Island talc having significantly lower contact angles than the Delaware talc (65 and 83, respectively, versus 90 for the Delaware). In addition, we have characterised the adsorption of two polysaccharide polymers on the three talc samples (CMC and Dextrin TV) using in situ tapping mode AFM. CMC adsorbs with the same morphology on all three talc samples, whereas Dextrin TV presents three different morphologies on the talc surfaces. The potential implications of the observed variation in adsorption behaviour on mineral flotation are discussed. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.