This study investigates the effect of ionic strength on the adsorption of potassium oleate in apatite surfaces in situ by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Natural apatite crystals were equilibrated with calcium nitrate solutions in the presence and absence of potassium oleate (4 x 10(-3) M). AFM images for each experiment along with their histograms were recorded. The contact AFM mode allowed visualizing the topography of the surfaces with the formation of adsorbed layers and calcium dioleate colloids. The presence of calcium ions in aqueous solution (2 x 10(-4) M) led to the formation of precipitated calcium carbonate/hydroxide, as evidenced in the histogram. Oleate adsorption, in the presence of high ionic strength, occurs through the formation of clusters of calcium dioleate, observed in both 2D and 3D micro-topography. The presence of these clusters makes the apatite surface heterogeneous and rough, thus influencing its flotability. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.