The displacement of Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and Al3+ from the A and Bw or Bt horizons of two soils developed over serpentinized amphibolites when equilibrated in Cu2+, Cd2+ or Pb2+ solutions was determined, together with the concomitant sorption of the heavy metal. The contributions of Mg2+ to the effective cation exchange capacities of the A and Bt horizons of the Endoleptic Luvisol were 57% and 94%, respectively. and its contributions to those of the A and Bw horizons of the Mollic Cambisol were 70% and 77%, respectively. In all four horizons. cation exchange, chiefly with Mg2+ and Ca2+, was the process chiefly responsible for sorption of Cd2+, Cu2+ and Pb2+. Al3+ and K+ were hardly implicated, especially in the case of Cd2+. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.