International audienceNickel isotopes have recently been proposed as a new tool to investigate the metal biogeochemical processes. However, a complete comprehension of reaction mechanisms responsible for Ni isotopic fractionation factors is still missing1,2. In this study, the isotopic tool was combined with X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy to associate Ni isotopic fractionation to the modification of its chemical speciation. Nickel sorption isotherms were conducted on pure mineral phases with cation exchange capacity (nontronite) and without (goethite, talc, and calcite). X-ray absorption spectra at Ni K-edge were collected on solid phases in fluorescence mode. Nickel predominantly forms outer-sphere complexes at nontronite surface. The weakness of electrostatic bonds may explain the negligible isotopic fractionation Δ60Nisorbed-dissolved observed for this charged clay mineral. When mineral phases present specific surface sites, e.g. talc and goethite, a preferential sorption of light isotopes was observed, in agreement with previously published data1,2. Δ60Nisorbed-dissolved was between -0.29 and -0.86‰ for talc, and -0.43 and -0.94‰ for goethite (2σ=0.05‰). For goethite, the increase of [Ni] promotes the sorption of light isotopes as a consequence of competition for specific surface sites. For calcite, increasing the amount of Ni sorbed from 3 % to 82 %, Δ60Nisorbed-dissolved varied between -0.23‰ and +0.17‰, respectively. The spectroscopic data of Ni-CaCO3 showed the presence of a Ni second neighbor (at 3-3.3 Å) that can be attributed to surface precipitation.These preliminary results suggested that, as goethite, at low % of Ni sorbed, calcite is enriched in light isotopes, but formation of Ni(CO3)2 in solution and successive precipitation could contribute to the association of heavy isotopes with the solid phase