Abstract. The objective of the study was to investigate the sorption and abiotic oxidation of ferrous iron at ferric oxide surfaces at pH 6.8 and 7.0, and to identify changes in ferric oxide phase during the sorption and oxidation processes. Our group previously reported on mechanisms for sorption and heterogeneous oxidation at pH less than 6.5 and on the characteristics of ferric oxide sludge. We have also reported on transformations from amorphous to crystalline ferric oxides as a function of pH and solution composition. Sorption experiments were conducted at room temperature in an anaerobic chamber with 97% N 2 and 3% H 2 . An additional oxygen trap was used to ensure an anoxic environment. The Fe(II)/Fe(III) ratio and pH were varied. The rate and extent of sorption of Fe(II) were monitored. Changes in solid phases were monitored using 57 Fe-Mössbauer Spectroscopy. Subsequent to sorption, oxidation rate constants and mechanisms were evaluated after exposure to very low partial pressures of O 2 . The results showed that oxidation processes that occurred with high Fe(III) to Fe(II) ratios were more complicated in the neutral pH range compared to pH < 6.5, due to phase transformations that resulted in short-term sorption anomalies, such as decreased sorption after conversion from amorphous ferric oxide to goethite or precipitation of mixed Fe(II)/Fe(III) phases that slowly became inert to oxidation. These results are important in the context of treatment processes for AMD that depend on the presence of a ferric oxide phase, that is for high-density sludge processes that result in heterogeneous oxidation of Fe(II) and that are conducted at slightly acid to alkaline pH values.Additional