This research investigates the adsorption mechanisms of fluoride (F) on four clay minerals (kaolinite, montmorillonite, chlorite, and illite) under different F -concentrations and reaction times by probing their fluoride superficial layer binding energies and element compositions using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). At high F -concentrations (C 0 = 5-1000 mg$L -1 ), the amount of F -adsorbed (Q F ), amount of hydroxide released by clay minerals, solution F -concentration, and the pH increase with increasing C 0 . The increases are remarkable at C 0 > 50 mg$L -1 . The Q F increases significantly by continuously modifying the pH level. At C 0 < 5-100 mg$L -1 , clay minerals adsorb H + to protonate aluminum-bound surface-active hydroxyl sites in the superficial layers and induce F -binding. As the C 0 increases, F -, along with other cations, is adsorbed to form a quasi-cryolite structure. At C 0 > 100 mg$L -1 , new minerals precipitate and the product depends on the critical Al 3+ concentration. At [Al 3+ ] > 10 -11.94 mol$L -1 , cryolite forms, while at [Al 3+ ] < 10 -11.94 mol$L -1 , AlF 3 is formed. At low C 0 (0.3-1.5 mg$L -1 ), proton transfer occurs, and the F -adsorption capabilities of the clay minerals increase with time.