This study evaluates the structural changes in olivine (Mg, Fe)(2)SiO4 (deposit Aheim, Norway) generated by its mechanical activation. The high-energy milling in laboratory planetary and attrition mills as well as in an industrially nutating mill was applied during activation. To identify mechanically-induced changes in the mineral, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), specific surface area measurement and infrared spectroscopy (IR) techniques have been used. The observed physico-chemical changes illustrate the possibility to modify the surface and/or volume properties of olivine depending on the applied activation mode. infrared spectroscopy seemed to be suitable method for characterization of CO2 absorption modified on olivine. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.