New concepts of surface modifications aimed at the enhancement of alkali resistance of basalt fibres require research work on chemical composition of interacting surface layers as well as knowledge about fundamental processes of basaltic glass dissolution. Therefore, two model basalt fibres manufactured out of subalkaline and alkaline rock material were leached in NaOH solution at a temperature of 80 degrees C for up to 11 days. The formation of a corrosion shell was observed in both cases and was analyzed by SEM/EDX. The model fibres out of subalkaline rocks show dissolution kinetic, which is two-staged, whereas the more alkaline fibre reflects a linear one. The complex composition of basalt fibre is detected by EDX and XPS. The surface of basalt fibres is rich in Si and Al. XPS high resolution spectra provide information on oxidation state of iron. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.