The formation of todorokite-type manganese oxide (TodMO) by hydrothermal soft chemical reaction (Mg2+ exchange followed by hydrothermal treatment) was studied using three kinds of Na-type birnessite (Na-BirMO) with different crystallinities. Buserite (BusMO) formation by Mg2+ exchange and TodMO formation by hydrothermal treatment progressed in a similar manner regardless of the crystallinity of the initial Na-BirMO, but the crystallinity of the synthesized TodMO depended on that of the initial Na-BirMO. Particle morphology of the synthesized TodMO was related to the crystallinity of the initial Na-BirMO. The amounts of fibrous morphology were gradually increasing, accompanied by increased crystallinity of the initial Na-BirMO. TodMO with a neat fibrous morphology was obtained using a high crystalline Na-BirMO as precursor. Most of the interlayer metal ions (Na+ and Mg2+) were extracted from Na-BirMO and BusMO by treatment with a 0.1 M HCl solution, while only 37% of Mg2+ was extracted from TodMO. Both the acid treatment and the particle morphology may be the most convenient method to distinguish TodMO from BusMO. (c) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.