Iron hydroxides/oxides widely existent in soil can serve as importantmineral resources. Goethite, hematite and amorphous ferrihydrite generated in surface of the earth all assume nanometer particle size, have high specific surface area and perform specific adsorption capacity for phosphate, thus being potential adsorbents for low concentration phosphate in water. The adsorption of goethite, hematite and amorphous ferrihydrite for phosphate was studied through the isothermal adsorption experiment. The results indicate that amorphous ferrihydrite performs the strongest adsorption capacity for phosphate (5.5 mg/g minerals), followed by goethite, and hematite has the smallest adsorption capacity. Isothermal adsorption of phosphate on goethite, hematite and amorphous ferrihydrite is in accordance with the Freundlich equation. The time-dependent phosphate adsorption data are consistent with the Bangham equation.