Natural growth faces and cleavages of kaolinite crystals were characterized by electron microscopy using a gold decoration method. The cleaved surfaces of kaolinites treated with urea followed by wet-grinding showed slip steps but not growth spirals, whereas the surfaces of kaolinites etched with NH₄F showed growth spirals. Therefore, the surface microtopographs of kaolinites with different crystallinities from deposits and soils were compared before and after etching with NH₄F. Well-crystallized kaolinites from hydrothermal deposits exhibited growth spirals with wide spacings, irrespective of whether they were etched with NH₄F or not, and were characterized by spiral growth from solution phase of low supersaturation. Poorly-crystallized kaolinites from sedimentary deposits showed growth spirals on the surface etched with NH₄F but not on the original surface. The concentration of NH₄F solution suitable for removal of the surface layers of kaolinite crystals was 5 to 15 %. The relationships between the crystallinity and the type of growth spirals observed before and after etching with NH₄F were similar for kaolinites from residual soils other than one transported soil and kaolinites from deposits. The differences in environmental conditions of their formation were discussed.