The electronic parameters of the lithium thiogallate LiGaS2 have been evaluated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) Spectral features of all constituent element core levels and Auger lines have been considered. The Ga-S bonding effects in Ga-bearing sulfide crystals have been discussed using binding energy difference Delta(2p)(S-Ga) = BE(S 2p) - BE(Ga 3d) as a representative parameter to quantify the valence electron shift from gallium to sulfur atoms The value Delta(2p)(S-Ga) = 141 9 eV found for LiGaS2 is very close to that evaluated for AgGaS2 This relation is an indicator of closely coincident ionicity of Ga-S bonds in LiGaS2 and AgGaS2. (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved