Laser surface melting has been applied on a commercially pure Mg. The microstructure and texture modifications encountered in the surface layers were carefully investigated by using electron backscattered diffraction(EBSD)technique. Due to the melting followed by rapid solidification and cooling, a layer having graded microstructures and texture formed. At the bottom of the melted layer, the solidified Mg grains have an elongated shape with a<0001> basal fibre texture nearly parallel to sample normal direction, while equiaxed grains were observed in the top melted layer having a much weaker basal fibre texture. Solidification twinning and deformation twinning were found in the vicinity of the melt/substrate interface where the Mg grains grow larger due to the heating. In addition, no epitaxial type grain growth was observed at the melt/substrate interface. The microstructure and texture variants encountered in the surface layers were carefully investigated by using electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) technique. Due to the melting followed by rapid solidification and cooling, a layer has graded microstructure and texture formed. The bottom of the melted layer, the solidified Mg grains have an elongated shape with a <0001> basal fiber texture nearly parallel to sample normal direction, while equiaxed grains were observed in the top melted layer having a much weaker Solidification twinning and deformation twinning were found in the vicinity of the melt / substrate interface where the Mg grains grow larger due to the heating. In addition, no epitaxial type grain growth was observed at the melt / substrate interface.