Abstract: An improved method for recovering lead sulfides from a mineral deposits. Pulverized mineral deposit material is mixed with water, agitated with pH adjustment from about 8 to about 10.5 to form a slurry. Rapeseed oil is added to the conditioned slurry to render the surface of the lead sulfide particles hydrophobic. After agitating and adding a frothing agent, air bubbles are injected into the resultant composition to cause hydrophobic lead sulfide particles to become attached to the air bubbles and to rise and form a froth fraction which is then separated and recovered. The process uses substantially non-toxic rapeseed oil as a hydrophilizing agent. The process is less environmentally damaging, less costly and more specific in separating lead sulfides from iron containing minerals which are normally present in ores together with the lead sulfides.