Abstract: The invention provides a flotation process which includes the steps of providing a flotation mixture containing mineral values to be recovered and adding an activator to the flotation mixture, which activator may comprise a metal complex formed by a coordinating metal ion and a ligand. A particular aspect of the invention relates to the use of the metal complexes as activators. These complexes are stable over a wide pH range, which is not the case with other inorganic compounds of which the applicant is aware, such as zinc sulphate, copper sulphate and manganese sulphate. The ligand may have the structure R—(X)n, in which X may be selected from amines, carboxyls, phosphonates and sulphonates; R may be an organic group; and n may be 1 to 4. The ligand may be selected to be a multidentate ligand. The invention extends to an activator for use in a flotation process.