Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for beneficiating an ore containing sulfide materials with selective rejection of pyrite, pyrrhotite and other minerals and gangue. In particular, the process is useful for beneficiating ores and recovering metals such as copper, lead, zinc, etc., from said ores. In one embodiment the process comprises the steps of:(A) forming a slurry of at least one crushed mineral-containing ore, water and at least one collector which is an acid, or an anhydride, ester, ammonium salt or metal salt of the acid that is represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein each R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is independently a hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbyloxy or hydrocarbylthio group;each X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 is independently sulfur or oxygen;R.sub.3 is a divalent hydrocarbyl group, hydrogen or hydrocarbyl group;a is 0 or 1;b is 0 or 1;c is 1 or 2;Q is a divalent, trivalent or tetravalent hydrocarbyl group or --C(X.sub.3)NR.sub.5 Q';X.sub.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for beneficiating an ore containing sulfide materials with selective rejection of pyrite, pyrrhotite and other metals and gangue. In particular, the process is useful for beneficiating ores and recovering copper from said ores. In one embodiment the process comprises the steps of(A) grinding the ore to an appropriate size range;(B) preparing a slurry comprising(B-1) said ground ore;(B-2) at least one collector which is a water-dispersible or soluble dihydrocarbyldithiodiphosphoric acid or salt having the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are different hydrocarbyl groups containing up to about 12 carbon atoms, n is an integer equal to the valence of X and X.sup.n+ is a dissociating cation; and(B-3) water;(C) conditioning the slurry with SO.sub.2 under aeration at a pH of about 5.5 to about 7.