Mechanochemical sulfidization of a mixed sulfide/oxide copper ore by co-grinding with sulfur and additives including Mg(NO

3

)

2

and Fe(NO

3

)

3

salts and iron

aluminum and magnesium powders was investigated for the first time. Also

the influence of sulfidization during the wet-milling process was examined on the separation efficiency and recovery of copper in detail. The results demonstrated that co-grinding with sulfur solely had the best flotation performance at the value of 0.5 wt.% and it was attributed to the possible existence of S-O bonding on copper oxides surfaces. In addition

adding magnesium nitrate salt

magnesium powder

iron nitrate salt and aluminum powder as additive associated with 0.5 wt% sulfur into ball milling caused the flotation improvement at the amounts of 0.2 wt%

0.2 wt%

0.5 wt% and 0.5 wt%

respectively. Also

the effect of grinding time and sulfidization pH with 0.5 wt% sulfur solely was determined and pHs of 7.5 to 8.5 gave the best results. The highest recovery (75.76%) and separation efficiency (63.44%) were achieved at pH of 7.5 and 8.5

respectively.