The process used to treat sulfide copper ores begins at the mine site, where the copper-bearing minerals are physically separated from the rest of the rock. The flow diagram below shows how the percentage of copper increases as the ore is refined, first physically by froth flotation, then chemically by smelting and finally electrolytic refining. The smelting stage gives the name pyroprocessing: processing by fire.

1. There are many kinds of sulfide copper ore , like Chalcopyrite, chalcocite, porphyry copper, copper blue, arsenopyrite . The reaction sequence with xanthate is Chalcocite> copper blue> speckle copper> pyrite
2. Secondary copper ore and oxidation influence
3. Influence of ded particles , the more fine of the particles the much difficult to make the flotation
4. Multi-metal with copper , including Copper pyrite and Copper-Molybdenum Ore and so on .