Abstract: In order to make full use of resources and reduce the impact of tailings emission on the environment, recovery of copper and sulfur from a copper tailing from Qinghai province, positive flotation tests under faintly acid and weakly alkaline conditions were conducted separately, and well separation index was achieved. Weakly alkaline condition was finally chosen for on-site process of recovery copper and sulfur from tailings and high quality of copper and sulfur was obtained.

Key words: Copper tailings, Faintly acid, Weakly alkaline, Flotation