Most high grade Copper Sulfide Ores, containing about 0.25% to 5% copper metal (the rest being unwanted rock), are concentrated using the froth flotation process. Ground Ore is mixed with Xanthate reagents (or other reagents of the thiol class), which react with the Copper Sulfide mineral to make it hydrophobic on its surface. (Besides Xanthates, Dithiophosphates and Thionocarbamates are commonly used).

TheSulfide Ore is crushed and ground to increase the surface area of the ore for subsequent processing. The powdered ore is mixed with chemicals (the 'collector chemical') and introduced to a water bath (aeration tank) containing surfactant. Air is constantly forced through the slurry and the hydrophobic Copper Sulfides particles latch onto and ride the air bubbles to the surface, where it forms froth and is skimmed off. These skimmings are generally re-processed (cleaned) to reach a high purity Copper concentrate. The remainder is discarded as tailings, or processed to extract other elements.