Abstract: A copper-zinc ore in Northwest China belongs to a typical refractory copper-zinc deposit with characteristics of complex mineral composition，copper-zinc mineral complex disseminated with gangue，and difficult to be separated and sphalerite easy to be floated.In order to develop and utilize the ore reasonably，beneficiation experiment on the ore was made by adopting the preferential flotation process.The results indicated that under the conditions of grinding fineness of 85% -0.074 mm，copper concentrate with Cu grade of 20.15%，Ag grade of 576.40 g/t，zinc grade of 4.66% and copper recovery of 77.32%，silver recovery of 46.67%，and zinc concentrate with zinc grade of 45.21%，Ag grade of 153.80 g/t，copper grade of 0.52% and zinc recovery of 86.15%，silver recovery of 44.73% were obtained respectively with closed-circuit process of copper floating by one roughing-one scavenging，reground the copper rough concentrate to 85% -0.045 mm and then endure three cleaning flotation operation，zinc floating by one roughing-two cleaning-one scavenging process，and middlings return to the flow-sheet in order.Good recovery index of copper，zinc，and silver were achieved from the tests.

Key words: Copper-zinc ore, Chalcopyrite, Sphalerite, Preferential flotation