Micro-flotation tests, adsorption, electrokinetic and FTIR measurements were carried out in order to investigate the selective depression mechanism of sodium glycerine-xanthate (SGX) on pyrite in chalcopyrite flotation. The flotation results showed a large difference in chalcopyrite (>85%) and pyrite (<30%) recovery as stirred pulp-mixing with SGX before the addition of collector sodium butyl xanthate (SBX), at the range of pH 7-10. A much stronger adsorption of SGX on pyrite than chalcopyrite was dramatically revealed by zeta potential measurements, which can explain the better floatability of chalcopyrite than pyrite. The adsorption of SBX onto pyrite was depressed intensely while that onto chalcopyrite was affected slightly when SGX was used as depressant, because of more stronger adsorption between SGX and SBX occurring onto the pyrite surfaces. The absorbed amount of SGX on chalcopyrite increases slightly, over the pH range from 3 to 12, while that on pyrite increases rapidly with the increased SGX concentration, which is consistent with the flotation results. FTIR reflection spectroscopic measurements further demonstrated the depression effect of pre-absorbed SGX on SBX adsorption, which is attributed to its hydrophilic hydroxyl groups. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.