Under certain ambient conditions oxidation reactions of some sulphide mineral mixtures can cause self heating which, if not controlled, can lead to hazardous environments with potential risk to infrastructure and human safety. Reducing or delaying the oxidation process is one approach to managing these risks. Our focus is on identifying chemical treatments with the potential to suppress the reactions which lead to self-heating. Lignosulfonate, a by-product of wood processing, is the candidate for the current study. It was found that lignosulfonate is more effective on sulphides with freshly exposed surfaces such as mined ores, compared to surfaces exposed to chemicals such as flotation concentrates and tailings. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.