Abstract:With the reserves of high grade magnesite resources reducing increasingly, it is more and more important significance to develop low-grade magnesite resources. In order to further study of magnesite and quartz flotation separation mechanism, reveal the principle of flotation reagents with magnesite and quartz, based on first principles of magnesite and quartz mineral surface was studied, and simulated the mineral and reagents interaction, then draw the separation factor. The research results show that electronegativity and density of states difference between the two mineral surfaces directly affects its interaction with reagents. By analyzing the separation coefficient of different reagents, we can provide guidance on for research and development of flotation reagents.