Recently,　there　has　been　interest　in　the　effects　of　ionic　species　on　the　flotation　performance　of　minerals　in　liquid　phase.　Metal　ions　that　are　commonly　present　in　flotation　pulp　can　cause　non-selective　activation　of　target　minerals　and　gangue　particles　during　flotation.　We　have　investigated　the　influence　of　Fe(III)　adsorption　on　smithsonite　surfaces　using　X-ray　diffraction,　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS),　zeta　potential　measurements,　scanning　electron　microscopy,　and　micro-flotation　tests.　The　results　indicate　that　Fe(III)　can　adsorb　onto　the　smithsonite　surface,　resulting　in　a　series　of　changes　to　the　surface　properties.　XPS　results　show　that　Fe(III)　adsorption　can　change　the　atomic　composition　of　the　smithsonite　surface,　along　with　its　chemical　state.　The　zeta　potential　of　the　smithsonite　became　more　positive　and　its　pH　shifted　from　7.6　to　9.2　in　the　presence　of　1　×　10−4　mol/L　Fe(III).　Micro-flotation　tests　revealed　that　iron　ions　have　a　strong　inhibitory　effect　on　smithsonite.　The　recovery　of　smithsonite　decreased　sharply　as　the　Fe(III)　concentration　increased.　When　the　concentration　reached　5　×　10−4　mol/L,　the　recovery　was　only　21.35%.　The　Fe(III)-driven　smithsonite　inhibition　mechanism　may　be　attributed　to　strong　oxidation　and　hydrolysis.　©　2017