The　surface　characteristics,　collector　adsorption,　and　flotation　response　of　covellite　in　the　presence　of　NaClO　and　FeCl3　were　investigated　using　micro-flotation　tests,　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS),　time-of-flight　secondary　ion　mass　spectrometry　(TOF-SIMS),　and　contact　angle　measurements.　The　micro-flotation　test　results　indicated　that　covellite　was　effectively　inhibited　by　the　presence　of　NaClO　and　FeCl3.　However,　the　dosages　of　these　depressants　were　large,　and　the　conditioning　time　was　long.　The　results　of　the　XPS　and　TOF-SIMS　analyses　indicated　that　NaClO　could　oxidize　the　covellite　surface　and　reduce　the　active　sites　of　Cu.　Oxidation　products,　including　CuO　and　Cu(OH)2,　were　generated　on　the　covellite　surface.　After　the　addition　of　FeCl3,　the　precipitation　of　iron　hydroxide　on　the　covellite　surface　increased　the　content　of　hydrophilic　species　on　the　mineral　surface.　Thus,　the　adsorption　of　ammonium　dibutyl　dithiophosphate　on　covellite　surface　was　prevented,　which　reduced　the　floatability　of　the　covellite.　©　2022　The　Nonferrous　Metals　Society　of　China