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Surface Analysis versus Mineral Chemistry Fundamentals. Systematic flotation fundamentals anyone? We have learned, 'on-the-job', some basic flotation lingo as process mineralogists, but is there some basic stuff we're missing? We know of relative flotation of species and that Fe substituting for Ni in pentlandite and for Zn in sphalerite results in slower kinetics, but surface analysis would suggest this results in a coating effect. Is this really true or is there something else at play here? Are there any studies that have taken a look at this and would it be worthwhile? We know too, that violarite floats poorly: Is this really a coating effect (as supergene replacement would infer) or is it related to Sulphur coordination as a thio-spinel? I'm sure there's some interesting stuff to learn here or am I wrong? A sub-question might be: Absent non-liberation, is surface analysis the answer to all low recovery performance?