The complexation of phosphates in thequartz-metal ion-H;O-oleate system was studied.Computer assisted calculations with the aid of theadvanced program SOLGASWATER and knownequilibrium constants were used to evaluate themechanism,The calculation results revealed that inthe presence of a certain amount of phosphates,metal ions adsorbed at the quartz-H;O interfacewill be transferred into solution.Thus the competi-tion for metal ions between phosphates and thequartz surface leads to surface deactivation and re-duced floatability.Various distribution diagramsclearly demonstrate the change of surfacecomplexation as a function of added phosphateconcentration.The deactivation products were alsoevaluated.