Sulfur compositions for froth flotation of ores

A composition for flotation separation of minerals in ore comprising:

• a) at least one mercaptan having a structure i), or ii), or combination thereof
• where R1 and R2 are independently selected from branched or straight chain C1-C23 alkyl groups, wherein R3 is a C6-C24 branched alkyl group;
• and wherein an average number of carbon groups in the a) mercaptan is from 6 to 24;
• b) one or more aromatic, aliphatic or polyalkylene oxide compounds comprising from 4 to 100 carbon atoms, and having one or two —OH groups;
• and
• optionally, one or more additional collectors different from the at least one mercaptan a), comprising at least one of xanthates, xanthate esters, xanthogen formates, dithiophosphates, monothiophosphates, dithiophosphinates, dithiocarbamates, mercaptobenzothiazoles, polysulfides, thionocarbamates, NDM (n-dodecyl mercaptan), and TDM (tert-dodecyl mercaptan).