Abstract: This is an essay in the field of mineral processing engineering. The effect of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ on the flotation behavior of quartz in the oleic acid anionic collector system was studied by pure mineral flotation test, and the mechanism of Fe³⁺ activated quartz was studied by infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy imaging analysis and Zeta potential measurement analysis. The results of pure mineral flotation test showed that the activation effect of Fe³⁺ was stronger than that of Fe²⁺, and the capture effect of sodium oleate was stronger than that of sodium linoleate under the condition of Fe³⁺ as the activation ion. The results of infrared spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy showed that sodium oleate could not effectively adsorb on the surface of unactivated quartz minerals, but could effectively adsorb on the surface of quartz activated by Fe³⁺. The results of Zeta potential analysis showed that the positive potential of quartz surface activated by Fe³⁺ reached the maximum at pH 6.0, and the activated quartz was basically positive.