The　conventional　sulfidation-xanthate　flotation　process　that　consists　of　sulfidization　with　sodium　sulfide,　activation　by　heavy-metal　ions,　and　collection　with　xanthate　is　not　sufficiently　efficient　for　treating　hemimorphite,　and　the　dosages　of　the　sulfurizing　reagent　and　metal　ions　are　large.　In　this　study,　the　sulfidation　flotation　(Pb2+　+　Na2　S　+　Pb2+　+　xanthate)　of　hemimorphite　was　strengthened　by　pretreating　with　Pb2+　before　sulfidation.　Microflotation　test　results　indicated　that　the　recovery　of　hemimorphite　increased　by　5–10%　after　pretreatment　with　Pb2+.　The　comprehensive　results　of　adsorption　experiments,　scanning　electron　microscopy–energy-dispersive　X-ray　spectroscopy,　atomic　force　microscopy,　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　indicated　that　a　large　amount　of　Pb2+　was　adsorbed　on　the　hemimorphite　surface　and　entered　the　lattice,　forming　Zn(4−x)　Pbx　Si2　O7　(OH)2·H2　O.　The　newly　formed　component　had　an　increased　amount　of　surface　sulfidation　active　sites　and　had　the　effect　of　induced　crystallization,　making　the　surface　more　effective　for　sulfidation.　After　the　Pb2+　was　added　to　the　pulp,　a　large　number　of　uniform　and　dense　PbS　species　were　formed　on　the　hemimorphite　surface,　increasing　the　number　of　adsorption　sites　for　xanthate　and　reducing　the　competitive　adsorption　of　residual　S2−　on　the　xanthate.　©　2019　by　the　authors.　Licensee　MDPI,　Basel,　Switzerland.