Spontaneous　combustion　of　sulfide　ores　represents　a　significant　challenge　in　metal　mining　operations.　Mines　that　have　experienced　spontaneous　combustion　of　sulfide　ores　normally　possess　well-developed　underground　water　systems.　Consequently,　it　is　essential　to　investigate　the　spontaneous　combustion　characteristics　of　sulfide　ores　through　water　immersion.　In　this　study,　samples　from　representative　high-sulfur　mines　were　selected　and　ground.　The　study　was　primarily　conducted　through　nitrogen　adsorption,　X-ray　diffraction,　and　thermogravimetry　on　the　physicochemical　properties　of　water-immersed　sulfide　ores　under　varying　immersion　times　(25,　50,　75 days).　The　sulfur　content　and　the　talc　content　of　water-immersed　sulfide　ores　exhibited　a　decline　with　the　progression　of　leaching　time.　Additionally,　the　average　grain　size　exhibited　a　reduction,　while　the　average　pore　diameter　exhibited　an　expansion　of　0.36 nm.　Furthermore,　the　average　pore　volume　exhibited　an　enlargement　of　5.71　×　10–3 cm3　g-1.　However,　the　specific　surface　area　exhibited　a　reduction　of　0.8735 m2.　The　activation　energy　of　the　ore　samples　was　calculated　using　the　Flynn–Wall–Ozawa　method　and　the　Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose　method.　The　results　demonstrated　a　very　strong　linear　correlation　between　the　activation　energy　of　the　samples　and　the　leaching　time　within　50 days.　It　can　be　observed　that　the　water-immersed　sulfide　ores　exhibit　a　heightened　propensity　to　spontaneous　combustion　as　a　result　of　alterations　to　the　material　components,　crystal　structure,　and　pore　space.　©　Akadémiai　Kiadó,　Budapest,　Hungary　2024.