In　this　study,　four　N-containing　collectors　were　compared　systematically　to　study　the　flotation　selectivity,　froth　layer　stability　and　economic　cost　in　reverse　flotation　of　silicate　minerals　from　fluorapatite.　The　adsorption　of　collectors　were　studied　by　zeta　potential　and　x-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS)　measurements.　Froth　stability　of　the　slurries　with　collectors　was　characterized　through　froth　image　and　water　recovery　analysis.　The　flotation　of　pure　fluorapatite,　quartz,　mica　and　raw　phosphate　ore　gave　that　oleyl　amine　(OA)　and　N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-dodecane　amide　(HEDA)　had　better　selectivity　than　dodecyl　amine　(DDA).　It　was　found　that　the　physisorption　of　OA　and　HEDA　associated　with　the　silicate　mineral　surfaces　through　hydrophobic　bonding　to　form　hemimicelles.　Interestingly　in　octyl-hydroxamic　acid　(OHA)　flotation,　the　best　selectivity　in　reverse　flotation　of　silicate　minerals　from　fluorapatite　was　obtained,　because　of　the　chemisorption　of　O　atoms　on　Al　atoms　through　chelating　rings.　For　froth　stability,　OA　and　HEDA　induced　a　denser　froth　layer　than　DDA.　In　OHA　flotation　slurry,　the　individual　bubbles　were　larger　and　easier　to　coalesce,　leading　to　the　lowest　water　recoveries　and　froth　stability.　This　study　might　provide　a　further　understanding　on　the　N-containing　collectors　in　reverse　flotation　of　silicate　minerals　from　fluorapatite.