When　the　leaching　method　is　applied　to　fine-grained　non-ferrous　metal　ores,　challenges　such　as　slow　settling　rates　and　inefficient　solid–liquid　separation　often　arise.　The　precipitation　of　ultrafine　silica　particles　in　the　acid　leaching　slurry　and　their　subsequent　separation　from　the　leachate　play　a　critical　role　in　determining　the　overall　efficiency　of　the　hydrometallurgical　process.　To　address　these　issues,　this　study　employs　carrier　flocculation　technology　to　treat　fine　quartz　particles　under　acidic　conditions.　Experimental　results　indicate　that　under　optimal　conditions—specifically,　a　carrier　dosage　of　70%,　particle　size　of　160–200　mesh,　and　flocculant　dosage　of　150　g/t　polyethylene　oxide　(PEO)—the　flocculation　and　sedimentation　of　fine　quartz　particles　are　significantly　enhanced,　primarily　due　to　an　increased　settling　rate.　The　introduction　of　electrolyte　ions　improved　the　clarity　of　the　supernatant,　with　divalent　ions　exhibiting　the　most　pronounced　effect.　Zeta　potential　measurements　revealed　that　the　absolute　values　under　optimal　conditions　were　closest　to　the　isoelectric　point,　indicating　reduced　electrostatic　repulsion.　Focused　beam　reflectance　measurement　(FBRM)　analysis　further　demonstrated　that　the　carrier　flocculation　mechanism　improved　both　the　settling　rate　and　supernatant　clarity　by　altering　the　fine　particle　composition　of　the　slurry.　Calculations　based　on　classical　DLVO　theory　showed　that　PEO　adsorption　reduced　the　potential　energy　barrier　between　quartz　particles,　facilitating　their　aggregation　through　interparticle　collisions　and　thereby　promoting　floc　growth.　©　2025　Taylor　&　Francis　Group,　LLC.