Based on the theoretical analyses, the adhesion of fine gold particles to oil-carbon agglomerates was quantitatively investigated in terms of adhesion kinetics, rate constant, collision rate, attachment probability and surface energy change. The suitability of the special 'first-order' adhesion kinetics, which incorporates the common operating parameters, was confirmed. The relationship between the attachment probability and the surface energy change can be well described by a proposed,nucleation model'. Experiments about the influence of various factors, such as the use of different collectors, agglomerate size and agitation intensity, on collision rate, attachment probability and adhesion rate constant were conducted. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.