Energy of activation (E-a) and specific heat capacity (C-p) for mixtures of sulphide minerals that on their own do not self-heat (SH), sphalerite/pyrite, pyrite/galena, chalcopyrite/galena and sphalerite/galena, were determined using a self-heating apparatus at temperatures below 100 degrees C in the presence of moisture. The mixtures all gave E-a ranging from 22.0 to 27.8 kJ mol(-1), similar to the range reported for Ni- and Cu-concentrates. The E-a is close to that for partial oxidation of H2S which adds to the contention that the partial oxidation of H2S contributes to SH of sulphides at low temperature. The C-p values ranged from 0.152 to 1.071 JK(-1) g(-1) as temperature rose from 50 degrees C to 80 degrees C, similar to the reported findings on Ni- and Cu-concentrates. The role of galvanic interaction in promoting SH is tested by examining correlations with the rest potential difference of the sulphides in the mixture. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.