This paper introduced dextran sulfate sodium, a medical intermediate rich in sulfate group, as a potential depressant for calcite and fluorite in scheelite flotation. The flotation behaviors of scheelite, calcite and fluorite under different pulp pH with dextran sulfate sodium acting as depressant and sodium oleate acting as collector were studied through micro-flotation tests. The results showed that when sodium oleate was used alone, the three minerals floated well and were difficult to separate. Dextran sulfate sodium exhibited a selective depressant effect on calcite and fluorite flotation when it was added before sodium oleate. Using dextran sulfate sodium as depressant could achieve the preferential flotation separation of scheelite from calcite and fluorite by control of pulp pH at 7.0. The selective depressant effect of dextran sulfate sodium on calcite and fluorite was explored through surface analyses including zeta potential measurements, contact angle measurements and FTIR studies on mineral samples treated with dextran sulfate sodium and/or sodium oleate. On the basis of the surface analyses, a selective adsorption model of dextran sulfate sodium on calcite and fluorite was proposed. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.