The flow patterns and turbulence characteristics of the flow fields in a mechanical flotation cell have important effects on the hydrodynamic and metallurgical responses. In this study, the effect of cell geometry (off-bottom clearance (C), cell aspect ratio (H/T) and impeller diameter (D) on the turbulence properties and flotation performance using pure quartz partides of different sizes in a lab-scale Denver flotation cell was investigated. The results showed that the change in cell geometry changed the local turbulence characteristics. The change of C (from 02 T to 0.1 T), D (from T/2 to T/3) and HIT ( from 12 to 1.5) did not change the flow pattern. The lower C was recommended to improve flotation performance. The larger D (T/2) was more useful for particle size of +38 mu m. At the same Reynolds number, higher HIT is suitable for coarse particles, while lower HIT is recommended for partids size of -150 mu m. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.