A plant survey was carried out an the lead secondary rougher and scavenger banks of the Lead/Zinc Concentrator of Mount Isa Mines Limited. Sizing analysis of the survey samples demonstrated that a major limiting factor to overall lead recovery in this section of the plant was the diminished recovery of the fine galena in the minus 5 microns particle size fraction. Batch flotation experiments were carried out on a plant sample of lead secondary rougher feed and a sample of rod mill feed ore. Mineral recovery-size data for these tests showed similar fine galena flotation behaviour to that observed in the plant. Increased collector addition did not improve either the maximum recovery or the flotation rate constant of the fine galena but did reduce the selectivity of galena against sphalerite. Changing of the grinding media used for the ore sample from a high carbon steel to a high chromium alloy steel resulted in a significant increase in the maximum recovery and flotation rate constant of the fine galena. EDTA (ethylene diaminetetraacetic) extractable iron measured for the high carbon steel media were similar in magnitude to those measured within the plant and were higher than those measured for the high chromium alloy steel media. The increased surface concentration of hydrophilic layers of oxidised iron species on. the fine galena was a likely reason for their diminished flotation behaviour both in the laboratory and in the plant.