The effect of colloidal montmorillonite (MMT) on froth flotation of graphite, galena and fluorite was investigated in this work. The results showed that the presence of sufficient amount of colloidal MMT particles in the mineral slurry would be detrimental of flotation by reducing the recovery of minerals. This observation was attributed to slime coating of MMT on the coarse valuable mineral particles and entrainment of MMT particles in the froth product together with water in the triangle froth zones. The former would reduce the recovery of the valuable minerals because of hydrophilic MMT coating. The latter would decrease the concentrate grade. The degree of slime coating depended on slurry pH, while the degree of entrainment was closely related to water recovery. It was also found that slime coating was a dominant factor in mineral flotation in acidic pH regions in the presence of colloidal MMT particles.