This paper researched the influence of the polysaccharide polymer sodium alginate (SAG) on the depression of talc at a fixed room temperature about 25 °C through micro flotation and batch flotation experiments, zeta potential and contact angle measurements as well as infrared spectroscopy analysis. The flotation results displayed that the SAG had a significant influence on the flotation of talc but less influence on sulphide flotation. Compared with the depressant carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and guar gum, using of the SAG gave the highest copper recovery. It could not only eliminate a talc removal step, but also significantly decrease in the depressant consumption by half at least. Sodium alginate apparently adsorbs on the talc surface and promotes hydrophilization, as revealed by contact angle tests (contact angle decreased from 75 to 33° after treating with SAG). It is demonstrated that the SAG obviously absorbed at the surface of talc but rarely for chalcopyrite through the results of zeta potential measurements and infrared spectroscopy analysis.