Abstract: To address the technical challenge of low flotation recovery in highly oxidized lead−zinc ores, a systematic process mineralogical analysis and flotation tests were conducted on a complex and refractory highly oxidized lead−zinc ore. A process flow of "preferential lead flotation, oxide-sulfide bulk flotation" was developed. In the lead flotation circuit, the composite collector DF-11 was employed to enhance the recovery of lead minerals. In the zinc flotation stage, a combined collector system (DF-11 and DF-12) was introduced to synergistically activate oxidized zinc minerals. Leveraging the dual functions of sodium sulfide, acting both as a sulfidizing agent for oxidized minerals and an effective depressant for sulfide zinc minerals, efficient separation of lead and zinc was achieved. The full closed-circuit test results show that the lead circuit, using a process of "one roughing, three scavenging, and three cleaning", ultimately produces a lead concentrate with a lead grade of 56.15 % and a lead recovery of 84.74 %. The zinc concentrate achieves a zinc grade of 49.60 % and a zinc recovery of 81.87 %. The quality of both the lead and zinc concentrates meets the requirements for third-grade products under the relevant industry standards. This study provides a reference for the efficient utilization of resources in highly oxidized lead−zinc ores.