A composition and process are provided for the recovery of the values of zinc, molybdenum, copper, lead, iron (pyrite), and iron-containing small amounts of gold or uranium, or both, from ores comprising these mineral sulfides. The aqueous composition is the impure form of an alkali metal alkyl trithiocarbonate compound. The process comprises employing said aqueous composition as a collection agent for the above minerals in an ore recovery process.A process for the separation of zinc values from lead values from an ore comprising both is provided by employing an alkali metal alkyl trithiocarbonate compound as a collection agent for zinc.In addition, both a composition and process are provided for the recovery of the values of iron, copper, and lead from ores comprising these values. The composition consists essentially of a dispersant and an impure form of an alkali metal alkyl trithiocarbonate compound. The process comprises employing this composition as a collection agent for the above minerals in an ore recovery process.