A process for separating phosphatic materials from coastal beach sand and sand deposits used for beach renourishment. The steps include (a) suspending a mixture of beach sand and phosphatic material in water, (b) introducing compressed gas, preferably air, into the mixture or sparging to produce a bubble froth on the surface of the water, and (c) skimming or separating the bubble froth from the surface of or within the water to effect separation of the phosphatic material in the froth from the beach sand left in the water. The bubbles of the bubble froth attract and carry the phosphatic material on the surface of the bubbles during upward movement through the mixture. A conditioner added to the water which improves the tendency of the phosphatic material to “float” is preferred.