Abstract The flotation characteristics and kinetics of fine wolframite from Shizhuyuan Mine, Hunan, China were studied. Coarse and middle particles entered the concentrate easily. However, because of the reduction of middle particles as carriers and the poor collision and attachment between fine particles and air bubbles, it was difficult to float fine particles. A new kinetic model was proposed and compared with four common kinetic models, including a classical first-order model, a modified first-order model, a first-order kinetic model with a rectangular distribution of floatabilities and a second-order kinetic model with a rectangular distribution of floatabilities. The kinetic model evaluation showed that the author's model fitted the experimental data best. The new model was applied to industrial data in a dressing plant to verify its reliability, and a better imitative effect was obtained compared with other models investigated. The modified first-order model agreed well with experimental and industrial data. The optimum flotation kinetic equations of fine wolframite in the laboratory and dressing plant were e = 87.26 − 31.74e− 3.446t − 55.51e− 0.879t and e = 85.76 − 44.67e− 2.052t − 41.09e− 0.434t, respectively.