A method of separating metal particles where particles of the one metal exhibit a higher degree of friction against a surface than particles of the other metal, particularly for separating lead particles and copper particles one from the other. In accordance with the invention a layer of a mixture of the metal particles is deposited, by means of a feed conveyor (4) or the like, onto the peripheral surface (8) of a drum (3) which rotates about a horizontal axis (7). The material is deposited at a location on the drum (3) spaced at a distance (a) from a vertical plane (10) through the drum axis (7), in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the drum, this distance (a) being adapted so that those particles which exhibit greater friction against the peripheral surface (8) of the drum (3) than the other particles are carried by the drum in its direction of rotation, while the other particles are moved in an opposite direction gravitationally.