A method and apparatus for selectively separating a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic mineral particles. A mineral pulp is prepared which includes minerals ground to a predetermined size. A bubble slurry is then prepared which includes a gas entrained in a liquid to form bubbles of a predetermined size. The mineral pulp and bubble slurry are simultaneously injected into the cell apparatus. The cell has an enclosed body with a feed receiving portion, a narrowed apex portion with an underflow discharge, and an intermediately disposed merger zone. A mineral pulp feed port extends into and is directed tangentially to the feed receiving portion in the mineral pulp feed zone. The bubble slurry feed port, disposed in the same direction as the mineral pulp feed port, extends into and is directed tangentially to the feed receiving portion in the bubble slurry zone. A vortex finder, having a tubular member which has one end extending exterior of the feed receiving portion and another end extending into the merger zone, is attached to and extends axially of the feed receiving portion. The mineral pulp and the bubble slurry merge in the merger zone, hydrophobic particles form a froth and exit through the vortex finder, and the hydrophilic particles exit through the underflow discharge, thereby separating the mixture mineral particles.