A method for the selective separation of Ag, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in traces from solutions of calcite (CaCO3), dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) and gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) before their determination by inductively coupled plasma‐atomic emission spectrometry (ICP‐AES) is presented. The expected interferences of Ca and Mg on intensities of trace analytes were removed by collecting the elements of interest with cobalt(III) hexamethylenedithiocar‐bamate, Co(HMDTC)3. The flotation of aqueous solutions (1 l) of calcite, dolomite and gypsum was performed at pH 6.0, by 1.5 mg l−1 Co and 0.6 mmol l−1 HMDTC−. To minimise the effect of the reaction between Ca/Mg, which restrains the function of the surfactant, careful selection of the most suitable foaming reagent was necessary. The accuracy of the method was established by analysing natural alkaline‐earth minerals by the standard addition method as well as using the dolomite reference materials GBW 07114 and GSJ JDo‐1. The ICP‐AES limits of detection following flotation on different minerals were found to be 0.080 μg g−1 for Cd, 0.105 μg g−1 for Ag, 0.142 μg g−1 for Cu, 0.195 μg g−1 for Cr, 0.212 μg g−1 for Ni, 0.235 μg g−1 for Zn and 0.450 μg g−1 for Pb.