The developed protocol selectively dissolves the pyrrhotite fraction from an upgraded pyrrhotite tailings sample Selective dissolution is achieved at an optimum acid strength of 15 wt% HCl, and at 80 °C The dissolution of Fe was correlated with the dissolution of Ni from pyrrhotite as functions of acidity and temperature Pyrrhotite and pentlandite dissolve at essentially similar rates during oxic ferric leach