Abstract: The widespread presence of sulfur in metal ores will affect the smelting process and the evaluation of ore deposits. The analysis of the content and specie of sulfur can provide effective references for desulfurization and reduction of sulfur in metal ores, ore exploration and utilization of slag resources. The pretreatment methods (high temperature combustion, digestion, alkali melting, etc.) and detection methods (infrared absorption spectroscopy, elemental analysis, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, ion chromatography, etc.) for determination of sulfur in metal ore and slag were reviewed. The pretreatment methods and detection methods applicable to analysis of sulfur specie were summarized, and the development future of the above methods was prospected (44 ref. cited).