Abstract: The mechanical activation of Panzhihua ilmenite with tumbling ball mill, planetary ball mill and stirring ball mill, and the dissolution of activated ilmenite were investigated. Milling operation considerably accelerated the leaching reaction of ilmenite in dilute sulfuric acid solutions. Samples activated with stirring ball mill exhibited the highest leaching activity and those activated with planetary ball mill the second, while those activated with tumbling mill showed the least activity improvement. Characterization results suggested that the enhancement of ilmenite leaching was due to the increasing lattice strain in c axis direction of the ilmenite crystal cells. Milling with stirring ball mill produced more fine particles, larger lattice strain in c axis direction, and higher surface activity. It apparently accelerated dissolution.The enhancement effect on leaching reaction relied not only on the strength but also the form of the mechanical force applied.