A process for flocculating phosphatic slimes which comprises:(a) forming a concentrated aqueous solution from a water-soluble, ter- or higher polymer water-in-oil emulsion, wherein said polymer has the formula containing the repeating units as follows: ##STR8## wherein: R, R1 and R3 are independently hydrogen or methyl;R2 + is an alkali metal ion; R4 is OR5 wherein R5 is an alkyl group having up t