RECOVERY OF HEAVY MINERALS FROM A TAR SAND

摘要

A process for recovering heavy minerals (e.g., titanium minerals such as TiO 2) from a feedstock comprising tar sands or a tar sands-derived solids fraction . The feedstock comprises bitumen and heavy minerals. The process comprises the steps of: (i) contacting the solids fraction with water at a temperature of at least about 100.degree.F to cause production a bituminous phase and a heavy minerals phase; and (ii) separating the heavy minerals phase from the bituminous phase. Optionally, these steps may be preceded by one or more steps used to produce a tar-sands derived solids fraction from a tar sands feedstock.