Characterization and beneficiation of bitumen-free domestic tar sands

The Federal Bureau of Mines conducted a study to determine if residues from fractional distillation represent a potential source of mineral values. Aliterature review and discussions with tar sand specialists failed to disclose the mineralogical nature of residues remaining after bitumen extraction. To develop this information, pilot plant tar sand residues or toluene - cleaned tar sands from 23 deposits were examined. The nature of the residues was determined by standard mineralogical methods and the chemical compositions were determined by X-ray and ICP (inductively - coupled plasma spectroscopy). None of the sands or concentrates examined contained sufficient valuable minerals to be economically important.