| Abstract: | Traditionally, Athabasca oil sands have been classified by bitumen and fines (<44 µm) contents. However, these markers do not always identify ores with poor processing characteristics. Consequently, there is a need to discover other characteristics to define problem ores. Here we describe a separation scheme for oil sands solids fractions based on their physical and surface properties. Clay material (<3 µm) and its ultra‐fine (<0.3 µm) component are of particular interest. Settling tests on ultra‐fine clay suspensions confirm that this fraction is the major cause of sludging during primary bitumen separation. Waste units, or barren oil sands, are shown to be a major source of this component. |
