CHARACTERIZATION OF COLLOIDAL SOLIDS FROM ATHABASCA FINE TAILS

During processing of Athabasca oil sands, the finely divided solids fo rm an aqueous suspension, which ultimately stabilizes as a gel-like st ructure retaining up to 90% of the process water. This gelling phenome non is believed to be caused by colloidal inorganic components. Kaolin ite and mica are the main crystalline minerals in these colloidal soli ds; swelling clays are present in only trace amounts. Non-crystalline components are more concentrated in the finer fraction of the solids. Although the surfaces of the colloidal solids are virtually free of Fe , some contamination with polar organic matter is observed.