Abstract: A process and apparatus is presented for removing contaminants from particulate materials especially earth materials by converting said materials by mixture with water and additives to slurries which are energized to volume boiling conditions thereby dislodging contaminant components from the particulate materials, said dislodging can be enhanced through centrifugal or cyclone apparatus for example, which contains electrodes in direct contact with the slurry along the walls of the cyclone. An electrical current flows through the slurry as the energizing source.