Abstract: Hydrocarbon liquids are recovered from carbonaceous materials such as tar sands utilizing a separation reagent formed in situ by reacting polar resin components of tar sands with an inorganic base such as sodium silicate in sonicated aqueous solution in absence of an organic solvent to form a surfactant. Under the influence of sonication a microemulsion of polar-external micelles forms.When tar sands are added to the sonicated separation reagent, the surfactant penetrates the bitumen. Metal ions complex with the polar groups and aid in removing the bitumen from the sand particles. The polar-organic asphaltene materials are carried into the aqueous phase by the anion and stabilized within the micelle structure. The lighter, non-polar hydrocarbon oil fraction separate from the emulsion and rise to the top and is recovered by skimming. The heavier asphaltenes and preasphaltenes complex with the polyvalent metals to form charcoal-like agglomerates which settle to the bottom of the treatment tank.