Abstract: Hydrocarbons may be recovered from hydrocarbon-bearing ore by reducing the ore to small particles, forming the reduced ore into pellets, setting the pellets, and then contacting the pellets with an extracting solvent. The extracted hydrocarbons usually have an ash content of less than about three weight percent, and the spent pellets usually retain less than 0.75 pounds of solvent per pound of spent pellets.

Abstract: There is provided a hydrocarbon extraction process and apparatus for removing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon containing ore such as a diatomite ore. The ore is preprocessed to the extent required to produce an extractable ore and subsequently mixed with a carrier to form an ore stream. The carrier may be a nonaqueous solvent and may further comprise a non-porous granular material such as sand. The ore stream is passed in substantially vertical countercurrent flow through a nonaqueous solvent to produce a product-solvent stream and a spent ore stream. The solvent is subsequently separated from the hydrocarbon stream, which may be further upgraded by removal of a heavy portion. This may be accomplished in the presence of a substantial amount of fines.