Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and process for extracting bitumen from mineral particles such as sand. The invention avoids many of the problems of the conventional hot water or solvent extraction processes by using an abrading process to remove the bitumen or oil from sand particles, using cool water and little solvent. The abrading process involves agitating a pulp of tar sand and water, preferably with some small amount of diluent, and then moving this around an annular space at a speed low enough to allow settling of clean sand to form a sand bed in contact with the moving pulp, the speed being high enough to prevent settling of bitumen coated sand particles, so that the bitumen is abraded from the sand particles and rises in the pulp. Fines and clay which are removed with the water and bitumen can be separated from the water, after removal of the bitumen, to give a sludge suitable for mixing with the clean sand prior to disposal.