Abstract: A method of separating solid particles from the liquid constituent of a slurry, containing solids having a "wide" particle size distribution, that is, a size distribution wherein the equivalent diameter of particles in the slurry ranges between at least 15 microns and 150 microns. The method uses a screen bowl centrifuge and comprises: (a) establishing a bed of solids on the screen section of the centrifuge whose maximum radial thickness is greater than 15 times the mean particle equivalent diameter of said solids in the slurry; (b) operating the scroll of the centrifuge at a speed within the range of 0.5 to 10% of the bowl speed; and (c) returning at least a portion of the solids contaminated centrate from the centrifuge to the interior of the screen section of the bowl so as to deposit the centrate on the solids passing over the screen section at or adjacent a region of maximum solids thickness.