Abstract: A delayed coking and dedusting process in which dust laden heavy oil derived from solid hydrocarbon-containing material, such as oil shale, coal or tar sand, is preheated in a furnace and thermal cracked in a retort to yield light oils and middle oils. Preferably, steam is injected into the dust laden heavy oil before the dusty oil is heated in the furnace to minimize coking in furnace tubes and furnace outlet lines. The thermal cracked dusty oil leaves a residual dust enriched, coked material that can be combusted to provide a portion of the solid heat carrier material for use in retorting oil shale, coal or tar sand.