Abstract: Improved apparatus for disintegrating and slurrying unconsolidated overburden for transport to a distant site. A hopper-like enclosure having a sloping floor is provided with a plurality of high-pressure water jets near the upper end thereof. The jets are directed tangentially along the floor surface. A first, coarse grillwork across the top of the hopper opening screens out large, consolidated material fragments and assists in disintegrating lumps of unconsolidated overburden. The overburden passes through the upper grillwork and falls upon the sluicing, high pressure water which mixes with the overburden and carries it downwardly toward an aperture in the hopper floor. A pair of toothed rollers are disposed in the aperture along with a second, finer, grillwork having bars extending between the roller teeth. Fine material passes readily through the fine grillwork, the larger chunks of overburden being comminuted by the rollers.