The oxidation of sulphide minerals during storage of Athabasca oil sands causes solubilization of inorganic salts which affect recovery of bitumen during hot water extraction. DLVO and Ionizable Surface Group Model theories accurately predict that the level of soluble salts produced is sufficient to cause coagulation of the fine particles during the process which leads to a deterioration in froth quality and loss of bitumen recovery. The rate of aging is specific to each oil sand but storage of oil sands under an inert atmosphere in air-tight container at sub-zero temperatures will minimize oxidation.
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Wallace et al. (1989) studied this question.
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