A process for the removal of heavy oil/bitumen from oil/hydrocarbon wet and/or water wet tar sand. The tar sand is mixed with an inorganic liquid such as water or a treated effluent and an inorganic solid which is a silicate or metasilicate for a period of time sufficient for the inorganic liquid and the inorganic solid to interact and strip the heavy oil/bitumen from the tar sand. The process includes additional steps to produce clean heavy oil/bitumen and clear effluent.