Methods are disclosed for identifying and treating oil sand ores having degraded bitumen. This can be done by considering the location from which the ore is mined or its history, or by microscopic examination of a bitumen froth made from the ore, or by near-infrared spectroscopy. Ore
The degree of degradation or oxidation of an oil sand ore feedstock is monitored by near infrared spectroscopy. A beam of near infrared radiation is directed onto the surface of oil sand ore, e.g. on a conveyor belt, to produce reflected radiation and distinctive spectral features are me
