A method and system for handling tar sands and extracting bitumen or oil from the tar sands. The method includes the steps of depositing tar sands in a hopper assembly with a first input auger. An organic solvent mixture is introduced to the tar sands in the hopper assembly and is dissolved by the organic solvent mixture. Sand and rocks from the tar sands is allowed to separate. The sands and liquid in a slurry of fluid are transported from the hopper assembly to a rinse chamber. The slurry of fluid is delivered into the top of the rinse chamber tangentially to cause cyclonic action of the slurry in the rinsing chamber. The cyclonic action and gravity draws the sand downward. Solvent mixed with hydrocarbons are drawn off from the top of the rinse chamber and recirculated in a closed loop process. A portion of the solvent and hydrocarbon liquid mixture is pumped to a separator system in order to separate the oil and bitumen from the solvent.