The science of slurry hydraulics started to flourish in the 1950s with simple tests on pumping sand and coal at moderate concentrations. It has evolved gradually to encompass the pumping of pastes in the food and process industries, mixtures of coal and oil as a new fuel, and numerous mixtures of minerals and water. Because of the diversity of minerals pumped, the wide range in sizes [43 m (mesh 325) to 51 mm (2 in)], and the various physical and chemical properties of the materials, the engineering of slurry systems requires various empirical and mathematical models. The engineering of slurry systems and the design of pipelines is therefore fairly complex. This handbook targets the practicing consultant engineer, the maintenance superintendent, and the economist. Numerous solved problems and simplified computer programs have been included to guide the reader. The structure of the book is essentially in two parts. The first six chapters form the first part of the book and focus on the hydraulics of slurry systems. Chapter 1 is a general introduction on the preparation of slurry, the classification of soils, the siltation of dams,and the history of slurry pipelines. Chapter 2 focuses on water as a carrier of solids. Chap-ter 3 progresses with the mechanics of mixing solids and liquids and the principles of rhe-ology. Chapter 4 presents the various models of heterogeneous flows of settling slurries, whereas Chapter 5 concentrates on non-Newtonian flows. Due to the importance of open channel flows in the design of long-distance tailings systems or slurry plants, Chapter 6 was dedicated to a better understanding of these complex flows, which are seldom mentioned in books on slurry. In Part II, the book focuses on components of slurry systems and their economic aspects. In Chapter 7, the important equipment of slurry processing plants is presented, including grinding circuits, flotation cells, agitators, mixers, and thickeners. Chapter 8 presents the guidelines for the design of centrifugal slurry pumps, and methods of correction of their performance. Chapter 9 reviews the continuous improvements of positive displacement slurry pumps in their different forms, such as plunger, diaphragm, or lockhopper pumps. As slurry causes wear and corrosion, aspects of the selection of metals and rubbers is presented in Chapter 10. To guide the reader to the various aspects of the design of slurry pipelines, Chapter 11 presents practical cases such as coal, phosphate, limestone, and copper concentrate pipelines. This review of historical data is followed by a review of standards of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Petroleum Institute, as they are extremely useful tools for the design and monitoring of pipelines. Finally, as the big unknown is too often cost, Chapter 12 closes the book by offering guidelines for a complete feasibility study for a tailings disposal system or a slurry pipeline.