Transport of solid particulates

A method of transporting particulates comprising,

• providing particulates wherein water is optionally provided with the particulates;
• adding water to the particulates, if necessary, in an amount sufficient to form at least a paste consistency;
• adding a non-foamed foaming agent to form a mixture;
• adding a foam stabilizing agent to said mixture, wherein the foam stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of pre-gelatinized starches, polyethylene oxides, very fine clays, natural gums, polyvinyl alcohols, synthetic polyelectrolytes, silica fume, and mixtures thereof;
• mixing said mixture to form a foam within the mixture;
• and,
• transporting the mixture, wherein said transporting is at least one of pumping, gravitational head driven pressure, or gravity feed;
• wherein said foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of alkanolamides, alkanolamines, alkylaryl sulfonates, polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymers, alkylphenol ethoxylates, carboxylates of fatty acids, ethoxylates of fatty acids, sulfonates of fatty acids, sulfates of fatty acids, fluorocarbon containing surfactants, olefin sulfonates, olefin sulfates, hydrolyzed proteins, and mixtures thereof;
• and,
• further wherein if said polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymers are present, said block copolymers have about 10 to about 20 units of each block.