A system has been developed for the restoration of oil-contaminated beach sands. The method involves washing the sand in a high energy jet contactor washer and separation of the cleaned sand from the washing fluid in a conventional solid liquid cyclone. Separation and concentration of the oil-water effluent from the washing process is also accomplished in cyclones. The two separate stages of this process have been demonstrated on a pilot scale equivalent to about 3 tons of wet, oil contaminated sand per hour. The sand washing process has been shown capable of removing over 99% of the contaminating oil from a simulated beach sand. Oils used were No.4 and No.6 fuel oil at 4 to 8% of the dry weight of the sand. A conceptual design for a mobile beach cleaning system based on the processes studied is presented and is shown to be feasible within the state-of-the-art. (Modified author abstract)