Paraho retorted oil shale and recarbonated retorted oil shale were subjected to a detailed mineralogical characterization through the application of direct and indirect methods of analysis. The direct method of analysis consisted of nondestructively preconcentrating mineral phases into distance physicochemical subtractions followed by x-ray diffraction analysis. Particle-size fractionations and coupled density and magnetic susceptibility fractionations were utilized. The fractionation scheme utilized in this study was successful in preconcentrating minor minerals to levels detectable by x-ray diffraction. The distribution of trace elements into the various fractions was used to indicate elemental associations in retorted oil shale solids. Recarbonation of retorted oil shale resulted in the precipitation of micro-crystalline calcite, which adhered to light density particles during density fractionations. Thus, poor physicochemical fractionation was observed for recarbonate retorted oil shale solids.