A drying system for use in drying a sample of geological material having a substantial moisture content, the system comprising: a fluid distribution assembly arranged for providing a flow of heated fluid for flowing through a passage from an upstream end towards an end downstream thereof, and arranged operable with a heat source so that heated fluid can be introduced into a portion of the passage in a tangential manner; the fluid distribution assembly comprising a means for facilitating or encouraging the flow of the heated fluid and/or carriage of dried material through the passage; a disaggregation assembly arranged in operable association with the fluid distribution assembly, and configured for engaging with sample material to be dried for the purpose of modifying the sample for increasing the effective surface area of the sample material which is exposed to the heated fluid flow; and means for managing a thermal state of the flow of heated fluid, arranged operable with the fluid distribution assembly so that exposure of the sample to the heated fluid flow facilitates a reduction of the moisture content of a portion of the sample while the temperature of the portion remains substantially below a predetermined temperature level so as to preserve one or more signature characteristics of the mineralogy of the portion, wherein the means for managing the thermal state of the heated fluid comprises one or more sensor units provided at locations along the flow of heated fluid, the or each sensor units comprising a temperature sensor, characterised in that the fluid distribution assembly comprises a fluid mixing assembly configured for facilitating, at least in part, rotational, non-linear, or unsteady flow of the fluid as it progresses downstream, wherein the fluid mixing assembly is arranged so as to be movable in a direction substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the passage for, at least in part, modifying and/or controlling the flow of heated fluid, wherein the fluid mixing assembly comprises a rotating member having one or more fluid engaging members extending therefrom, the or each fluid engaging member configured for engaging with the heated fluid, wherein the fluid mixing assembly and the disaggregation assembly are provided as an integrated component/assembly. a fluid distribution assembly arranged for providing a flow of heated fluid for flowing through a passage from an upstream end towards an end downstream thereof, and arranged operable with a heat source so that heated fluid can be introduced into a portion of the passage in a tangential manner; the fluid distribution assembly comprising a means for facilitating or encouraging the flow of the heated fluid and/or carriage of dried material through the passage; a disaggregation assembly arranged in operable association with the fluid distribution assembly, and configured for engaging with sample material to be dried for the purpose of modifying the sample for increasing the effective surface area of the sample material which is exposed to the heated fluid flow; and means for managing a thermal state of the flow of heated fluid, arranged operable with the fluid distribution assembly so that exposure of the sample to the heated fluid flow facilitates a reduction of the moisture content of a portion of the sample while the temperature of the portion remains substantially below a predetermined temperature level so as to preserve one or more signature characteristics of the mineralogy of the portion, wherein the means for managing the thermal state of the heated fluid comprises one or more sensor units provided at locations along the flow of heated fluid, the or each sensor units comprising a temperature sensor, characterised in that the fluid distribution assembly comprises a fluid mixing assembly configured for facilitating, at least in part, rotational, non-linear, or unsteady flow of the fluid as it progresses downstream, wherein the fluid mixing assembly is arranged so as to be movable in a direction substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the passage for, at least in part, modifying and/or controlling the flow of heated fluid, wherein the fluid mixing assembly comprises a rotating member having one or more fluid engaging members extending therefrom, the or each fluid engaging member configured for engaging with the heated fluid, wherein the fluid mixing assembly and the disaggregation assembly are provided as an integrated component/assembly.