I've got a 1974 collection on slurry - Proceedings of Hydrotransport 3 (BHRA Fluid Engineering, ISBN 0 900983 37X), so yes, the concepts and practice have been around for some time.
You probably already have done this, but give a crack at hydrotransport or hydrohoist slurry transport out on the web.
Quite a bit going on, it appears. Sorry if this is late. Hope you do well in your search.