Gilsonite, "Natural Bitumen, Natural Asphalt"
Gilsonite, also known as "uintahite", "asphaltum" or asphaltite, is a naturally occurring soluble solid hydrocarbon, a form of asphalt (or bitumen) with a relatively high melting temperature. Gilsonite is mined in underground shafts and resembles shiny black obsidian.
Gilsonite is used in more than 160 products:
primarily in dark-colored printing inks and paints
oil well drilling muds and cements
asphalt modifiers
foundry sand additives
and a wide variety of chemical products.
