Gilsonite, also known as asphaltum or uintaite, is a natural hydrocarbon found in the Uinta Basin in northeastern Utah. This natural asphalt is similar to hard petroleum asphalt and is mostly known as natural asphalt, uintaite, or asphaltum.
Gilsonite appears as a shiny, black substance. It is soluble in aromatic and aliphatic solvents as well as petroleum asphalt.
Due to its unique compatibility, Gilsonite is continuously used to harden softer petroleum products. It resembles mineral wax in appearance, being brittle and easily pulverized into a dark brown powder.
Below the Earth's surface, Gilsonite veins or seams, typically between two and six feet wide, run almost parallel to each other and trend northwest to southeast. These veins can extend for several kilometers and have a depth of 1,500 feet.
Gilsonite veins appear on the surface and gradually widen as they go deeper. The veins are smooth and vertical, extending over a range of about 100 kilometers in length and 50 kilometers in width. This mineral was formed millions of years ago as a result of a geological event that created a semi-bituminous reservoir to seal large surface fractures.
Over time, it hardened and transformed into the resinous rock that is extracted today. Gilsonite is extracted manually using pneumatic hammers in underground shafts. It is categorized based on its temperature grade, then dried and classified according to customer needs and demands.
Ultimately, after passing quality control measures, it is exported to over 80 countries worldwide. Mixing Gilsonite with bitumen reduces penetration and increases its viscosity and softening point, making it suitable for various applications in road construction.
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Adding Gilsonite to bitumen reduces rutting and various other problems encountered when asphalt is subjected to heavy traffic and warm weather conditions. It also reduces the temperature sensitivity of bitumen, resulting in its good performance in high temperatures and reducing its susceptibility to damage in low temperatures.
Mixing Gilsonite with bitumen is straightforward and easy. It can be directly added to hot bitumen or mixed with asphalt. It is also economically advantageous during the contracting process, as the cost of using Gilsonite is lower than adding ethylene vinyl acetate or styrene butadiene styrene polymers.
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Another advantage of using Gilsonite is its simplicity in combining with other hot mix components. The stable appearance and form of the solution are maintained during storage.
Gilsonite is extensively used in warm mix asphalt for road construction in many countries such as Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, France, and Germany, with successful results.
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