 What is Gilsonite?
Gilsonite is a natural, resinous
hydrocarbon. This natural asphalt is
similar to hard petroleum asphalt and is
often called a natural asphalt, asphaltite, uintaite, or asphaltum.
Gilsonite is soluble in aromatic and
aliphatic solvents, as well as petroleum
asphalt. Due to its unique
compatibility, Gilsonite is frequently
used to harden softer petroleum
products. Gilsonite in mass is a shiny,
black substance similar in appearance to
the mineral obsidian. It is brittle and
can be easily crushed into a dark brown
powder.
Gilsonite is found below the earth's
surface in vertical veins or seams that
are generally between two and six feet
in width, but can be as wide as 28 feet.
The veins are nearly parallel to each
other and are oriented in a northwest to
southeast direction. They extend many
miles in length and as deep as 1500
feet. The vein will show up on the
surface as a thin outcropping and
gradually widen as it goes deeper. Due
to the narrow mining face, Gilsonite is
mined today, much like it was 50 or 100
years ago. The primary difference is
that modern miners use pneumatic
chipping hammers and mechanical hoists.
Gilsonite History & General Information
The mineral now know as Gilsonite was
discovered in the early 1860's, but it
was not until the mid-1880's that Samuel
H. Gilson began to promote it as a
waterproof coating for wooden pilings,
as an insulation for wire cable, and as
a unique varnish. Gilson's promotion of
the ore was so successful that, in 1888,
he and a partner formed the first
company to mine and market Gilsonite on
a commercial scale.
Originally, Gilsonite was sold as
"Selects" and "Fines"; the law softening
point ore with conchoidal fracture was
known as "Selects". The higher softening
point ore with a pencillated structure
was known as "Fines". Selects commanded
a higher price than Fines because of its
better purity, good solubility, and
usefulness in the paint, stain, and
varnish industries.
Time and technology have changed this
classification system. Processing of
Gilsonite now removes most of the inert
contaminants and newer, more powerful,
solvents make the higher softening point
grades more interesting to the user.
Today, Gilsonite is graded by softening
point (a rough measure of solubility)
and particle size. All grades carry a
degree of quality far superior to those
first small amounts of crude Gilsonite
marketed in the 1880's.
Gilsonite Technical Information
The information in these pages is
based on laboratory evaluation and field
experience. It is correct to the best of
our knowledge. Recommendations are made
without warranty or guarantee and buyer
assumes all risk and liability.
Barite Geology [BaSO4]
A dense sulfate mineral that can
occur in a variety of rocks, including
limestone and sandstone, and is commonly
used to add weight to drilling mud.
Barite is of significance to
petrophysicists because excess barite
can require a correction factor in some
well log measurements. |