Gilsonite or natural bitumen grade B (5-10%)
Application of Gilsonite 5-10%: This grade of mineral bitumen is used in drilling, mixed with ordinary asphalt, construction materials and cheaper paint formulations.
Ash content: up to 10%
Moisture level: maximum 1%
Mesh sizes: 30, 40, 100 to 300
Packing
Depending on the customer’s request, various types of packaging with the following specifications can be provided:
Laminated bags 25 kg ± 5%
Multi-layer paper bags (Kraft) 25 kg ± 5%
Multi-layer sacks 25 kg ± 5%
1 mt jumbo bag
All the above products can be provided in shirring, strapped, and palletized packages depending on the customer’s request.
Natural bitumen: price of natural bitumen + applications
Natural bitumen, mineral bitumen or Gilsonite is a natural hydrocarbon and resin. This natural bitumen is similar to hard petroleum asphalt, which is classified by geologists as a substance soluble in petroleum solvents. In the rest of this article, we will talk more about natural mineral bitumen, Gilsonite applications, Gilsonite mine in Iran and the global price of natural bitumen and we will check what mineral bitumen is.
What is Gilsonite or natural bitumen?
First, we answer the question of what Gilsonite is. Gilsonite or natural bitumen is a stone impregnated with bitumen (asphaltene) which is solid. There are natural bitumen mines in different countries including America and Iran. Natural bitumen mines in Iran (Gilsonite mines in Iran) are mostly located in Kermanshah province. Mineral bitumen has a relatively high melting temperature and were initially used as electrical insulation or waterproof compounds.
Gilsonite powder
Gilsonite powder or natural bitumen powder is a natural solid hydrocarbon material that is extracted from the compression of organic materials over millions of years from Gilsonite veins located mainly in Iran and America. But what is the color of natural bitumen? Natural Gilsonite is dark brown to black and shiny and can be easily ground into powder. Gilsonite chemical formula consists of complex hydrocarbons, a small amount of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur.
Natural Gilsonite powder easily dissolves in aromatic and organic solvents, and because of this property, it is usually used as an additive in various products. Gilsonite and its powder are obtained from 100% natural sources, which makes it environmentally friendly.
Types of natural mine bitumen and its different grades
Petroleum mineral bitumen or Gilsonite is classified into different types and grades based on specific criteria that determine their application and use. This classification helps various industries to identify and choose the right type of natural bitumen powder for their needs. In the following, we mention the separation of different types and grades after Gilsonite processing.
Gilsonite grade A
Ash content: up to 5%
Moisture level: maximum 1%
Mesh sizes: 30, 40, 100 to 300
Uses of natural bitumen grade A: This grade of Gilsonite is considered the purest form and is widely used in industries that require low ash, such as paints, inks, and specialty asphalt formulations.
Gilsonite or natural bitumen grade B
Ash content: up to 10%
Moisture level: maximum 1%
Mesh sizes: 30, 40, 100 to 300
Application of Gilsonite Grade B: This grade of mineral bitumen is used in drilling, mixed with ordinary asphalt, construction materials and cheaper paint formulations.
Gilsonite grade C
Ash content: maximum 15%
Moisture level: maximum 1%
Mesh sizes: 30, 40, 100 to 300
Application of natural bitumen grade C: This grade of mineral bitumen is suitable for some applications of asphalt, drilling and in making certain grades of dark inks.
Grade D natural bitumen
Ash content: maximum 20%
Moisture level: maximum 1%
Mesh sizes: 30, 40, 100 to 300
Application of Gilsonite Grade D: This mineral bitumen is often used in road construction and the production of special adhesives and sealants.
Gilsonite grade E
Ash content: maximum 25%
Moisture level: maximum 1%
Mesh sizes: 30, 40, 100 to 300
Application of grade E natural bitumen: this type of mineral bitumen is usually used in cases where the ash content is of little importance; For example, for road construction.
How are natural bitumen reserves formed?
Most of the bitumen used commercially is obtained from crude oil, but there are also large amounts of bitumen in nature. Natural bitumen is formed from the remains of algae, diatoms and other organisms. These deposits of natural bitumen (or mineral bitumen in English) were formed in the Carboniferous period, when there were large swamp forests in many parts of the earth.
They were deposited in the mud of the bottom of the ocean or a lake where living organisms lived, and under the heat of over 50 degrees Celsius and the pressure of burial in the deep earth, they turned into substances such as bitumen, kerogen or oil.
Discovery of Gilsonite
Gilsonite mineral bitumen or natural bitumen was first discovered in America in the 19th century. The discovery of Gilsonite or natural bitumen by Samuel H. Gilson was done. He discovered a shiny, black crude substance that, upon examination, was found to be more than 95 percent hydrocarbons.
Over the years, Gilson made many attempts to use this material for various applications but was unsuccessful. In the following years, natural bitumen from the mine was used for other applications. For example, Gilsonite has been used in the paint and varnish industries due to its better purity, solubility and applicability. This mineral bitumen had a high softening point and its hydrocarbon structure was familiar to people active in this business.
Properties of natural bitumen
The properties of natural bitumen make this mineral useful for various purposes. Among the properties of natural bitumen, the following can be mentioned:
Soluble in aromatic solvents and most chlorinated solvents
High asphaltene content
High solubility in organic solvents
High purity and stable properties
High molecular weight
High resin and nitrogen content
