Gilsonite, also known as Uintahite or Asphaltum, is a naturally produced solid hydrocarbon bitumen originating from Utah and Colorado in the United States and Kermanshah province in Iran. It is used in various industries, including oil and gas, ink, paint, construction, asphalt, and foundry.

Introduction of Gilsonite Natural Bitumen

Gilsonite ( Natural Asphalt or Natural Bitumen ) , also recognized as Uintahite or Asphaltum, is a Bitumen-impregnated rock (Asphaltite) that primarily originates from Utah and Colorado in the United States of America and Kermanshah province in Iran. It is a naturally produced solid hydrocarbon bitumen. Although discovered in various other regions around the world, its large-scale production is predominantly observed only in Kermanshah of Iran.Gilsonite or Uintahite is a naturally produced hydrocarbon resin with properties that improve the performance of critical applications through multiple industries comprising but not limited to oil and gas, ink, paint, construction, asphalt, and foundry.

History

Gilsonite ore is mined in underground shafts and look like shiny black obsidian. Initially discovered in the 1860s, about twenty-five years later in the mid-80’s, Samuel H. Gilson promoted it as a varnish, electrical insulator, and waterproofing complex.

This distinctive mineral is utilized in more than 160 products, from dark-colored printing inks and paints, to oil well drilling mud and cements, asphalt modifiers, foundry sand additives, and an extensive range of chemical products. This natural asphalt is comparable to hard petroleum asphalt and is frequently entitled as Natural Asphalt , Asphaltite, Uintahite, or Asphaltum.

bitumen, has many applications in various industries. These applications are defined and determined for each industry; and that industry uses raw material or finished product and processed bitumen as needed.

Physical properties of Gilsonite

Gilsonite or natural bitumen has several unique physical properties that make it ideal for various applications. Its high melting point is around 500°F, making it ideal for use in high temperature applications. It is also very hard and brittle, meaning it can be easily crushed into a fine powder. In addition, it is impermeable to most chemicals and solvents.

Also, Gilsonite, natural bitumen (a solid, brittle, shiny substance, with a lot of shine. Its ore is black and its powder is brown. In terms of physical and chemical appearance, it resembles coal, fossil fuels, bitumen and petroleum products. Its main difference with coal is its soft property and its melting before burning, and its main difference with bitumen is its hardness and the properties of its polar molecules, which gives it dispersive properties.

Gilsonite’s fundamental difference with natural and artificial hydrocarbon minerals has made it used in most applied industries as a unique mineral in terms of physical and chemical properties. mineral bitumen is divided into three grades: normal, separated and screened, which is based on the melting point, their refractive index and the amount of fine particles.

Chemical composition of Gilsonite

Gilsonite is primarily composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. It also contains small amounts of sulfur and nitrogen. Its chemical composition gives it several unique properties, such as a high carbon content, which makes it an excellent source of carbon black and activated carbon.

Gilsonite molecular structure:

Mineral bitumen is made up of a complex mixture of organic compounds, in order to determine its special characteristics, various analytical tests are performed for its chemical structure. Preliminary analysis of a sample of mineral bitumen identifies elements such as carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen in gilsonite.

Types of origin of natural bitumen or gilsonite:

Natural bitumen’s or Gilsonite have 5 different origins and are classified accordingly:

1. Bitumen’s that are accompanied by layers and materials, in which oil is formed.
2. Bitumen’s that are along with hemiclonal layers and the ends of the mentioned edges are visible on the ground.
3. Bitumen’s that appear in places of discontinuities and other slopes.
4. Bitumen’s that are caused by large reservoirs that have been broken due to activities such as folding and faulting.
5. Bitumen which is observed along with the influence of some geological phenomena such as: volcanic eruptions, salt domes and igneous intrusions.

Grades of Gilsonite

The grading of Gilsonite is primarily based on its ash content, which impacts its purity, and the mesh size, which determines its particle size.

1. Grade 1: Gilsonite with up to 5% ash content, moisture up to 1%, available in meshes 30, 40, 100 to 300. This grade represents one of the purest forms of Gilsonite.
2. Grade 2: Contains up to 10% ash content, moisture capped at 1%, and meshes 30, 40, 100 to 300.
3. Grade 3: Features ash content up to 15%, moisture levels up to 1%, available in meshes 30, 40, 100 to 300.
4. Grade 4: This variant holds ash content up to 20%, a moisture level up to 1%, and is available in meshes 30, 40, 100 to 300.
5. Grade 5: The grade with up to 25% ash content, moisture levels at a maximum of 1%, and provided in meshes 30, 40, 100 to 300.

Application of Gilsonite in Industry

Gilsonite is soluble in aromatic and aliphatic solvents and petroleum asphalt. Thanks to its exceptional compatibility, Gilsonite is often used to harden softer petroleum products. Gilsonite in form is a shiny, black material alike the mineral obsidian. It is brittle and can be easily crushed into a dark brown powder. As an additive to asphalt cement or hot mix asphalt, Gilsonite helps to produce dramatically stabilized paving mixes.

Drilling mud

In the dynamic world of oil and gas exploration, the significance of drilling mud, also known as drilling fluid, cannot be overstated. This heavy, viscous fluid mixture plays a pivotal role in drilling operations by carrying rock cuttings to the surface, lubricating and cooling the drill bit, and maintaining stability within the borehole. Let’s delve deeper into the world of drilling mud to understand its composition, functions, and impact on the petroleum engineering landscape.

Drilling mud is a specialized fluid mixture used extensively in the field of petroleum engineering during drilling operations. It serves a dual purpose: carrying rock cuttings to the surface and ensuring the smooth functioning of the drill bit. Its unique properties make it an indispensable component in drilling activities.

The functions of drilling mud are multifaceted. Firstly, it acts as a lubricant, reducing friction and preventing wear on the drill bit. Secondly, it carries rock cuttings to the surface, allowing for a clean drilling process. Additionally, drilling mud provides hydrostatic pressure to maintain stability within the borehole.

Gilsonite Applications in Rubber Industry

Natural Asphalt can be used as a viscosity modifier in rubber formulations. It helps to reduce the viscosity of the rubber mixture, making it easier to process and mold. Its low ash content and low sulfur content make it an excellent additive for rubber compounds.

Another application for Gilsonite in the rubber industry is as a filler material. It can be used to increase the volume and weight of rubber products, while still maintaining the necessary physical properties. Natural asphalt has a high specific gravity, which means it is heavier than other fillers. This makes it an excellent material for use in high-density rubber products, such as weight-lifting equipment or conveyor belts.

Asphalt pavement

Asphalt pavement is renowned for its exceptional durability and resilience, making it the ultimate choice for a wide range of paved surfaces. Its unmatched strength has earned the trust and preference of both state and federal governments, thanks to its reliability and long-lasting nature. When properly laid, asphalt pavement can endure for an impressive twenty to twenty-five years without needing replacement.

Moreover, asphalt pavement reigns supreme as the most popular option for various applications, including driveways, parking lots, roadways, and even airstrips. Its versatility knows no bounds, as it can be found virtually everywhere. Surprisingly, asphalt also holds the distinction of being the most commonly recycled material in the United States, surpassing even paper or plastic. An astounding 80% of all asphalt pavement is recycled when it is removed, highlighting its sustainability and environmental benefits.

Gilsonite in foundry

Foundries are factories that are used to make metal parts by melting and pouring metal into molds. Foundries are an integral part of the manufacturing industry, and they have been around for centuries. Gilsonite is used in various casting industries as a carbonaceous additive due to its unique properties such as high carbon content, low ash content, and good fluidity. Some of the foundries where  Natural Bitumen can be used are as follows:

Steel foundries are facilities that produce steel castings. One of the  Natural Bitumen applications in foundry is that it’s used in steel casting as a carbon additive as it has a high carbon content and is easy to handle. Carbon is added to steel to improve its strength and durability and  Natural Bitumen is an excellent source of it. When added to the steel melt, gilsonite increases the carbon content, which improves the steel’s properties.

Gilsonite in pipe coating

Gilsonite, also known as asphaltum, is a black, solid, natural Pipelines are a critical component of the energy industry, used to transport oil, natural gas, and other types of fluids over long distances.  Natural Bitumen is an ideal material for pipe coating because it is highly resistant to corrosion, abrasion, and other forms of damage. Let’s read the following article and explore  Natural Bitumen applications in pipe coatings and the benefits it has.

Gilsonite in pipe coatings offers many and countless benefits. It is highly adhesive, which means it can bond tightly to the surface of the pipe and provide a durable, long-lasting layer of protection. Additionally,  Natural Bitumen has a low viscosity, which makes it easy to apply evenly to the surface of the pipe.

One of the key benefits of using  Natural Bitumen in pipe coating is that it is a natural, environmentally friendly material. Unlike many synthetic materials that are used for pipe coatings,  Natural Bitumen is not toxic or harmful to the environment, and it can be safely disposed of without causing any long-term damage.

Sulfonated asphalt

Sodium sulfonated asphalt is an additive used to control shale in drilling operations. Its purpose is to prevent the swelling and caving of shales caused by hydrous disintegration. Additionally, sulphonated asphalt serves as a lost circulation additive, effectively plugging zones where drilling fluid is being lost. This prevents a complete loss of drilling fluid into the formation being drilled, ensuring continuous circulation from the bottom of the drill hole to the top.

To plug such zones, sulfonated asphalt agents can include inorganic chemical grouts or cement mixtures containing silicates, metallic oxides, and limestone. These substances effectively seal off the area and prevent further loss of drilling fluid.

Sulfonated Asphalt is a water soluble sodium asphalt sulfonated product, created through a distinctive sulfonation process. It serves as a highly versatile mud conditioner, offering numerous benefits such as stabilizing shale formations, enhancing lubricity, reducing high-temperature high-pressure fluid loss (HTHP), and improving filter cake properties in both oil based and water based drilling fluids. This additive can be easily mixed with most water based, oil based, and synthetic muds.

Different Applications of Gilsonite in Paint and Ink

Natural Bitumen is a naturally occurring resinous hydrocarbon found in different locations around the world. It has several applications in the paint and ink industry, which are:

• Black Ink: This natural asphalt is widely used in black ink formulations as a pigment dispersant and to impart greater gloss, printability, and ink penetration. Black ink is also known as organic ink because of the  Natural Bitumen  content.
• Wood Coatings: In some wood coatings, such as varnishes and stains,  Natural Bitumen can be added for better penetration, durability, and light fastness. The color, gloss, and water resistance are also improved when uintaite is added to the formula.
• Asphaltic Paints: Another application of  Natural Bitumen in paint and ink is that it is used as a binder in the production of asphaltic paints for protecting metal surfaces from corrosion and improving adhesion, durability, and water resistance.
• Industrial Coatings: It seems that the applications of  Natural Bitumen in paint and ink are countless because this material is used in industrial coatings, such as pipeline coatings, to improve their hardness, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance.
• Coatings and Adhesives: Gilsonite is also utilized as a resin or additive in coatings and adhesives to improve their performance and waterproofing properties. It also helps with hardness and weather resistance.
• Road Marking Paints: Being used as a binder in road marking paints is one of the applications of  Natural Bitumen in paint and ink. These types of paints are used for marking traffic signs and road lanes. Uintaite can improve the marking paints’ durability and resistance to abrasion and weathering.
• Oil-based Paints: Gilsonite can be added to oil-based paints to improve their flow and leveling properties.
• Concrete Sealers: To enhance concrete sealer adhesion to surfaces and enhance the gloss,  Natural Bitumen appears to be a great solution.
• Marine Coatings: Marin coatings must be resistant to water, salt, and UV radiation, and adding  Natural Bitumen to their formula can improve these properties.

Suppliers of Gilsonite

Bitumen sources are bitumen mines or gilsonite. That’s why it’s also called bitumen. It exists in auxiliary mines in a number of countries. These include Iraq, Australia, Russia, Canada, Venezuela and Russia. There is also large bitumen and gilsonite mine in Iran, often located in the western and southern parts of the country. Ilam, Kermanshah and Kazakhstan are some of the cities where Gilsonite mines are located in Iran.