Gilsonite

Development and production of this unique material began in 1885when Samuel H. Gilson characterized the ore and named it Gilsonite. In1888, Gilson and a partner formed the Gilsonite Manufacturing Company,American Gilsonite first commercial ancestor. Gilsonite-branduintaite's earliest applications included paints for buggies andemulsions for beer-vat lining. The name "Gilsonite" has been registeredas a federal trademark since 1921 and is American Gilsonite Company'sexclusive property.

Gilsonite is a glossy, black, solid hydrocarbon resin similar inappearance to coal or hard asphalt. It is brittle and lightweight andcan be easily crushed into powder. Its unique chemical propertiesidentify it as belonging to its own sub-group of the ATDM Gilsonitefamily. Gilsonite occurs naturally in a very pure state, and softens ina range of temperatures according to grade, from 302 to 464 degreesFahrenheit (150-240 degrees Celsius). It has low specific gravity, highnitrogen content and very lower sulfur content. It is non-carcinogenicand safe to handle in its natural state.

ATDM has a long history of supplying its Gilsonite-brand nameproducts for the world market. The material now called Gilsonite ornatural bitumen, mineral bitumen, mineral tar, mineral pitch,bituminous, natural asphalt was discovered in the Kermanshah since2001. Modern geologists believe that the origin of Gilsonite is linkedto the rich oil shale of the Green River Formation that underlies muchof the basin. Deep vertical fissures in the earth's surface were oncefilled with a heavy, viscous hydrocarbon that lost its volatileconstituents and solidified millions of years ago.

Avizheh Technology Development of Middle East  (ATDM) isheadquartered in Tehran. Mining and processing are located inKermanshah. At Kermanshah ATDM operates a network of undergrounduintaite mines, a blown bitumen  refining plant, and a powdering plantwith multiple capabilities. Our plants have advanced materials handlingand packing facilities, storage silos and bins for 8,000 tons ofproduct and a covered warehouse with multiple loading docks. ATDMquality control labs conduct extensive product testing on every orderwe ship. ATDM currently has about 50 full-time employees, most of themworking at the Kermanshah Mine Site, and a worldwide agent anddistributor network.

From our plants we provide customers with a dependable supply ofmade-to-spec products in a variety of packaging options, including ourrefined blown bitumen also mixed Gilsonite with bitumen 60/70 andobtained through a proprietary solvent extraction process. Our productsare carefully screened for mesh, dried to controlled moisturespecifications from around 1.5%, classified by particle size, held inlarge concrete silos until ready for final packaging, and stored in acovered warehouse prior to shipment. Our labs conduct extensive qualitycontrols throughout the production process and every order is shippedwith an individual certificate of analysis that guarantees itsadherence to specifications.

ATDM history

As the world's major supplier of Gilsonite products, we marketmany different grades of Gilsonite and Gilsonite resins, each withproperties tied to a specific end-use. We have extensive experience inshipping direct from Mine Site and through Vessel, truck and train also small quantity by airplane in over 50 countries around the world.

Gilsonite is compatible with microcrystalline and paraffin wax,petroleum resin and oil, rosins, tall oil pitch, vegetable oil(linseed, soya, etc), petroleum process oils and  petroleum asphalt.

Gilsonite compatibility

Gilsonite Technical Information
Theinformationin these pages is based on laboratory evaluation and fieldexperience.It is correct to the best of our knowledge. Recommendationsare madewithout warranty or guarantee and buyer assumes all risk andliability.

Gilsonite History & General Information
Themineralnow know as Gilsonite was discovered in the early 1860's, butit was notuntil the mid-1880's that Samuel H. Gilson began to promoteit as awaterproof coating for wooden pilings, as an insulation forwire cable,and as a unique varnish. Gilson's promotion of the ore wasso successfulthat, in 1888, he and a partner formed the first companyto mine andmarket Gilsonite on a commercial scale.
Originally,Gilsonite wassold as "Selects" and "Fines"; the low softening pointore withconchoidal fracture was known as "Selects". The highersoftening pointore with a pencillated structure was known as "Fines".Selects commandeda higher price than Fines because of its betterpurity, good solubility,and usefulness in the paint, stain, andvarnish industries.
Timeand technology have changed thisclassification system. Processing ofGilsonite now removes most of theinert contaminants and newer, morepowerful, solvents make the highersoftening point grades moreinteresting to the user. Today, Gilsoniteis graded by softening point(a rough measure of solubility) andparticle size. All grades carry adegree of quality far superior tothose first small amounts of crudeGilsonite marketed in the 1880's.

What is Gilsonite?
Gilsonite isanatural, resinous hydrocarbon. This natural asphalt is similar to hardpetroleum asphalt and is often called a natural asphalt,asphaltite,uintaite, or asphaltum. Gilsonite is soluble in aromatic and aliphaticsolvents, 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 tothe mineral obsidian. It is brittle and can be easily crushed into adark brown powder.
Gilsonite is found below the earth's surface invertical veins or seams that are generally betweentwo and six feet inwidth, but can be as wide as 28 feet. The veins arenearly parallel toeach other and are oriented in a northwest tosoutheast direction. Theyextend many miles in length and as deep as1500 feet. The vein will showup on the surface as a thin outcroppingand gradually widen as it goesdeeper. Due to the narrow mining face,Gilsonite is mined today, muchlike it was 50 or 100 years ago. Theprimary difference is that modernminers use pneumatic chipping hammersand mechanical hoists.

Natural asphalt, gilsonite, natural bitumen, drilling mud, mineral asphalt, bitumen powder, walnut sell, Sulfonate asphalt,Natural asphalt, gilsonite, natural bitumen, drilling mud, mineral tar,mineral asphalt, bitumen powder, mineral pitch, bituminous, tar