BITUMEN

Bitumen is a category of organically-based liquids that are highly , black, and sticky. They are wholly soluble in . The world's largest deposit of bituman is in the in . Naturally occurring or crude bitumen is a sticky, -like form of which is so thick and heavy that it must be heated or diluted before it will flow. At room temperature, it is much like cold . Refined bitumen is the residual (bottom) fraction obtained by of . It is the heaviest fraction and the one with the highest boiling point, boiling at 525