Gilsonite Asphalt (Natural bitumen) are natural occurring hydrocarbon substances characterized by a high softening point (above 110° C) in the class known as asphaltite. They are mined much like other minerals and sold essentially in their native state. They are fully compatible with asphalt and have long been known as asphalt hardeners and reinforcing agents. Gilsonite is currently sold all over the world as a road bitumen modifier in the form of a dry bulk solid granular powder.

The mixture of Gilsonite Asphalt (Natural bitumen) into road asphalt relates to a base stock composition comprising a blend of natural bitumen and a rubber latex residue. The base stock may be used alone as a paving material or emulsified to form a natural bitumen emulsion having a variety of uses. The mixture of natural bitumen enforces asphalt against rutting and thickness of the asphalt with becoming thin.

The present invention is directed to an asphalt cement composition formed from petroleum asphalt, natural bitumen, reactive oil, and an elastomer. The elastomer has a gel content of up to about 95 percent by weight.

Gilsonite Asphalt (Natural bitumen) modified road asphalt has been particularly successful in highly stressed traffic areas. Natural bitumen, as the majority constituent, has been combined with virgin polymers such as styrene – butadiene – styrene (SBS) and Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA). Gilsonite modified asphalt binders generally do not increase asphalt binder content requirement in pavement mixtures.
Performance grading of asphalt binders and pavement mixtures became a reality with the conclusion of the “FHWA” 50 million dollars, Strategic Highway Research Program, “SHRP”, in March of 1993. “SHRP” developed new asphalt binder specifications and test criteria based on the engineering properties related to pavement performance.

Nowadays the importance of asphalt, because of its use in road networks, airports, highways et cetera, is obvious to everyone all over the world.

Asphalt with an adequate quality is important in different aspects:
Economic: A considerable portion of Municipalities’ budgets, their Civic Engineering and Roads and Transport sections, are spent on manufacturing, applying and maintaining asphalt. If asphalt can be manufactured to have a two to three times longer effective lifetime the costs related to asphalt maintenance would be reduced commensurately. It is also obvious it would be more economical if cheaper substances could be used as modifiers or the bitumen for asphalt.
Environmental: The bitumen that exists in asphalt, due to containing heavy aromatic substances that can be released into the environment in small amounts after rainfall, pollute the environment, specifically underground waters. This pollution can be reduced by replacing a small percentage of the bitumen with green substances such as Gilsonite (Natural bitumen) or using complexing materials.
Driving: It is obvious that good asphalt affects driving. Nowadays, good quality asphalt with low deformation susceptibility, low-temperature susceptibility, high resistance to water stripping and high friction rate will help driving safety at high speeds and in different weather conditions (cold, warm, freezing).
Protecting and Saving Mineral and Natural Resources: Stone materials are used, alongside bitumen and other added substances, in manufacturing asphalt. By adding to the effective lifetime of asphalt the use of those materials would also be decreased.