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Bituminous

Bituminous is an adjective used to describe materials that contain bitumen or possess the properties of bitumen. Bitumen is a dense, viscous form of petroleum that is black or very dark in color. It occurs naturally in some geological deposits and is also produced during the refining of crude oil. Bituminous substances are typically sticky when warm, insoluble in water, and soluble in organic solvents; they have high waterproofing value and adhesive qualities.

In geology and mining, bituminous also denotes a rank of coal; bituminous coal is a relatively carbon-rich

Applications of bitumen include asphalt for road surfaces, roofing and waterproofing materials, sealants, and protective coatings.

Environmental and technical considerations include the energy requirements and emissions associated with extraction, upgrading, and use

form
with
substantial
volatile
matter
and
is
widely
used
as
a
fuel
and
as
a
feedstock
in
steelmaking
(for
coke
production).
In
road
construction,
bitumen
is
heated
and
mixed
with
aggregate
to
form
asphalt
concrete,
a
durable
paving
material.
Natural
bitumen
may
occur
in
deposits
such
as
oil
sands
(tar
sands),
where
it
is
recovered
by
mining
or
in-situ
methods
and
upgraded
to
synthetic
crude
oil.
of
bitumen-rich
fuels,
as
well
as
the
management
of
asphalt
pavements
at
end
of
life.