Did you know that asphalt is made of crude oil? It’s true! Asphalt is a petroleum-based product, which means it’s made from the same stuff as gasoline and other products derived from crude oil. In fact, asphalt is sometimes called bitumen, which is just another word for crude oil. Asphalt surfaces are also sometimes called “blacktop”.
Asphalt is a natural material that has been used for thousands of years. In fact, the first recorded use of asphalt was by the ancient Babylonians, who used it to make roads and roofs. The word “asphalt” comes from the Greek word “asphaltos,” which means “secure.”
Asphalt is very durable and can last for many years. In fact, some asphalt pavements have been in use for over 50 years! Asphalt is also recyclable, so it can be used again and again.
Some more interesting facts about asphalt…
Asphalt can be found naturally in lakes.
It is found naturally in some lakes, where it forms a layer on the water’s surface. Asphalt is thought to have formed when organic material was compressed and heated by the weight of the overlying rock. Asphalt lakes are found in many parts of the world, including Australia, Canada, and the United States. The asphalt-lined Lake Pitch is the largest known lake of its kind. Pitch Lake is the largest natural asphalt deposit in the world. Located in the town of La Brea on the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, the lake holds about 10 million tons of natural asphalt and is approximately 250 feet deep. Closer to home there are the La Brea Tar Pits in southern California. This “lake” is really a series of separate tar pits, some of which are connected. The tar pits are home to many prehistoric animals which found themselves trapped in the tar pits, making this area a very active archaeological site.
The Asphalt in the Dead Sea was used for mummification.
One of the most famous deposits is the Asphalt Lake in the Dead Sea, which has been used for mummification since ancient times. Asphalt is very effective at preserving bodies, as it prevents decomposition by sealing off the tissues from air and moisture. As a result, mummies preserved in the asphalt have often been remarkably well-preserved, with their skin and internal organs still intact. In recent years, scientists have begun to study mummies preserved in asphalt in order to learn more about the lives of ancient people. By studying the chemical composition of the Asphalt, they can gain insight into the diets of these individuals and track changes in climate over time. Asphalt mummies are thus an important source of information for archaeologists and historians.
Asphalt roads in the U.S. began in 1870
Asphalt pavements were first used in the United States in about 1870. By the early 20th century asphalt was the primary paving material on roads throughout most of America and Asphalt roads now cover 95 percent of paved surfaces in the U.S. From 1910 to 2015, U.S. consumption of asphalt increased from less than 10 million metric tons per year to more than 100 million metric tons annually. Asphalt is also used on airport runways and taxiways, car parks/parking lots, cycle paths, and pedestrian footpaths prepared with asphalt concrete base products that protect from heavy wear by vehicles and from water and frost damage.
If you are in need of an asphalt driveway, parking lot, walkway, or any paving project, contact Chris Paving, LLC for a free quote. Chris Paving has been paving projects all over southeast Louisiana since 2003.