Gilsonite

A variety of natural asphalt having a black color, brilliant luster, brittle consistency, and conchoidal fractures. It is found only in the Uinta Mountains of Utah. The term "gilsonite" was originally a registered trademark in the late 19th century. It is used in black varnishes, lacquers, baking enamels, japans, linoleum, floor tile, and paving where it increases resistance to acids, alkalis, and water. In the early 19th century, gilsonite was often mixed with mica, asbestos, gums, or resins to produce electrical components. It is also the first solid hydrocarbon to be converted to gasoline.