Cera montana

Mineral wax that is technically a fossilized plant wax, obtained from lignite and peat found in a few deposits worldwide: Amsdorf, Germany, Ione, California, and in the brown coals of Oklahoma and Texas. Its color ranges from dark brown to light yellow when crude, or white when refined. Its composition is non-glyceride long-chain carboxylic acid esters, free long-chain organic acids, long-chain alcohols, ketones, hydrocarbons, and resins. It is used as an alternative to carnauba or beeswax in applications such as wood polish, phonograph records, paint, waterproof coatings, adhesives, paper sizing, candles, carbon papers, and insulation.