rock asphalt

chemical compound

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 19, 2026

Quick Summary

Rock asphalt, also known as asphalt rock, is a type of rock, such as sandstone or limestone, that has been naturally impregnated with asphalt. Asphalt itself is a petroleum-like material that can be a viscous liquid or a glassy solid. It is derived from the distillation of petroleum or found in natural deposits.12

Asphalt is composed of hydrogen and carbon compounds, with small amounts of nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen. Natural asphalt, or brea, is thought to form from the early breakdown of marine organic matter into petroleum and often contains minerals, unlike residual petroleum asphalt. Asphaltites are a related group of hard, solid bitumens with large molecules, differing from asphalt in their chemical and physical properties and typically containing little to no inorganic minerals.23

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

petroleum
Extraction from underground reservoirs
…was scarce in Mesopotamia, “rock asphalt” (sandstone or limestone infused with bitumen or petroleum residue) was mined and combined with sand and fibres for use in supplementing building materials. The need for better illumination that accompanied the increasing development of urban centres made it necessary to search for new…
Read More
…was scarce in Mesopotamia, “rock asphalt” (sandstone or limestone infused with bitumen or petroleum residue) was mined and combined with sand and fibres for use in supplementing building materials. The need for better illumination that accompanied the increasing development of urban centres made it necessary to search for new…
Read More