sedimentary
Asphalt Concrete
Bituminous Concrete (Anthropic Rock)
Hardness: 1-3 on Mohs scale (aggregate is harder); Color: Dark grey to black; Luster: Dull to oily; Structure: Granular/fragmental; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.3-2.5
- Hardness
- 1-3 on Mohs scale (aggregate is harder)
- Color
- Dark grey to black
- Luster
- Dull to oily
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Physical properties
Hardness: 1-3 on Mohs scale (aggregate is harder); Color: Dark grey to black; Luster: Dull to oily; Structure: Granular/fragmental; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.3-2.5
Formation & geological history
An anthropogenic geological material formed by mixing mineral aggregate with bitumen binder. Typically manufactured in modern times (Holocene/Anthropocene), it mimics sedimentary conglomerate formation through artificial pressure and binding.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in road construction, parking lots, airport runways, and core liners for embankment dams. Serves as a waterproof and durable paving material.
Geological facts
Asphalt is technically a viscous liquid at high temperatures and represents a man-made conglomerate. It can be 100% recycled, making it the most recycled material in the world.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its dark color, smell of petroleum when heated, and presence of rounded or crushed stone aggregate bonded by a black matrix. Found globally in urban infrastructures.
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