Which two main sources of asphalt are commonly used?

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Multiple Choice

Which two main sources of asphalt are commonly used?

Two main sources of asphalt used for paving are natural asphalt deposits and petroleum-derived asphalts. Natural asphalt occurs in certain locations where asphaltic rocks or lakes form and can be mined as a binder in some regions. Petroleum-derived asphalts come from refining crude oil; the heavy residua are processed into bitumen, which is the common road binder. This pairing is standard because it covers the primary ways asphalt is obtained today: a naturally occurring source and a refined, oil-based source. Coal tar isn’t a main source for road asphalt due to its different properties and contaminants, and bitumen simply refers to the petroleum-origin material used as the binder.

Two main sources of asphalt used for paving are natural asphalt deposits and petroleum-derived asphalts. Natural asphalt occurs in certain locations where asphaltic rocks or lakes form and can be mined as a binder in some regions. Petroleum-derived asphalts come from refining crude oil; the heavy residua are processed into bitumen, which is the common road binder.

This pairing is standard because it covers the primary ways asphalt is obtained today: a naturally occurring source and a refined, oil-based source. Coal tar isn’t a main source for road asphalt due to its different properties and contaminants, and bitumen simply refers to the petroleum-origin material used as the binder.

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