Dissertation on the history, occurance, mining, and economics of Gilsonite

A native hydrocarbon occurs in the petroliferrous Uintah Basin of eastern Utah that has exerted a perceptible effect on the economy of the State of Utah as well as the western United States. This hydrocarbon which has been known by several names, the most common being gilsonite, occurs in such vast quantities and has so many potential uses that it cannot much longer be overlooked as one of the minor resources of the West. To throw off the stigma of being only "an asphalt to be used as an asphalt" gilsonite must be analyzed as a matrix of resins, as a container of unsaturated molecules as well as a tried and proved asphalt. Those persons delving into the mysteries of this native asphaltite must accustom themselves with its idiosyncracies viz., losing many valuable constituents upon prolonged exposure to the atmosphere. To realize the full potentialities of gilsonite all studies must be made with the thought in mind that this is a unique hydrocarbon with characteristics all its own.