NATURAL ASPHALT (NATURAL BITUMEN) - La Brea Pitch Lake, Trinidad
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NATURAL ASPHALT (bitumen)
La Brea Pitch Lake, Trinidad
The La Brea Pitch Lake is the largest deposit of asphalt in the world, covering an area of over 40 hectares. The first European to discover it was Sir Walter Raleigh in 1595 who used the pitch to caulk his ship.
Asphalt is a mixture of hydrocarbons, usually occurring as a black or brown pitchy substance. It is often soft and sticky but hardens on exposure to the air.
At La Brea Pitch Lake the asphalt results from the oxidation of petroleum that has seeped to the surface over millions of years. There are several other pitch lakes in the world such as Rancho La Brea in Los Angeles. Brea is the Spanish word for tar or pitch.
Provided with a comprehensive label as shown.
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Size: approx. 10.5 x 6 x 6 centimetres
Weight: 170 grams
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