Gilsonite Veins

Asphaltite, also known as gilsonite, is a naturally-occurring form of asphalt (extremely viscous petroleum). It is used primarily in inks, paints, cements, and chemical products, among other usages. Historically, it has only been mined in the Uintah Basin of Utah, where it is found in vertical veins stretching for miles on end.

The substance was first discovered by settlers in the 1860s looking for coal. It began to be extracted for industrial use by Samuel Gilson in 1888, who promoted the product under his name. This was the first large commercial business in the Uintah Basin, a large portion of which is a Native American reservation. Notably, gilsonite was used for the signature deep black paint of the Ford Model T and explosives during both world wars.

Mining occurred using picks, shovels, and dynamite, digging straight down from the surface. The results are giant gashes in the landscape that are up to 2,000 feet deep yet only a few feet wide. This was an extremely hazardous process that claimed many lives. Today, mining still occurs, albeit under much more regulated conditions and through underground tunnels.