Re: Gilsonite ...

Wade Hall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Gilsonite is interesting stuff. It was what made
> Ford Model T paint black. It had numerous other
> uses, as well. The only significant reserves of
> it are/were found along the Utah/Colorado border
> north of Mack--thus the reason for the Uintah's
> existence, and in South Africa.
>
> The refinery west of Fruita refined gilsonite into
> gasoline for years after the railroad was
> gone--"gilsonite" gasoline was sold widely on the
> Western Slope. You could always tell when you
> were burning gilsonite gas because it would leave
> a bright orange residue in your car's tailpipe. I
> don't know whether or not unleaded fuel was ever
> refined from gilsonite.

They also made a diesel fuel that the Rio Grande tried to use in the late 1970's. It had a tendency to foul injectors and plug fuel filters. It was a light orange color and really stank. Nasty stuff

Dirk