CHARACTERIZATION OF THE EXISTING NATURAL ASPHALT IN THE ARTEMISA - MATANZAS AREA AS AN ALTERNATIVE MATERIAL FOR ROAD REHABILITATION.

Abstract

Natural asphalts are considered as all those materials found in nature, that contain some proportion of crude oil and that come to the surface in liquid or solid form, of which there are large reserves in the world and are usually used in the modification of asphalt and asphalt mixtures for paving.

The work exposes the physical and chemical characterization of five samples of Cuban natural asphalt, with a view to their use as an alternative material for refinery asphalt, for the rehabilitation of roads. The selected samples represent the two main areas of natural asphalt deposits identified in Cuba, the Mariel - Cayajabos area in the Artemisa province, where the highest concentration of asphaltite deposits in the country is present, and the Peñon - Marti area of the province of Matanzas, with the most important known deposits of asphalt rocks. The tests carried out establish asphalt contents impregnated in the rocks that range from 60% by weight for the asphaltites and 16% for the rocks and classify them as asphalts with a high degree of oxidation. The Peñon native asphalt sample studied is a viscous fluid, with high penetration and requires a prior dehydration process for its use.