Asphaltum
This substance resembles pitch, but has a higher internal polish, and is sometimes called mineral-pitch, bitumen, etc.; it breaks with a polish, melts easily, and when pure burns and leaves no ashes. Anciently, it was only procurable from Lake Asphalites (Dead Sea), in Judea, for which reason it is sometimes also called Jews' pitch. It formed a building cement for the Babylonians, and is now much used in flooring, roofing, paving, etc. See PETROLEUM; BITUMEN.