bitumen

bitumen
    n 1: any of various naturally occurring impure mixtures of
         hydrocarbons
    

Bitumen \Bi*tu"men\, n. [L. bitumen: cf. F. bitume. Cf.
   {B['e]ton}.]
   1. Mineral pitch; a black, tarry substance, burning with a
      bright flame; Jew's pitch. It occurs as an abundant
      natural product in many places, as on the shores of the
      Dead and Caspian Seas. It is used in cements, in the
      construction of pavements, etc. See {Asphalt}.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. By extension, any one of the natural hydrocarbons,
      including the hard, solid, brittle varieties called
      asphalt, the semisolid maltha and mineral tars, the oily
      petroleums, and even the light, volatile naphthas.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Bitumen
Gen. 11:3, R.V., margin, rendered in the A.V. "slime"), a
mineral pitch. With this the ark was pitched (6:14. See also Ex.
2:3.) (See {SLIME}.)