Bryan:

Yes, this is a chemical fact and an easy test.  It is how one distinguishes
between coal tar and petroleum asphalt.

The material used to coat blacktop driveways, parking lots, and gas station
pavements is generally an emulsion of coal tar filled with clay.  The coal
tar helps to protect the asphalt binder of the blacktop from softening from
gasoline spills.  It is a chemically-resistant coating.

Steve Stokowski
Stone Products Consultants
http://members.aol.com/crushstone/petro.htm


In a message dated 10/13/99 7:29:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask]
writes:

<< Is this a chemical fact and can you also state this from repeated personal
 experience or is this from passed on knowledge as in it was heard someplace.
I am
 asking because this is an interesting / easy test and I had assumed that
gasoline
 would cut  both. >>