Asphalt paving wisdom- Insights from IDS-DMV’s seasoned professionals
Asphalt is similar to concrete, and both materials are largely comprised of aggregate, sand, and a cohesive binder. In the case of concrete, the binder is cement. By comparison though, in the case of asphalt, the binder is a petroleum-based type of material bitumen material, similar to tar.
The pictures below showed two examples of asphalt paving in Washington, DC, at a parking lot. 
In this case, the bitumen cohesive surface of the asphalt has faded and worn to some extent, and the aggregate component of the asphalt is clearly visible.
