Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
The slime of Babel, and that of the pits of Siddim, and the ark of Moses, was mineral pitch or bitumen
(Gen. 11:3; 14:10; Ex. 2:3).
Concise Bible Dictionary:
The word is chemar, and signifies “bitumen.” It is found on the shores of the Salt Sea and elsewhere in SLIME-PITS. When mixed with tar it forms a hard cement impervious to water (Gen. 11:3; Gen. 14:10; Ex. 2:3).
Area of bituminous wells S. of Mosul. Series of bitumen storage pools.