1. A METHOD OF PREPARING IMPROVED ASPHALTIC MATERIAL FOR PAVING PURPOSES HAVING A FINAL PENETRATION VALUE OF P, WHICH COMPRISES REDUCING A PETROLEUM CRUDE OIL, THE PETROLENE FRACTION OF THE RESIDUE OF WHICH HAS A VISCOSITY GRAVITY CONSTANT (V. G. C.) BETWEEN 0.82 AND 0.94, TO PRODUCE A RESIDUUM HAVING A PREDETERMINED PENETRATION DIFFERENT FROM SAID FINAL PENETRATION; SEPARATING A SAMPLE OF THE REDUCED RESIDUUM INTO ASPHALTENES AND