Structural characterization of gilsonite bitumen by advanced nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry revealing pyrrolic and aromatic rings substituted with aliphatic chains

► Nitrogen and aromatic carbon were primarily present in the form of pyrrole rings. ► Little evidence was found for large poly-aromatic sheets. ► Ring structures were heavily substituted with (connected by) mobile alkyl chains. ► ESI-MS was selective for polar constituents, but generally confirmed key NMR results. ► A structural model is proposed that incorporates the key findings.