shilajit natural substance Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/shilajit Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/shilajit Also known as: mineral tar, mumijo, mumiyo, salajeet Written by Kara Rogers Kara Rogers is the senior editor of biomedical sciences at Encyclopædia Britannica, where she oversees a range of content from medicine and genetics to microorganisms. She joined Britannica in 2006 and... Kara Rogers Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Nov 6, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Also called: mineral tar, salajeet, mumijo, or mumiyo (Show more) Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question shilajit, sticky, tarlike substance found in certain mountainous regions of the world that is formed from the slow decomposition of plant matter and other organic materials, which become compressed and preserved under layers of rock. The substance is found in rock fissures primarily in the Himalayas, the Altai Mountains, the Caucasus, and the mountains of the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan, at altitudes between 1,000 and 5,000 meters (3,080 and 16,400 feet), where it seeps from crevices in warm weather. The word shilajit is derived from Sanskrit and essentially translates to “conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness.” Indeed, the substance ...(100 of 416 words)

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