Monochlor paraffin wax (C20-22) reacted with sodium phenate at 160 DEG C. produces a wax phenyl ether to which when chlorsulphonic acid is added and the product neutralized with caustic soda gives sodium wax phenyl ether sulphonate. Wax olefin is alkylated with phenol in the presence of an acid activated clay and the wax phenol converted to the phenate with sodium, which reacts with benzyl chloride to give an ether to which chlorsulphonic acid is added, forming a wax phenyl benzyl ether sulphonic acid. Wax olefin is alkylated with toluene then chlorinated in light, the chloride formed dissolved in an ether and the sodium alcoholate of diethylene glycol mono-ethyl ether added at 60 DEG C. The salt formed is filtered off and chlorsulphonic acid added to the filtrate; LiOH is added and the ether removed by distillation. Wax phenol prepared as above is reacted with chlorosulphonic acid and the product neutralized. The dioctenyl ether of pentaerythritol is prepared by reacting 2 mols. of di-isobutenyl monochloride with one mol. of pentaerythritol. 4 mols. wax alcohol-prepared by oxidation of paraffin wax-reacted with 1 mol. of P2S5 until H2S evolution ceased gives a di-wax dithio phosphoric acid. Specification 688,765 is referred to.ALSO:A stable clay asphalt in water emulsion has added thereto 0.05 to 2 per cent. of a surface active agent which is 5 to 25 per cent. water soluble but has substantially greater asphalt solubility and is selected from the groups: 1, hydrophilic salts of sulphonic acids and hydroxy sulphinic acids; 2, non-ionic wetting agents; 3, hydrophilic salts of organic acids of phosphorus; but including the compounds claimed in Specification 688,765. Specified types of agents are (a) hydrophilic salts of an organic sulphonic acid containing at least 18 c. atoms per sulphonate group and which may also contain additional substituents of the group O, S, NH2, NH, N, OH, NO2 and CO; (b) hydrophilic salt of an organic substituted hydroxy aryl sulphinic acid the organic substituent containing 6 or more c. atoms; (c) a hydroxy ether or sulphur analogue thereof containing at least 12 c. atoms; (d) a polyether alcohol or its sulphur analogue containing at least 12 c. atoms; (e) a polyether or its sulphur analogue containing at least 12 c. atoms; (f) a hydroxy ester containing at least 12 c. atoms and at least one OH. group; (g) a mono- or di-ester of polyether glycols containing at least 12 c. atoms; (h) a phosphamide or N-substituted phosphamide of acid organic derivatives of phosphorus containing at least 12 c. atoms; (i) a neutral low molecular weight polyester of the formula (-COCRCOOR,-)x, R being a hydrocarbon residue of a dibasic acid R1 a hydrocarbon residue of a polyalcohol and x is an integer; e.g. glycerol phthalate resin.ALSO:An asphaltic composition comprises a major amount of a stable clay asphalt in water emulsion and 0.05 to 2 per cent of a surface active agent which is 5 to 25 per cent. water soluble whilst its asphalt solubility is substantially greater, selected from the following groups:-1, hydrophilic salts of sulphonic acids and hydroxy sulphinic acids; 2, non-ionic wetting agents; 3, hydrophilic salts of organic acids of phosphorus; but excluding the compounds claimed in Specification 688,765. Specified types of agents are (a), hydrophilic salts of an organic sulphonic acid containing 18 or more carbon atoms per sulphonate group and which may also contain additional substituents of the group O, S, NH2, NH, N, OH, NO2 and CO, (b) hydrophilic salt of an organic substituted hydroxy aryl sulphinic acid the organic substituent containing 6 or more carbon atoms, (c) a hydroxy ether or sulphur analogue thereof containing at least 12 carbon atoms, (d) a polyether alcohol or its sulphur analogue containing at least 12 carbon atoms, (e) a polyether or its sulphur analogue containing at least 12 carbon atoms, (f) a hydroxy ester containing at least 12 carbon atoms and at least one hydroxyl group, (g) a mono- or di-ester of polyether glycols containing at least 12 carbon atoms, (h) a phosphamide or N-substituted phosphamide of acid organic derivatives of phosphorous containing at least 12 carbon atoms, (i) a neutral low molecular weight polyester of the formula, (-CO CR COOR1-)x, R being a hydrocarbon residue of a dibasic acid, R1 a hydrocarbon residue of a polyalcohol and x is an integer, e.g. glyceral phthalate resin. Road surfaces are formed by combining mineral aggregate with the compositions.