Abstract: Extended life slurry seal compositions with controllable mixing times are prepared by incorporating into a conventional water-asphalt emulsion-aggregate rock system, a slurry life-extending mixture of (i) a polycarboxylate compound aqueous solution, (ii) a polyhydroxy phenolic compound aqueous solution, wherein the phenolic compound is preferably a tannin, tannin derivative, lignin, or lignin derivative, and (iii) a non-aqueous diluent to prevent destabilizing interaction between the polycarboxylate and the polyhydroxy phenolic compound aqueous solution. The polyhydroxy phenolic compound in the aqueous solution may be natural or derived synthetically.