Borax
“The mineral that built a desert empire”
Borax is a hydrated sodium borate mineral that crystallizes from evaporating desert lakes and playas. Despite its humble appearance as white, chalky crystals, it has been one of the most commercially important minerals for over a century, used in detergents, glass, ceramics, and as a fire retardant.
sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O)
Boron (California, USA), Death Valley (California), Kirka (Turkey), Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia), Tibet
2-2.5
The '20 Mule Team Borax' brand became famous in the 1880s when massive wagons pulled by 20-mule teams hauled borax 165 miles out of Death Valley — a journey that took 10 days each way.
Test Your Knowledge
What role does borax play in the manufacture of glass and ceramics?
Photo Attribution
Title: Borax4 - Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kern Co, California, USA.jpg
Author: Rock Currier
License: CC BY 3.0
Related Specimens
Want to identify rocks yourself?