Boron, California is named after the element Boron and is the location of the world's largest source of boric acid.
U.S. Borax operates the largest open pit mine in the state, which has one of the richest borate deposits on the planet. They meet a third of the world's refined boron demands. According to the Rio Tinto website:
Boron is a naturally-occurring element
Trace amounts are found in soil, water, plants and animals. The element boron does not exist by itself in nature. It combines with oxygen and other elements to form salts called borates.
Boron (B) was isolated as an element in 1808
It is the fifth element in the periodic table.
The first confirmed use of borates was in the 8th century
Arabian gold and silversmiths used them. It is thought that ancient Babylonian goldsmiths could have used borates as far back as 2,000 BCE.
Boron deposits are rare
Boron is present everywhere in the environment but substantial deposits of borates are relatively rare. In fact, ores that contain boron are among the rarest minerals on Earth.
Boron is essential for plant life
It is integral to a plant's reproductive cycle, aiding with flowering, pollen production, germination, and seed and fruit development.
Borates play a critical role in high-tech products
Such as the tough cover heat-resistant glass in smartphones, tablets, and other electronic displays.
Borates are an important ingredient in insulation fiberglass
This is the largest single use for the mineral worldwide.
Borates are used in space travel
They coat the ceramic tiles on the underside of a space shuttle to help it withstand the thermal shock of re-entry. Thermal shock occurs when temperatures change suddenly, as when the shuttle leaves the freezing temperatures of space and re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere.
Borates are used in cleaning
Borates’ unique properties enhance stain removal, whiten and brighten fabrics, and soften water, which is why they are used to produce laundry detergents, household or industrial cleaners, and personal care products.
20 Mule Team Borax is a product some of you might be familiar with. In 1881, Borates were discovered in Death Valley and Teams of mules were used to move them from the mines to the railroad. That's how this brand got its name.
The website says, "Teams of mules were used to move millions of pounds of Borax from remote mines in inaccessible Death Valley to the railroad at Mojave. Originally, teams of eight and ten mules were used, but the trek proved too much. A man named Ed Stiles came up with the idea of hitching two 10-mule teams together - twice the normal amount - resulting in a 100-foot-long team that took 10 days to carry 10 tons of borax one way across the desert. In 1894, a steam engine named "Dinah" was brought in to replace the mules, but Dinah was no match for the epic 20-mule team's power. She broke down and was towed back to town by the very mules she tried to replace."
Wow. Interesting. Well, there you go. You know more today than you did yesterday. You're welcome.
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