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Borax has found more than 80 different types of minerals in our mine, some of them very rare. Here are the four main types of boron-based ores found in our principal mine.
Tincal - Na2B4O7·10H2O
Tincal (pronounced "tinkle") is the most abundant ore in the deposit. Romans made glass with tincal.
Kernite - Na2B4O7·4H2O
The second most abundant type of ore is Kernite, named after Kern County, California, where our primary mine is located. Crystals of Kernite more than five feet long have been found in the mine.
Ulexite - NaCaB5O9·8H2O
This form of ore takes on many different shapes. It can look like a mushroom, a cauliflower, a snowball or a bunny tail ... which is why it's often called "cottonball."
Colemanite - Ca2B6O11·5H2O
Colemanite gets its name from one of Borax's founding fathers - William T. Coleman -even though he made a name for himself mining cottonball.
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