U.S. Borax Company and History

How long has U.S. Borax been in business?

In 1872, borate deposits were discovered in California’s Death Valley. Several companies sprung up in the region to mine borates. By 1890, they were mostly consolidated into the Pacific Coast Borax Company. In 1956, the Pacific Borax Company merged with the United States Potash Corporation to form U.S. Borax.

Learn more about the history of U.S. Borax.

Is U.S. Borax an independent company?

U.S. Borax was acquired by Rio Tinto in 1967. The new group, sometimes referred to as Rio Tinto Borax or Rio Tinto Borates, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group.

Is U.S. Borax ISO certified?

Yes, we have several ISO certifications.

ISO 9001:2015

• Boron (mining, processing, production, testing, sales and shipping of borates)
• Chicago (customer service and order processing)
• Coudekerque (refining, production, and internal transfer of borates)
• Wilmington (processing, testing, and shipping of borates)

ISO 14001:2015

• Boron (mining, production, testing, and shipping of borates)
• Coudekerque (refining, production, and internal transfer of borates)
• Wilmington (processing, testing, and shipping of borates)
• Lone Pine (mining and shipping of carbonates)

View all of our certificates:

• ISO 9001:2015: U.S. locations (PDF)
• ISO 9001:2015: Coudekerque (PDF)
• ISO 14001:2015 U.S. locations (PDF)
• ISO 14001:2015: COudekerque (PDF)

Where do you get the borates you use in your products?

We operate California’s largest open pit mine in Boron, California.

Can I visit the U.S. Borax mine?

The mine in Boron, California is closed to the general public. But, the Borax Visitor Center is open (and free to visit), seven days a week, excluding major U.S. holidays. Learn more about the Borax Visitor Center and plan your visit.

Can I buy products directly from U.S. Borax?

U.S. Borax produces and sells bulk borates; we do not sell any consumer borate products.

To buy our borate products in bulk, please contact your local sales representative for more information about purchasing our industrial and agriculture products through us or one of our distributors.

What does U.S. Borax do to protect people from possible risk?

All our operations comply with all applicable safety regulations and make safety training a priority. Learn more about our commitment to keep our workplaces safe.

Are you hiring? Where can I apply to work for U.S. Borax?

As a division of Rio Tinto, U.S. Borax has a number of positions if you are looking for a career that makes a difference. Learn more about joining the U.S. Borax team.