Borax (mineral)
Appearance
Borax | ||
---|---|---|
Specific gravity 1.715 | | |
Optical properties | Biaxial (-) | |
Refractive index | nα = 1.4466 nβ = 1.4687 nγ = 1.4717 | |
Fusibility | 1.5 | |
Diagnostic features | Froths on heating, producing a yellow flame | |
Solubility | Soluble in water | |
References | [2][3][4][5] |
Borax (Na2B4O5(OH)4 · 8 H2O[2]) is a borate mineral found in evaporite deposits of alkaline lacustrine environments and as a surface efflorescence in arid regions. It is the chief mineral mined from the deposits at Boron, California and nearby locations, and is the chief source of commercial borax.[5]
Borax first reached Western civilization as tincal mined from deposits in Tibet.[5] The term borax comes from the Arabic bauraq, meaning white.[3]
Occurrences
The most extensive deposits are in Kirka,
Andes Mountains of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. However, the greatest production is from the deposits in California.[5]
Uses
Natural occurrences of the mineral are an important source of commercial borax, which is used for the manufacture of glass fibers, in cleaning agents, as an antiseptic, and as a flux in metallurgy and solvent for metal oxides.[5]
See also
References
- S2CID 235729616.
- ^ a b Anthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A.; Bladh, Kenneth W.; Nichols, Monte C. (2005). "Borax" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
- ^ a b Borax, Mindat.org, retrieved 17 June 2022
- ISBN 0442276249.
- ^ ISBN 047157452X.