Photo from NPS archives. Pure boron is never found in nature because of its strong attraction to oxygen. There are two basic types of borate minerals. The relatively rare anhydrous borates, which have no water incorporated into their structure, are found in metamorphic and igneous rock.
Hydrous borates are relatively soft, white, colorless, or transparent minerals.
Ulexite , colemanite , and borax are the most common borate minerals found in Death Valley. Borax is an ingredient in many laundry products. Photo from NPS archives. Uses for borax Boron compounds have many household and industrial uses. Boron is a common ingredient of soaps, cleansers, herbicides, soldering fluxes, gasoline antiknock compounds, pharmaceuticals, water softeners, food preservatives, and fire retardants.