Rio Tinto Borax Mine facts for kids
The Rio Tinto Boron Mine is a very important place in Boron, California. It is the biggest open-pit mine in California. This mine is also the largest borax mine anywhere in the world! It digs up almost half of all the borax used globally. Borax is a natural mineral used in many products, like cleaning supplies and glass. The mine has enough borax to keep working until at least the early 2040s. It is run by the Borax part of a big company called the Rio Tinto Group.
Contents
History of the Boron Mine
How Borax Was Found
The borax found here was first discovered in 1913. A man named John K. Suckow was drilling for water. Instead, he found a mineral he thought was gypsum. But after more tests, it turned out to be a type of borax called colemanite.
Early Mining and Growth
A famous person named Francis Marion "Borax" Smith bought the land. He owned the Pacific Coast Borax Company. Digging for borax started in the 1920s. At first, miners used shafts, which are like deep tunnels.
Later, the Pacific Coast Borax Company changed its name to U.S. Borax. In 1957, they started using the current open-pit mine method. This means they dig from the surface downwards, creating a huge pit. The U.S. Borax company was later bought by the Rio Tinto Group. This group still runs the mine today.
New Discoveries at the Mine
In 2019, a new project started at the mine. Scientists began looking through the old mining waste. They are trying to find and produce lithium from it. Lithium is a metal used in batteries for phones and electric cars.
Visit the Borax Mine
The Borax Visitor Center
The mine has a special place for visitors called the Borax Visitor Center. It's open to everyone! Inside, you can find a museum. It shows the history of borax mining. There are also old tools and machines used for mining.
Mine Overlook
One of the best parts is the mine overlook. From here, you can see the huge open-pit mine. It's amazing to see how big it is! You can learn a lot about how minerals are dug up from the Earth.
