What is Borax?

Borax is a circuitous borate mineral that is begin in playa lakes and added evaporite deposits. The basal anatomy of base contains chains of chain BO2(OH) triangles and BO3(OH) tetrahedrons affirmed to chains of sodium and baptize octahedrons. Most old mineral specimens of base are anemic white due to a actinic acknowledgment from dehydration. They accept in fact adapted (at atomic on their surface) to the mineral tincalconite, Na2 B4O7-5H2O, with the accident of water. This affectionate of about-face from one mineral to addition leaves the aboriginal appearance of the crystal. Minerologists accredit to this as a pseudomorph, or "fake shape", because the tincalconite has the clear appearance of the predecessing borax.

Borax is anon deposited in barren regions from the dehydration of baptize in alternate lakes alleged playas. The playas anatomy alone during backing seasons due to runoff from adjoining mountains. The runoff is affluent in the aspect boron and is awful concentrated by dehydration in the barren climate. Eventually the absorption is so abundant that crystals of base and added boron minerals form.