[328] 



A CALIFORNIA BORAX DEPOSIT. 



BY W. HODGSON ELLIS, M.B. 



Read iefore the Canadian Institute, February 19th, 1S76. 



The borax of commerce has long been derived almost exclusively 

 from the boracic acid of tlie Tuscan soffioni; the discovery in Cali- 

 fornia of a large deposit of native borax or " tincal " bids fair to 

 modify in some measure the trade supply of this article. 



In San Bernardino County, California, is the bed of a dry lake, 

 which is covered with a dirty gray deposit, consisting of borate of 

 soda mixed with sulphate and carbonate of soda and chloride of 

 sodium. In some places native borax or tincal is found nearly pure 

 in large crystals. 



Through the kindness of Mr. John Ledyard, formerly of Toronto, 

 who has been employed at the works, I have received specimens of 

 the crude borax and also of the purified products. To him I am also 

 indebted for the foUo-sving particulars : — 



The crude material is carted to the works, dissolved in water, and 

 boiled down till the liquid has attaiiied a density of 1-16, It is 

 then run from the boiler into " settlers," where it is left for about 

 eight hours. At the end of this time the clear liquid is run off and 

 allowed to crystallize, either in tanks or in long, narrow,, shallow 

 vessels, called flumes. The product of this operation is called " con- 

 centrated borax," and sells at seven cents per pound. " Refined 

 borax " is made by re-dissolving the " concentrated " borax and re- 

 crystallizing it in the tanks. It sells for nine cents per pound. ■ 



An analysis of Californian refined borax, given in the Chemical 

 News, December 17th, 1875, is as follows : — • 



Crystallized biborate of soda 99"75 



Chloride of sodium 0'25 



100 00 



