Rio Tinto Mine
Boron, CA.
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click photo to enlarge |
This is the Borax mine in the upper desert in Boron California. Over half the
worlds borax is mined here. Borax was first mined in Death Valley. The trip
out of death Valley to Mojave CA where they shipped it took 10 days so when
they discovered borax here it was the end of mining it in Death Valley. |
click photo to enlarge |
You can't actually go down in the mine. Instead they have built a visitors
center high up on a hill where you have a great view of the operations. They
charge a nominal fee to visit per car ($3) and all proceeds are donated to
charities. It was very windy and cold when we were there about 45 degrees. |
click photo to enlarge |
The mine is 1 mile wide by 1-1/2 miles long. It made for a very
informative stop. There are also 2 very good museums in Boron but we saved
them for another trip. This is a picture of the Twenty Mule Team replica
they have outside the visitors center. When Borax was first discovered in
Death Valley they used to use these to get the ore out of the valley and
take it to Mojave to be shipped by rail. If you are in the area it makes
for an interesting stop. |
click photo to enlarge |
click photo to enlarge |
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