Now mining is assisted by global positioning satellites, refining is done in multimillion gallon vats, and fleets of trucks and barges move refined minerals around the world. Borates are shipped from bulk terminals at Wilmington, California and Rotterdam.
Almost half the world's refined borates are mined at Borax Boron in California's Mojave Desert.
Reserves guarantee production for at least the next 40 years. Geotechnical studies since 1997 increased ore reserves, resulting in a major redesign of the mine.
Ore is processed locally into a range of boron products, including borax hydrates and boric acid. Some of these are further refined at Coudekerque in northern France.
Research laboratories in the USA and UK provide technical support and participate in collaborative projects with users.

ANDEAN DESERT LAKE WORKS

Borax also mines borates from desert lake beds and other deposits in the remote Argentine Andes. At 4000 metres above sea level, the Tincalayu complex is South America's largest borate mining operation and that continent's sole source of natural sodium borates.