Abstract
Borax Lake, in Lake County, California, was the earliest commercial source of borax in the United States. This mineral was first found there by Doctor John A. Veatch in 1857, and for ten years the lake was actively exploited. The mineral occurs as crystals of borax, oftimes of large size, in a saponaceous mud. A narrow ridge separates Borax Lake from the fresh waters of Clear Lake. Immediately beyond the ridge lies Sulfur Banks, a solfatara which yields highly boraciferous waters. Near the shores of Borax Lake is a small extinct solfatara, known as Little Sulfur Banks, and is probably the original source of the borax. Analysis of water from Borax Lake showed a high content of sodium carbonate, sodium chloride and sodium borate, but with low sodium bicarbonate content
