BORON MINERALS
	Boron does not appear in nature in elemental form but is found combined in borax, boric acid, colemanite, kernite, ulexite and borates. Boric acid is sometimes found in volcanic spring waters. Borates are the deposits from volcanic gases or hot springs near volcanic activities. The deposits, predominantly of borax and sassoline are formed as a result of drying up of shallow saline and alkaline tertiary lakes called ‘playa’. Ulexite is a borate mineral that naturally has properties of fiber optics. Economically important sources are from the ore rasorite (kernite) and tincal (borax ore).The largest borax deposits are found in Central and Western Turkey including the provinces of Eskisehir, Kütahya and Balikesir.
	BORON MINERALS RESOURCES IN INDIA
	Borax is not produced in India. However, it was obtained since early times from the salt lakes of Jammu & Kashmir and Tibet. The domestic requirements of boron minerals are met solely through imports of crude borate which is refined in the country for producing borax and boric acid. Economically workable deposits of borax have not been established in the country so far. The only deposit of borax of little economic significance is reported from Puga valley in Leh district, Jammu & Kashmir. As per the UNFC system, total resources as on 1-4-2005, are estimated at 74,204 tonnes in Jammu & Kashmir. Occurrences are reported in Surendranagar district, Gujarat and Nagaur district, Rajasthan. The bittern of Samber lake in Jaipur district, Rajasthan, also contains about 0.5% borax.