Boron | Minerals Education Coalition
There are over 200 minerals which contain boron, but only few such as colemanite and borax are commercially important. Borax was first extracted from dry lakebeds in Persia and Tibet and traded to Arabia and India over a thousand years ago. Today 75% of all borax production occurs in either the or Turkey. Boron is used to make glass, ceramics, and enamels, including fiberglass for insulation.