Over thousands of years, humankind has sought nature's treasures, unearthing a wealth of elements that we have learned to heat, cool, pressurize, distill, combine, polish and otherwise alter in order to improve the quality of our daily lives.

Over the last few hundred years, rapid improvements in our technical knowledge have allowed us to put nature's bounty to ever more imaginative and efficient use. As we find more and more uses for our natural resources, we have turned our research to finding more effective ways to renew and preserve those resources, so that they might continue to provide for our needs far into the future.

Technology's swift advance has made it difficult to understand all the new knowledge that comes our way. Have you ever wondered what makes traffic signs reflective at night? What keeps ovenproof glassware from cracking? How trees turn into paper, or sand turns into glass? What makes detergents clean? Why soda pop is bubbly?

The various mineral products mined and processed by Searles Valley Minerals are more than commodities. They form the building blocks of a healthier, more comfortable, mobile, clean and informed lifestyle.

BORAX has long been known for its natural cleaning ability and is a preferred component in the manufacture of soap and detergents. It is basic to the production of borosilicate glass, from which heat-resistant tableware is made. It is also used in the manufacture of enamel paints, assisting in the hardening process. In addition to its familiar uses, borax is essential to the manufacture of ceramic tiles, appliance enamels, fiberglass insulation, car headlights, and many agricultural products.

BORIC ACID is used in the manufacture of many products ranging from specialty heat resistant glasses to acoustic tiles. Boric acid, converted to boron fiber, is a reinforcing agent for composites. It is also a key component in substrates used to create the printed circuits found in computers, automobiles, TV sets, and many other electronic products.

SODA ASH is integral to the making of glass. It lowers the melting temperature, simplifying the creation and shaping of all sorts of functional and decorative glassware. Soda ash is also necessary to petroleum refining, water treatment, and pulp and paper production.

SODIUM SULFATE is added to wood fibers to break down ingrained resistance, making it possible to form wood pulp into paper. It is also used in the manufacture of glass, carpet fresheners, some laundry detergents, and in the application of dyes.

SPECIALTY BORATES These products have a myriad of applications ranging from fertilizers to flame retardants.