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RIO TINTO BORAX
Background
Rio Tinto Borax operates California’s largest open pit mine in Boron, California – one of two worldclass
borate deposits. The company supplies nearly half the world’s demand for refined borates.
Borax traces its roots to California’s Death Valley, where borate deposits were discovered in 1872.
Today, Borax is acknowledged as the world leader in borate technology, research and
development; and an industry leader in efforts to measure and improve the social, environmental
and economic impacts of its products and practices.
Borax is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto plc.
Commercial Overview
� Customers in nearly 100 countries
� Sales in the half billion dollar per annum range
� Global market share of about 43%; steady for the past four years
� Global borate market = 41% insulation fiberglass, textile fiberglass and heat-resistant glass;
13% ceramic and enamels frits and glazes, tile bodies; 12% detergents, soaps and personal
care products; 6% plant fertilizers; 28% other uses, including flame retardants and wood
treatments
� 95% on-time shipping rate, bolstered by Strategic Inventory Placement and long-term contracts
with shippers
� Sales and technical support offices in United States, Argentina, Brazil, Belgium, Germany,
Spain, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Singapore and China
Operations Overview
� Annual production of more than one million tons of refined borates
� Emissions below allowable levels; environmental management system ISO 14001 certified
� 30% reduction in lost-time injury rate; 30% reduction in severity of injuries achieved in 2001
� Quality management systems ISO 9002 certified
U.S. Operations
U.S. Borax Inc., Boron Operations – Borax’s primary mining and refining facility, located in
California’s Mojave Desert.
� 849 employees with an average tenure of more than 15 years (658 hourly)
� Facility recently achieved 1,845,438 hours without a lost-time accident
� Pit measures a mile wide, one and one-half miles long and up to 700 feet deep