Some specimens have a very crystalline form.

You might find bits of glauberite, halite or hanksite attached to some of these specimens.

GOOD PRICE $4.50 each

M728 - Hydrous sodium borate, otherwise known as borax, forms in arid regions as a result of evaporating saline lakes. Much borax comes from the southwestern United States.

Borax is used as a detergent, water softener, disinfectant, in the maufacture of paint, glass and ceramics.

Fresh borax has a lot of water in its structure which evaporates over time. The resulting mineral is called Tincalconite, which has a white, powdery surface. So actually, this is borax turned to tincalconite. The only way to prevent this is to keep borax immersed in a solution.

These specimens are from Searls Lake, San Bernadino County, California.

Some specimens look like petrified wood.