1/4/2015
1/4/2015
Landmark information
- Location:
Roadside rest area, Trona Rd at Center St, Trona - Plaque:
Official State Plaque - Site:
Existing - Date First Visited:
1/4/2015 - Date Most Recently Visited:
1/4/2015 - GPS Coordinates:
N 35 45.461, W 117 22.641
About this landmark
Plaque text:
Searles Lake Borax Discovery
Borax was discovered on the nearby surface of Searles Lake by John Searles in 1862. With his brother, Dennis, he formed the San Bernardo Borax Mining Company in 1873 and operated it until 1897. The chemicals in Searles Lake, which included borax, potash, soda ash, salt cake, and lithium, were deposited here by the runoff waters from melting Ice Age glaciers. John Searles' discovery has proved to be the world's richest chemical storehouse, containing half the natural elements known to man.