Death Valley National Park in Inyo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

White Gold

Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 12, 2010

1. White Gold Marker

Inscription. Though steeped in legend, the frenzied search for gold and other materials in Death Valley produced few fortunes. Borax, the "White Gold of the Desert," ranks as the valley's most profitable mineral.
Harmony Borax works, in front of you, was one of Death Valley's first borax operations. It operated from 1883-1888. The 3/8-mile interpretive trail takes you through Harmony Borax Works.

photo caption:
A 20 mule team at the Harmony Borax works about 1885. Some "20 mule" teams, like this one, had varying numbers of animals.

Erected by Death Valley National Park, National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.

Location. 36° 28.8′ N, 116° 52.508′ W. Marker is in Death Valley National Park, California, in Inyo County. Marker can be reached from Borax Mill Road west of California Route 190, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Death Valley CA 92328, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Twenty Mule Teams (within shouting distance of this marker); Borax (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Harmony Borax Works (approx.

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0.3 miles away); Stephen Tyng Mather (approx. 1.3 miles away); Old Dinah (approx. 1.6 miles away); 20 Mule Team Wagon Train (approx. 1.7 miles away); Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley (approx. 1.7 miles away); Death Valley 49ers Gateway (approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Death Valley National Park.

Additional commentary.
1. Borax
Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. It is usually a white powder consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.
Borax has a wide variety of uses. It is a component of many detergents, cosmetics, and enamel glazes. It is also used to make buffer solutions in biochemistry, as a fire retardant, as an anti-fungal compound for fiberglass, as an insecticide, as a flux in metallurgy, a texturing agent in cooking, and as a precursor for other boron compounds.

— Submitted July 5, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton,
Photographed By Craig Baker, October 29, 2020

2. White Gold Marker
South Carolina.

Harmony Borax Works image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker, October 29, 2020

3. Harmony Borax Works

Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 12, 2010

4. Harmony Borax works

Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 12, 2010

5. Harmony Borax works

Original Twenty Mule Team Wagons image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 12, 2010

6. Original Twenty Mule Team Wagons

Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,075 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 5, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 2, 3. submitted on November 6, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 5, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.