Tincalayu is one of Borax's borate operations, situated at more than 4,000 metres (14,000 feet) above sea level. The Tincalayu complex is South America's largest borate mining operation and that continent's sole source of natural sodium borates. Borax also mines borates from desert lake beds and other deposits in the remote Argentine Andes.

Almost half of the world's refined borates are mined at Borax's Boron operation in California's Mojave Desert. The Boron mine in California's Mojave Desert is the world's largest borates mine with reserves that guarantee production for at least the next 40 years. The ore is processed locally into a wide range of boron products including borax hydrates and boric acid. Some of these are further refined at Coudekerque in northern France. Research laboratories in the US and UK provide technical support and participate in collaborative projects with customers. Borates are shipped from bulk terminals at Wilmington, California and Rotterdam.