U.S. Borax, Inc. is the leading producer of borates in the world. Borates are derived from borax, a mineral salt that the company mines and refines at locations in California and Argentina, then ships throughout the world. Uses for borates include glass and fiberglass production, ceramic glazes, detergents, soaps, agricultural nutrients, and pest control products. The company, famous for its "20 Mule Team" trademark and the long-running "Death Valley Days" radio and television program, is owned by British mining giant Rio Tinto plc.U.S. Borax traces its origins to the year 1872, when a gold prospector named F.M. Smith disc