Occurrence

Boron occurs in nature almost entirely as borate minerals, its two chief ores being borax, Na₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄].8H₂O, and kernite, Na₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄].2H₂O.

Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust, occurring as oxides and within aluminosilicate rocks; it is extracted commercially from its chief ore, bauxite, Al₂O₃.2H₂O. …