Although the element boron is virtually a nonconductor, a series of hydrated boron
minerals, colemanite, ulexite and borax were found to exhibit varying degrees of
conductiviJy. The conductivity acquired by boron and clay minerals is ascribed to the
presence of micro impurities in the form of substituted alkali earth elements such as
lithium arut strontium. While temperature has a pronounced influence on the conductivity
of ulexite and borax, colemanite is not so sensitive to changes in temperature. This
behavior correlates well with the onset of dehydration, of the former boron minerals. The
accompanying clay minerals, characterized by montmorillonite, also act as conductors and
increasing the temperature does not cause any difference in their conductivity.
Beneficiation strategies for each boron mineral on the basis of differences in
conductiviJ'ies of the accompanying minerals is proposed.