<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><mads xmlns="http://www.loc.gov/mads/" xmlns:mods="http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.loc.gov/mads/
mads.xsd"><authority><topic authority="http://AATesaurus.cultura.gencat.cat/aat/getty_en">borax</topic></authority><related type="broader"><topic>mineral</topic></related><variant type="other"><topic>sodium tetraborate decahydrate</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>tincal</topic></variant> <note xml:lang="en"><![CDATA[ A white or colorless crystalline mineral composed of hydrated sodium borate, used as a flux, cleansing agent, tanning agent, water softener, preservative, fungicide, as an alkaline ingredient in glass, ceramics, and glazes, in soldering, and as a source of boron. Borax is produced by the evaporation of water in shallow lakes. Borax was used by the Egyptians for mummification, by the Romans for glassmaking, as a flux for soldering gold in 9th-century Arabia, in ceramic glazes in northern China in the 10th century, and in Venetian glass from the 13th century. ]]></note></mads>