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Negotiations resumed yesterday between the operators of the world's second-largest borate mine, and the employed miners. The mine is located in the small Mojave desert community of Boron, is owned and operated by Rio Tinto Borax, and employs almost 600 people. 560 miners have been locked out of work for the last two and a half months, since January 31. Negotiations resumed at the behest of a federal mediator, but it is not clear whether any progress has been made as of yet. The mine's general manager Dean Gehring expressed hope that progress could be made and said the company was encouraged by the return to the bargaining table, but the employees were not so sure. A spokesman for the miners said that until the lock-out was ended, serious negotiations were not likely to take place.