:''For the left-wing Argentine group, see
Quebracho (group).''
'''Quebracho''' is one of the common names, in
Spanish, of at least three similar species of
trees that grow in the
Gran Chaco region of
South America:
★ ''
Schinopsis lorentzii'' (''quebracho colorado santiagueño''), of the family
Anacardiaceae;
★ ''
Schinopsis balansae'' (''quebracho colorado chaqueño''), of the same family;
★ ''
Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco'' ("white quebracho"), of the family
Apocynaceae.
These species provide
tannin and a very hard, durable
timber. ''Quebracho'' is sometimes used as a commercial name for the tannin derived from the trees, or their timber. The
etymology of the name appears to be Spanish ''quiebrahacha'', "
axe-breaker".
The
tannic acid, in the form of alkalized salts, was extensively used as a
deflocculant in
drilling muds in 1940s-1950s, until it was replaced with
lignosulfonates. Its red color gave the mixture the name ''red mud''.