FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Maxilos]

Hi,

What is the best way to clean minerals. I mean like pyrite, it can rust because of the iron in it, but some other minerals react on water or turpentine. If I need to find out witch mineral react on what substance I'll be busy for a long time.

What is the best I can do to clean my minerals?

[Jordi Fabre]

[James Catmur]

You need to be very careful as each mineral is sensitive to different chemicals. And do remember that water and air are both chemicals so can affect certain minerals. If you wash natural salt crystals they disolve, etc! So do some research and read up before you clean a particular mineral. You will learn over time, make mistakes, destroy specimens (as I have done) but in the end you will get some good ideas and can learn from the section on 'cleaning and preparing specimens'.

And do remember that temperture also matters - hot water can cause a specimen to fracture or even change color.

James

[marvsT/Nminerals]

Hi, James brings up a very important point; try to clean the minerals, those that are safe to clean in liquids, in room temperature liquid. As he points out, warm temperatures can cause crystals to break, dissolve or craze. While some water soluble salts can be cleaned in hydrocarbons the remaining odors of some liquids might be offensive. Marv

[rweaver]

and there is always the old standard "Gemstone & Mineral Data Book" by John Sinkankas if it is still available for sale.

ISBN:0--87691-067-3 @1972

The one i have in my collection is personally sign to me by John back in August 1972 at his home in San Diego.

[Maxilos]

Thanks, I think Í'm going to order a book about cleaning and try to find what minerals react on what substance.