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geoalfon
Joined: 06 Feb 2009
Posts: 9
Location: Spain
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Posted: May 30, 2013 06:06 Post subject: Cleaning pyrite suns |
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Hi everyone, recently I have obtained some pyrite suns from Illinois directly obtained from the mine. They are dirty. I have read that water is very bad for this kind of material.
How can clean them?
Thanks a lot
Best regards
Alfonso
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Pyrite Sparta, Illinois, Usa |
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Pyrite Sparta, Illinois, Usa |
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20514 Time(s) |
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lluis
Joined: 17 Nov 2006
Posts: 712
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Posted: May 30, 2013 09:33 Post subject: Re: Cleaning pyrite suns |
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Hi, Alfonso
That water is not good, one could imagine (small crystal, easier to be altered....).
Then, I think that only way would be an abrasion treatment, with a not-too-hard dust, like could be nut shell dust (I have read that used in USA...No idea where could be had in Spain....)
Or maybe you could try with a brass cleaner (in Spain, I think is Mistol), and then dry with alcohol and rests wiped out with a pencil....
If you mail me private, maybe we could talk more.
Only not to disturb listizens to the point to hate me... :-)
With best wishes
Lluís
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Carles Millan
Site Admin
Joined: 05 May 2007
Posts: 1474
Location: Catalonia
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Posted: May 30, 2013 09:53 Post subject: Re: Cleaning pyrite suns |
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geoalfon wrote: | Hi everyone, recently I have obtained some pyrite suns from Illinois directly obtained from the mine. They are dirty. I have read that water is very bad for this kind of material.How can clean them? |
An experimented pyrite specialized dealer told me several years ago that the best cleaner for that species is Cillit Bang. That person is very reliable. You can easily find it at supermarkets and cleaning stuff stores, and then perform a small test in a not visible area of one of your specimens before going on.
If successful, please let me know.
Good luck!
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Trudy Bolin
Joined: 31 May 2011
Posts: 9
Location: Illinois
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Posted: May 30, 2013 12:00 Post subject: Re: Cleaning pyrite suns |
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If the pyrite was in a mine, then it was probably already exposed to water. It looks like there's dried mud on the surface.
If the pyrite has managed to be stable up to this point, then it probably won't react with the water used for cleaning. Some specimens of pyrite (and marcasite) do undergo decay, but many times by the time we get to them they are already showing the signs. But not always, and I'd hate to see your suns go south, so to speak.
You should encase them and try to control the environment they are stored in. If pyrite is going to decay, then heat and humidity will play a role.
Just a thought.
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Joseph DOliveira
Joined: 29 Jan 2012
Posts: 306
Location: Hanmer, Ontario
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Posted: May 30, 2013 18:17 Post subject: Re: Cleaning pyrite suns |
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I have cleaned many of these pyrite/marcasite suns over the years. The material that is stuck on them is shale from the formation that they form in. I use a small table top sand blaster with glass beads. The pyrite has a hardness of 6-6.5 and the glass beads are around 5-5.5, so they don't damage the pyrite suns.
If you don't have your own sandblaster, try an automotive repair shop to see if they will give you access to their blaster, they use it for cleaning parts. I used this method for my initial attempt at cleaning them, for the price of 12 bottles of beer, I was able to clean my entire batch of specimens, I later purchased my own blaster as I required it more frequently.
_________________ Joseph D'Oliveira
Hanmer, Ontario
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geoalfon
Joined: 06 Feb 2009
Posts: 9
Location: Spain
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Posted: May 31, 2013 10:08 Post subject: Re: Cleaning pyrite suns |
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Thanks a lot for the replys.
Lluis I will send you a private.
I have some samples, I will try with Cillit Bang.
About the sand blaster I have not got one, but one friend of mine has got. I will give to him one sample for clean it.
Best regards
Alfonso
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Les Presmyk
Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 372
Location: Gilbert, AZ
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Posted: Jun 03, 2013 14:44 Post subject: Re: Cleaning pyrite suns |
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If you are going to use an abrasion unit start with the softest medium (blasting agent) and lowest pressure possible.
Also, just because pyrite or marcasite may have been subject to wet conditions when they were collected does not mean they are immune from the effects of water at a later date. I have had these pyrite suns fall apart after washing in water because I did not dry them with alcohol or acetone. If you are going to use liquids, I would start with rubbing alcohol. This will help remove the clays without harming the pyrite.
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