FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Joan R.]

I would like to propose a new topic about preparing and cleaning minerals.

When I say preparing or cleaning I mean remove dust or little particles that sometimes covered our specimens and also all the chemistry associated to clean or eliminate minerals covering an other mineral. For example “polishing” silver or galena, silver in calcite, the mud with peroxide water...

There are some internet websites already offering mineral cleaning and processing techniques. I would like to collect here the comments of new experiences based on the previous experience of each one, whether great or disastrous, and not blunder again.
For example: Cleaning mud from pine cone aragonite. You could use peroxide water.
Published on the Spanish forum: https://www.fabreminerals.com/forum/Foro-Mensajes/viewtopic.php?p=2136#2136

[Tracy]

Hi Joan -

Is your intention to collect information on better ways to clean specimens, or to offer advice to people who have no specimen-cleaning experience? If the second, perhaps you can provide some guidance on how to clean some specimens I collected. One is a black tourmaline crystal which I found at a collecting area (mine) in Perham, Maine. I don't think it is anything special but it is partially embedded in the bedrock (or hard mud) with other little pieces of tourmaline, so I can't be sure. The others are two pieces of a blocky metallic-looking (silver) rock found near Sterling Forest, New York. As the area is iron-rich I'm guessing that it is hematite but I can't get a good look because of dirt and dullness of appearance. Can you give any advice on how to safely isolate and clean these specimens?

Many thanks,
Tracy

[John S. White]

A brief comment on your question about cleaning minerals. With your examples, the first thing I would do would be to soak your specimens in soapy water for a day or so then give them a light brusing under running water. After this there are multiple actions that can be taken but I will let others comment on them.

[Joan R.]

Hi Tracy

Referring this topic you could publish your questions on cleaning minerals also you could answer other forum partners questions. In the next future we could prepare a "guide" with items on cleaning minerals everybody has sent.

About rocky mud you can use soapy water as Mr White says. Also you could use warm water (not hot, you could break xls). Also try peroxide water (not concentrated). And be patient.

About the metallic minerals I would like to read the "forumfriends" ideas...

Tomorrow we are travelling to Tucson!!! I can't sleep but I ought to do it.

See you