FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Jason]

Just got this one in..this sucker weighs in at 80.55cts...25mm x 18mm..now looking at it it has your standard rhyolite intrusinion but it also has some rhyolite attached to some of the faces that is just extra and not intruded..i managed to scrape off some of it and reveal crystal faces and red..the last pic shows where i was able to scrape off part of the excess rhyolite..that portion right in the middle of the rhyolite..was wondering if anything short of scraping it off with my picks would help free up the crystal faces?..Figured i might lose maybe 3-5cts. scraping off the rhyolite(2.4 SG) it looks to retain alright hex shape and be DT'd just have to get off the excess rhyolite..can i soften the rhyo. up in water or light mix oxalic?

[Jason]

Okay..nevermind..I think a toothbrush and soaking in water seems to work alright..will let soak longer

[Jason]

already have removed some..you can see in above photo compared to this one..decent amou nt of rhyolite removed already..this pic was taken wet as it still needs a good soaking to get anymore

[Jason]

Okay i found out from someone who regularly cleans and removes or fixes up red beryls in rhyolite that the "soft" rhyolite can be helped along by soaking in Orange Juice for a week..or any weak acidic stuff...got this soaking in OJ..made sure it wouldn't stain but he said it wouldn't..learn something new everyday

[John S. White]

If staining by orange juice were a threat, then I think I would soak it in cranberry or pomegranate juice. Reminds me of the granite table top people who have convinced their customers that they have to buy expensive sealers to keep the granite from being stained by things like ketchup or salsa.