Specimen cleaning, What pH do you use? |
Colorado Prospector - Gem and mineral prospecting and mining forums > Prospecting, Mineral Collecting and Treasure Hunting Forums > Gem and Mineral Specimen Finds or Processes  |
Specimen cleaning, What pH do you use? |
 Nov 24 2015, 05:44 PM
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#1
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 Shovel Buster!  Group: Members Posts: 55 Joined: 9-October 15 From: Southern Colorado Member No.: 121,789  |
I am using pure phosphoric acid in water at 3.7pH and it appears this amount doesn't completely take off the red coating. Sure, after about 12 days it gets it a little cleaner but not presentable. I cant sell these.
What pH do you use with your acid solutions? -------------------- "Life's hard. It's harder if you're stupid." "Most opportunity is right before your eyes, you just haven't yet learned how to see it." <Annual Member> |
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Nov 24 2015, 06:25 PM
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#2
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 Moderator Group: Members Posts: 4,459 Joined: 25-August 09 From: way on up thar Member No.: 6,983 |
What are you cleaning? For Iron stain removal I use a product called Super Iron Out.
-------------------- /l ,[____], l---L-OlllllllO- ()_) ()_)--o-)_) BLACK SANDS MATTER! Very Happy CP Lifetime Member CP CORE TEAM Referral Code CE213 |
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Nov 25 2015, 05:26 PM
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#3
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Shovel Buster! Group: Members Posts: 55 Joined: 9-October 15 From: Southern Colorado Member No.: 121,789 |
Microcline, Smoky Quartz, Fluorite, Amazonite... pretty much anything that comes out of red sand.
I know a lot of people use the super iron out but I have 5 gallon buckets of Phosphoric Acid. Im just going to go get some SIO =) -------------------- "Life's hard. It's harder if you're stupid." "Most opportunity is right before your eyes, you just haven't yet learned how to see it." <Annual Member> |
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Nov 25 2015, 07:02 PM
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#4
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Shovel Buster! Group: Members Posts: 55 Joined: 9-October 15 From: Southern Colorado Member No.: 121,789 |
Oh man that stuff bubbles and is caustic too.
Why can't I get some kind of hippie cleaner I can bathe in that's effective and I don't have to wear rubber gloves and a face mask? I don't have a yard and my garage is small. I just cant deal with too much noxious fumes. If I open my garage, neighborhood rabbits and other animals get in. Haha. Prospector problems. -------------------- "Life's hard. It's harder if you're stupid." "Most opportunity is right before your eyes, you just haven't yet learned how to see it." <Annual Member> |
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Nov 25 2015, 10:30 PM
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#5
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 Rock Bar! Group: Members Posts: 898 Joined: 9-January 14 From: Denver, CO Member No.: 116,265 |
QUOTE (Auger @ Nov 25 2015, 06:02 PM)  Oh man that stuff bubbles and is caustic too. Why can't I get some kind of hippie cleaner I can bathe in that's effective and I don't have to wear rubber gloves and a face mask? I don't have a yard and my garage is small. I just cant deal with too much noxious fumes. If I open my garage, neighborhood rabbits and other animals get in. Haha. Prospector problems. Some safer things to work with could be vinegar (smells but not toxic) Dish soap, or "Simple Green" works well to. I have been using a small cheap ultrasonic cleaner with amazing results using dish soap or simple green in the cleaner(with water). Soaking the specimens for several days can loosen material so it comes off easier regardless of the method. The ultrasonic cleaner seems to get into the cracks of my fluorite finds faster and better than SIO bath. No harsh acids necessary. Hope this helps. -------------------- |
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Nov 26 2015, 01:05 AM
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#6
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Shovel Buster! Group: Members Posts: 55 Joined: 9-October 15 From: Southern Colorado Member No.: 121,789 |
any added experience helps, and thanks.
I started off using vinegar, but ive had some stuff sitting in vinegar (still is) that has been there for about 2 months now. I have an ultrasonic cleaner from harbor freight that I use, and I soak my rocks in a 20% hydrogen peroxide solution from the field. Now I have a bath of 100% phosphoric acid on my specimens, a tub with some diluted to 3.7pH, and now another tub with 1/3 cup SIO in 1L water. Let's see what happens! -------------------- "Life's hard. It's harder if you're stupid." "Most opportunity is right before your eyes, you just haven't yet learned how to see it." <Annual Member> |
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Nov 27 2015, 01:03 PM
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#7
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Shovel Buster! Group: Members Posts: 55 Joined: 9-October 15 From: Southern Colorado Member No.: 121,789 |
Ok, so after having a test batch of minerals in the tub for 2 days, the oxide staining is easily wiped off from most surfaces with a soft toothbrush. I am going to toss these into the ultrasonic cleaner to see what results I get now.
I am surprised that I have found what appears to be a copper dust layer on some of these plates.
-------------------- "Life's hard. It's harder if you're stupid." "Most opportunity is right before your eyes, you just haven't yet learned how to see it." <Annual Member> |
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Nov 27 2015, 01:06 PM
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#8
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Shovel Buster! Group: Members Posts: 55 Joined: 9-October 15 From: Southern Colorado Member No.: 121,789 |
Here's an example of what I am trying to clean:
That is in the SIO solution at the moment. -------------------- "Life's hard. It's harder if you're stupid." "Most opportunity is right before your eyes, you just haven't yet learned how to see it." <Annual Member> |
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Nov 27 2015, 01:20 PM
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#9
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Shovel Buster! Group: Members Posts: 55 Joined: 9-October 15 From: Southern Colorado Member No.: 121,789 |
Here is a good one:
This piece of Amazonite is beautiful on all sides BUT the iron streaking is off-putting and detracts from the beauty.
I can't wait to toss it in some SIO. I love the stuff now =) -------------------- "Life's hard. It's harder if you're stupid." "Most opportunity is right before your eyes, you just haven't yet learned how to see it." <Annual Member> |
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