How to Remove Calcite From Crystals
Rock, mineral and crystal collecting are done by amateur collectors as well as professional jewelers, gem specialists and lapidary artists. You can find all kinds of stones, which look quite different in the raw state than when cleaned and polished. Some crystals may have undesirable deposits on them. These can be removed using different home-cleaning solutions or special chemical formulas. To remove calcite, the simplest method involves using items you may already have in your home.
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Things You'll Need
- Buckets
- Water
- White vinegar
- Ammonia
- Small scrubber
- Rubber gloves
- Eye goggles
- Muriatic acid solution (optional)
Instructions
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1
Scrub your minerals gently to remove the large and obvious outer dirt. Rinse and pat the crystals dry.
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2
Place your specimens into a clean bucket. Pour white vinegar into the bucket using enough to cover all the specimens. Don't add water. Allow the stones to soak in the full-strength vinegar for eight to 12 hours or overnight.
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3
Remove the crystals from the vinegar and wash and rinse them completely. Place them into a clean bucket. Fill the bucket with ammonia, using enough to cover the stones. Soak the crystals another eight to 12 hours or overnight.
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4
Rinse the crystals fully and wipe them dry.
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5
Repeat the process until all the calcite deposits are removed.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you still see calcite after following these steps, you may have to use a muriatic acid solution (see Reference 1 and Resources). Use safety precautions and follow the directions specifically.
Do not drop or bang your crystals against each other or they might chip, scratch or break.
Be careful around toxic chemicals. Work in a ventilated area.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
