How to clean this quartz

[pd-c]

Hello everybody

I found this quartz and I would like to know how to clean it! Can you help me?



Thank's in advance!

 

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[MrLee]

Oxalic acid for starters, but I don't think those can be cleaned. Seems the bumpy surface is part of the crystals.

 

[Red James Cash]

Try iron out,CLR calcium lime remover.

 

[hvacker]

Try a dab of HCL. Hydrochloric acid in a small spot.

 

[thehunter123]

If those are in fact iron stains, I recommend on oxalic acid powder called Barkeepers Friend. You can get a big ol' can of it for a couple dollars from your local grocery store. All you'll need to do is mix the powder with a bit of water to make a paste and go to work with a hard-bristled toothbrush. Beautiful specimen, by the way!

 

[Zee]

I second a good soaking with iron out

 

[TerryC]

If those are in fact iron stains, I recommend on oxalic acid powder called Barkeepers Friend. You can get a big ol' can of it for a couple dollars from your local grocery store. All you'll need to do is mix the powder with a bit of water to make a paste and go to work with a hard-bristled toothbrush. Beautiful specimen, by the way!

PLEASE use goggles when doing this method! TTC

 

[stdenis_jd]

I got a 2 lb bag of 99% oxalic acid off the Bay for $15. Should only have to use about a 1/4-1/2 lb to mix with a gallon or two of hot water to soak that baby in. If it's iron, two days of soak time should strip most of it off

 

[pd-c]

Hi guys, thanks’ for all the tips...
I started the cleaning of my crystal last Wednesday. I put the crystal under water and since that and I have some result’s has you can see in the following pictures. I used a toothbrush to get rid of that dust…but I can’t reach everyplace.
I have some doubts:
1) Can I continue put the crystal under water, without damage it?
2) How can I remove the rest of dirt (that is inaccessible to clean with the toothbrush?
3) The Brown/Yellow colour is the iron that I can only remove with the acids?

 

[wheelerite]

you can also use coca-cola , I have a friend that uses it ,he just puts the specimen in a container and covers it with coke andlets it soak for a few days checks it iut and puts it back in if he needs to.
ksmith

 

[meMiner]

You have some nice pieces. The first thing to try is water and dishsoap and the tooth brush. Soaking won't hurt anything. Even a mild acid or other cleaner might cause a problem. You can try various solutions in a small spot to see what might help to remove iron or other staining. Coke, vinegar, iron out, etc might be helpful, depending on what is undesirable. Keep an eye on it and if you can when soaking in anything but water; try a small bottom section first that won't matter as much. I have damaged some nice specimens by being impatient with strong cleaners. Good luck with it.

 

[boogeyman]

If this isn't just a one time thing for you, An ultrasonic cleaner even a cheap one from Harbor Freight will save you a lot of work & wrinkled fingers! Oxalic acid as others have mentioned in an ultrasonic cleaner will do wonders. Also, if you opt for a better model than the HF ones, you'll find a lot of uses for it from cleaning carb parts to jewelry. The better ones seem a bit pricey, but when you factor in the results and work / time saved it'll be your favorite cleaning tool!

 

[AtomicFusion2015]

How do you know the location of where to find quartz crystals? I found many in my place but they are all smoothed out.

 

[Red James Cash]

How do you know the location of where to find quartz crystals? I found many in my place but they are all smoothed out

You have to find the gas pockets where crystals form.

 

[Red James Cash]

but I can’t reach everyplace.

Use a dental water pick.

 

[Eu_citzen]

Warm water and tooth brush is the first step.

Oxalic acid OR Iron out the next step.
Don't mix oxalic to a paste, but a watery solution. So it gets into every spot. Use appropriate gloves and protective clothing when handling acids!

Sandblasting, in the rare extreme case, can help. But usually I'd not recommend that.

 

[AtomicFusion2015]

Thank you for your warm reply, but what is a gas pocket? How do I know it is a gas pocket? ... OP, sorry for the off-topic.