Florida Conglomerate advice

NowandThenTreasures · Feb 2, 2023

I have collected a few conglomerates from Florida over the years with solid metal targets in them somewhere.

I hate to smash them apart and damage a potential nice find.

I have also heard of using muriatic acid & water in a 50/50 mix, but I figure that would harm any silver target that might be in the conglomerate.

What works best to break apart the conglomerates?

Blak bart · Feb 2, 2023

It will not harm silver.....its a good method.

Blak bart · Feb 4, 2023

Blak bart · Feb 4, 2023

Blak bart · Feb 4, 2023

I've had tremendous luck and success working conglomerates from the shallows in the past using careful chipping on the larger more sturdy objects, and have used muriatic acid many times to dissolve sulfides.....if the object is stable in the conglomerate the acid will not harm most metals any more than the sea already has. If the objects are not in good shape then most will be turned to sulfide already. Iron is sacrificial and the non ferrous metals are protected much better than iron, steel, and even stainless. Obviously we would not want to hammer on jewels pieces or gold in conglomerate. These delicate items can be extracted by dissolving the sand, coral, and sulfides in muriatic acid. Ill get some picks and post them for examples.

Blak bart · Feb 4, 2023

Blak bart · Feb 4, 2023

This is a jeweled piece encased in a conglomerate of sand and sulfides from corrosion......even the large pink stone is completely encased along with the metal. I dissolved this conglomerate in muriatic acid until it was completely clean !!