How do you clean up garnets?

[josh]

I was up digging in emerald creek garnet area and found a bunch of garnets (some may be star garnets when finished) but I was wondering if anyone knew a way to get the dirt and compact clay (too hard with dental tool) out of the crevices so it can then be rounded (however you do that..). Oh and I don't want to use like hydrocloric acid or what not where I'm put at high risk.. Basically I'm looking for a way to get it down to nothing but the simple garnet no dirt without scraping for hours
Any help is appreciated!
Josh

 

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[allen_idaho]

I'd say invest in a dremel tool. Use it to carefully chip away the hard clay. They aren't too expensive and very handy for an assortment of things.

Then, find yourself a nice cutter to cab the garnets.

 

[sniffer]

or try a sonic cleaner like a jeweler uses

 

[bootybay]

A rock tumbler may help too..but will take weeks to do that as you have to use the different grades of grit that you put in the tumbler..