Need some guidance on Crystals

[Byrdgirl]

My best friend and I have been digging crystals here in Montana and we are looking for some guidance on how to polish them. From what I have found online a dremel tool is the way to go.

Could anyone advise on which model is the best to purchase and what accessories we would need? Not really sure where to start.

Thank you for any input.

 

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[Kray Gelder]

What a fantastic collection of smoky quartz. I think if you polish them they may lose value as specimens. Have you tried just cleaning them with a brush and soapy water?...although you obviously have already cleaned them up nicely. Really nice finds!

 

[Jim in Idaho]

I'm with Kray. Great collection, just as it is, other than mild cleaning.
Jim

 

[RobRieman]

Unless you are polishing them for your own personal preference for your collection, they will be worth more if you sell them as they come out of the ground.

 

[RGINN]

Cool finds and yeah you probably don't want to polish those, just clean them up. If you're going to mount some in jewelry you might need to do some altering, and a Dremel tool does a fair job. There's guys on here who know more about that and they'll probably get back to you. If nothing else, call up the local jewelers as they will have some good advice.

 

[Kray Gelder]

Byrdgirl, I might add one more thing, though you may be already aware. Keep them out of direct sunlight, for the color in quartz will fade if you don't.

 

[ChampFerguson/TN]

Nice quartz collection!

I'd recommend a cordless Dremel, but really an acid solution should clean them up pretty well. If you want to tumble, never put more than 1 piece of qtz at a time in the hopper- make sure the media is softer than what you want to polish.

I tend to agree with Kray that soap and water will do fine. There is a product for use on iron stained minerals (I think it is) that is some sort of oxalate. Check out the McRocks board McRocks , they discuss it in several threads there. read anything to do with Cleaning). But go there fast, they are going to shut down shortly; tomorrow I think it is.

But the bottom line is that qtz is very stable stuff. You can use almost any common acid or base to clean it with. Test on a lesser quality specimen if you aren't sure.

Side tip: if you want to darken up smoky qtz, place it with radioactive minerals. Not all qtz will darken, but most smoky stuff will.

 

[flinthunter]

If your quartz crystals are discolored from iron stains you might try using Iron Out laundry stain remover. From Google: "Soak your crystal clusters in the Iron Out solution for 5-20 minutes, up to a maximum of 1-2 hours. When done, pour the liquid down the drain and thoroughly rinse your mineral specimens. Naval Jelly, which contains phosphoric acid, is sold for getting rust off metal, but it works on quartz crystals as well". I use oxalic acid on my stained quartz geodes but the Iron Out will be easier to acquire if you are just going to try it on a few pieces.

 

[DDancer]

Very nice haul of crystals there All the above advice is great however try the chemical cleaning first before the dremel is all I'll add.

 

[Tpmetal]

someones been rather busy!

 

[roaddust66]

I used to dig crystals near Hot Springs Arkansas