hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 478
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Post by hypodactylus on Jul 20, 2024 21:26:32 GMT -5
I had some larger rough rocks sitting in blue Dawn dish soap (with water) for a number of days (probably too long) to remove some unknown oil that the prior owner had apparently soaked them in.
I washed them off today, only to find that the rocks are now at least partially coated in some sort of bluish-white substance. I assume it is soap scum. I scrubbed, rinsed, re-washed, re-scrubbed, and re-rinsed. Still there.
I know people often soak their rocks in Dawn to remove cutting oil from slabs and such, so I was wondering if anyone had experienced this before. If so, how did you remove the unwanted coating? Thinking of trying vinegar, but I am not sure if it would cause some adverse effect on the rock.
The rocks are some pieces of Ocean Jasper.
Thanks!
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Post by Rockoonz on Jul 20, 2024 21:32:59 GMT -5
Try just dropping them in a bucket of water for a day or 3
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 478
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Post by hypodactylus on Jul 20, 2024 22:56:40 GMT -5
Try just dropping them in a bucket of water for a day or 3 I'll let them soak in water for a number of days and see if that works. Thanks! |
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Post by pebblesky on Jul 21, 2024 1:08:39 GMT -5
Do you have a picture? I noticed some previously acid treated rocks can develop a white coat and that coat could only be grinded/tumbled out, or if you apply oil to the surface again, the white coat will be "hidden".
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 478
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Post by hypodactylus on Aug 3, 2024 16:02:58 GMT -5
Try just dropping them in a bucket of water for a day or 3 I let them soak in water for a couple weeks or so; no noticeable difference, unfortunately. |
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 478
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Post by hypodactylus on Aug 3, 2024 16:05:48 GMT -5
Do you have a picture? I noticed some previously acid treated rocks can develop a white coat and that coat could only be grinded/tumbled out, or if you apply oil to the surface again, the white coat will be "hidden". This is one of the rocks, dry:  This is the same rock, wet (water):  I have never seen something like this and I am not sure if it was already a problem when I received them (hidden by the oil coating) or if it somehow happened when I left them soaking in dish soap and water for an extended period of time to remove the oil. |
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Post by pebblesky on Aug 3, 2024 19:50:45 GMT -5
From my experience it is already a problem. The sellers soaked the chalcedonies in the oil for days even weeks, and due to the porous structure the oil is really hard to completely get rid of. These are some of the examples on my side (sorry for the background color that does't work):  Shown dry. Took me a long while to soak them in the water to get rid of the oil that kept spreading out after several days. I didn't use any soap.  Shown wet after soaking in the water for one minute. I can no longer show you how they looked when soaked with oil for I don't know how long. More translucent and more charming yellow. Even the now seemingly super white part are partially translucent. |
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 478
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Post by hypodactylus on Aug 3, 2024 22:57:07 GMT -5
Interesting, thanks for sharing!
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 478
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Post by hypodactylus on Oct 22, 2024 10:17:32 GMT -5
A small update, before I forget:
I also soaked the rocks in vinegar for a few days (a while ago; I am slow), then soapy water with a different soap. No change.
I don't think I am confident enough with my chemical knowledge to try any stronger chemicals.
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 22, 2024 11:23:52 GMT -5
You can also try grinding them in the vibe at stage two. If the white coating layer is really thin, one round of stage two might get rid of it, and you still keep the original shape of the stone. However that rough feeling of the surface will be gone, which might not be desirable for specimen collectors I guess.
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 478
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Post by hypodactylus on Oct 22, 2024 12:56:33 GMT -5
You can also try grinding them in the vibe at stage two. If the white coating layer is really thin, one round of stage two might get rid of it, and you still keep the original shape of the stone. However that rough feeling of the surface will be gone, which might not be desirable for specimen collectors I guess. Yeah, the one in the photo will likely end up getting cut or something, so it is less of an issue. However, there are a couple other pieces that are pretty much covered in botryoidal formations and were intended to be specimens. They are also on the larger side.
I'll likely just keep the display specimens around and hope that I make some great discovery on how to clean them up some day.
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Post by rmf on Oct 22, 2024 17:51:37 GMT -5
hypodactylus from looking at the pics I would say that the oil was to hide the weathering that had occurred on the rock. the soap removed the oil and now it shows the weathering again. Not sure you have a problem there. If you tumble the rough grit will grind off the weathered crust and if you cab the skin is probably very thin and the saw will reveal that it is just on the surface. I cant tell if that is a fish eye agate or a fossil fern type wood from the pics it could be a lace agate but I like the first two possibilities better. Like to see a slab of that it could be very nice.
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller 
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,483
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Post by realrockhound on Oct 22, 2024 18:02:08 GMT -5
Wondering if it’s efflorescence? Muriatic acid diluted with water takes that crap off.
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Post by whalecottagedesigns on Oct 22, 2024 19:51:21 GMT -5
Also agree with rmf that it is possible that that is just normal weathering, what the rocks looked like when found. But the oiliness hid it maybe. Everything I get from a particular seller in India is covered in oil, I think it is to make the rocks look nicer and hide fractures etc. I chuck it all into the ultrasonic with dishwasher cleaner until it is gone. |
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