88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
Oregon ROCKS!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 305
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Post by 88pathoffroad on Sept 1, 2008 18:24:54 GMT -5
I have tons of little pyrite crystals that came from a nasty whitish-tan mud deposit out near Quartzville Creek, Oregon...most of the crystals still have a bit of mud stuck to them here and there. I was wondering if a short run in the vibe would help get rid of some of the mud? Would it round off the crystal facets any if I ran them with polish? Dry or wet? Any input?  |
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181lizard
Cave Dweller 
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Sept 1, 2008 21:49:58 GMT -5
Have not heard of anyone doing much of anything with pyrite. Most just collect it for it's mineral value and it's rather cool shapes. (suns, cubes etc.) How big are they?
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88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
Oregon ROCKS!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 305
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Post by 88pathoffroad on Sept 2, 2008 0:44:35 GMT -5
Oh, they're in the 4-10mm range, maybe 1/4" across tops. Real small stuff, just crusted with white dried mud on the contact edges of the crystals. It'd be cool if they'd take a polish, heh.
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Post by LCARS on Sept 2, 2008 22:33:27 GMT -5
Hmmm, depending on the nature of the material stuck between the crystals, soaking them in a muriatic acid bath may loosen up the matrix enough to remove by scrubbing with a brush.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2008 11:24:28 GMT -5
Ive thought about taking the kids to Quartzville Creek for pyrite. Sounds like there is no shortage.
Shannon
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88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
Oregon ROCKS!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 305
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Post by 88pathoffroad on Sept 6, 2008 12:14:06 GMT -5
This is true. The pyrite location is up Boulder Creek, a paved road on the east side of Quartzville Creek past Yellowbottom. It's hard to miss.  I took buckets with me, dug up a bunch of the mud mix, took it home and washed it out there. The pyrites rarely reach sizes larger than 3/8", (the majority are between 1/8" and 1/4") but the facets and multiple twinning are neat to see. A gold pan works well to remove excess rock crumbs and clay after washing and classifying. I'm going to empty the vibe today and stick about 5 lbs of pyrite in there with just some water to see how it goes. I think it may help a little.  |
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88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
Oregon ROCKS!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 305
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Post by 88pathoffroad on Sept 6, 2008 16:08:15 GMT -5
Allright, I put a batch in. Water and a small amount of laundry detergent for the cleaning run...ran the vibe for about two hours.
Result: sulfurous-smelling black water. Many crystals came out a good deal cleaner than when they went in! After rinsing, I put them back in with leftover polish from my agate run. I'll let 'em sit for a day or so and see how it goes. I anticipate tossing out the polish mixture, of course...it'll be impregnated with iron and sulfur, not good for polishing anything else. Heh.
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88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
Oregon ROCKS!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 305
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Post by 88pathoffroad on Sept 6, 2008 17:00:35 GMT -5
Here's a Before pic of the pyrites.  |
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88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
Oregon ROCKS!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 305
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Post by 88pathoffroad on Sept 7, 2008 16:41:11 GMT -5
And afterwards it apears that the vibe dulls the facets of the crystals. It did clean them up a bit but only to make them slightly duller. D'oh! I guess I'll take to just giving them a bath in something else. Where's that muriatic acid now...
Would oxalic acid do much but ruin pyrite? I know it's good for cleaning clear quartz...
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I took buckets with me, dug up a bunch of the mud mix, took it home and washed it out there. The pyrites rarely reach sizes larger than 3/8", (the majority are between 1/8" and 1/4") but the facets and multiple twinning are neat to see. A gold pan works well to remove excess rock crumbs and clay after washing and classifying. 
