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Post by woodman on Sept 12, 2016 19:53:45 GMT -5
I was out doing a bit of looking for petrified wood over the weekend and found a piece that has a lot of crystals on the bottom end. They are too soft to be quart, so I am assuming they are some sort of calcite crystals. My question is if there is any way to clean the deposits off without damaging the crystals.   |
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Post by vegasjames on Sept 13, 2016 0:17:06 GMT -5
I clean calcite with dilute hydrochloric (muriatic) acid. Just keep a close on the crystals when doing this to make sure you do not overdo it.
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Post by woodman on Sept 13, 2016 9:09:15 GMT -5
I will give that try aand see what happens. I got a small piece that I will try it on first. Thanks.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
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Post by Fossilman on Sept 13, 2016 13:11:00 GMT -5
I have used vinegar and baking soda too....Good luck...
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Post by woodman on Sept 16, 2016 21:39:08 GMT -5
I clean calcite with dilute hydrochloric (muriatic) acid. Just keep a close on the crystals when doing this to make sure you do not overdo it. It seems to be working, but it is pretty aggressive, will take it slow. |
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Post by woodman on Sept 16, 2016 21:39:54 GMT -5
I have used vinegar and baking soda too....Good luck... Trying vinegar and I am growing some nice white crystals on it!! |
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Post by vegasjames on Sept 17, 2016 0:31:03 GMT -5
I clean calcite with dilute hydrochloric (muriatic) acid. Just keep a close on the crystals when doing this to make sure you do not overdo it. It seems to be working, but it is pretty aggressive, will take it slow. Diluting the acid quite a bit slows the reaction. |
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Post by vegasjames on Sept 17, 2016 0:33:55 GMT -5
I have used vinegar and baking soda too....Good luck... Trying vinegar and I am growing some nice white crystals on it!! Same principle as the "popcorn rocks" (dolomite) which forms aragonite crystals. I still prefer using the hydrochloric acid, which forms a thin layer of hygroscopic calcium chloride giving the stone more of a wet appearance. |
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Post by orrum on Sept 17, 2016 5:49:00 GMT -5
How do u use vinegar and baking soda Fossilman?
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Post by woodman on Sept 19, 2016 21:08:47 GMT -5
Making some headway on cleaning the crystals, but shopped for now to see I can get a cut made to make it easier to handle and see if the wood is worth it or not. There is a bad fracture but hoping to hold it together while making a cut. We will see!  |
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Post by greig on Sept 19, 2016 22:47:29 GMT -5
Wow. That rock is a monster. I have played around with various acids and cleaners. I only use muriatic to etch (dissolve) calcite. If I want to clean it, I use Iron Out (usually the staining is iron. I have never attempted to tackle a rock that large. Good luck with your project.
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Post by woodman on Sept 22, 2016 9:42:01 GMT -5
Started cutting yesterday. Hope to get back to it today. Pretty soft material so it is cutting pretty fast. the log is 20 inches in diameter.
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Post by woodman on Sept 28, 2016 15:42:07 GMT -5
This is a smaller piece that I have been soaking in vinegar. Don't know if I will try to take it any further or not.   |
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Post by woodman on Sept 28, 2016 15:51:06 GMT -5
This is where I am at on the big piece.  |
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