Help with cleaning advice for Tex Mex Fluorite

Hi again.

I have this really large specimen of Fluorite from the Mex Tex mine in New Mexico that I am contemplating on cleaning.



As you can see, the back has very interesting crystals (The display front is the picture labeled 'fl2.jpg') and I am interested in cleaning off a lot of the yellowish/white material covering the crystals.

I don't have it here in front of me (It's part of the large collection from a friend of mine) but I will pick it up next week for preparation.

My question (Especially for people that have cleaned material from this mine):

Keeping in mind that I do not have the material in front of me (I will on Tuesday) to test to see if the covering is Calcite (Which I assume though I know there is a good chance I am wrong), would it be possible to clean this white material off?

The crystals on the back all lightly frosted as it is (Which I have no problem with) so I am wondering if I could use a hardened, sharpened copper knife (I've already made a sharpened copper knife that has been fire-hardened) to gently flake the material off.

Or am I better to go about it chemically? Some relatively safe chemical like White Vinegar to soften up the calcite?

Thanks much for the help.

The only problem with cleaning the "calcite" off is,
what is the surface under it going to look like.
Either mechanical or chemically removed, it may leave a pitted, dull surface.
Try on a small/hidden area first.

Bri, fluorite from both the Mex Tex AND the Blanchard (Sunshine) are often coated with a secondary growth of quartz and/or a siliceous clay. Removing either successfully is improbable and, as Adam said, what remains is not often an attractive specimen. I have many pieces (now in the cactus gardens) on which I worked for some time. When the Mex Tex, Blanchard, and Royal Flush fluorites are clean in situ (and they often are), they compare favorably with the best.

I like your friend's specimen as it is....nice Mex Tex fluorite!!!

Don S.