How to Remove Clay from Quartz Pockets?

Hello All!

During a trip to the Cory's Lane locality In Portsmouth, Rhode Island, yesterday, I collected several specimens containing pockets of small quartz crystals heavily covered in a thick red clay. The individual crystals range in size to around 1 cm in length. Any ideas on the Best way of removing this with minimum dammage to the specimens? The peices consist of pocket-containing quartz veins in shale. I Don't have time tonight, but just in case I'll try posting some photos tomorrow. Thanks for any assistance!

-Matthew ><>

Rock Currier's Cleaning Quartz article should get you started.

I use a pressure washer to remove the clay from amethyst, then oxalic acid to remove rust staining.

MATTHEW I agree with the other suggestions. This is always a multi step process for me. On all collecting trips I have, in the back of my SUV, several gallon jugs of simple soapy water. After finding specimens, I wash them off right at the collecting site. Since I am at the point of only keeping hi quality (Indiana) specimens, it is not surprising how many washed off specimens are given away or left right at the collecting site. Those that I keep are then soaked over night in soapy water at home and then hosed off (unless particularly delicate) with my garden hose. Finally, I then use the hi pressure cleaning gun and for clay surrounding quartz this should work well. If iron stained, I would include a short as possible iron out soaking followed by a water rinse and final lengthy water soaking. That is my usual cleaning regime and it works well for quartz geodes and most other Indiana and Ohio mineral specimens. CHEERS............BOB

Thank you all very much for all the helpful replies! I should be all set now.

-Matthew ><>