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Techniques for CollectorsCleaning Brochantite/Linarite

9th Apr 2014 03:11 UTCAAK

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Hey

So i recently obtained this specimen with really nice green sprays of brochantite on quartz with some linarite on the underside (You can see a bit of it on the right side of the specimen) from Chile. The quartz looks... kinda dirty however

Is this due to rust staining? I was thinking that was what was responsible, and that soaking it in oxalic acid would make the quartz xls have a nicer luster. Would oxalic acid damage the linarite/brochantite?

9th Apr 2014 03:29 UTCBob Harman

Altho the quartz does have rust staining, basically oxalic acid or Super Iron Out would not be advisable with the delicate brochantite sprays. I think your specimen is about as good as it will ever be so I would leave it as is. But maybe someone else has another opinion. CHEERS…..BOB

9th Apr 2014 04:56 UTCDoug Daniels

The simplest treatment.....DON'T.

9th Apr 2014 05:08 UTCAAK

okay, thank you very much for the advice!

9th Apr 2014 08:49 UTCRock Currier Expert

Do you have a small rubbish piece to experiment with? You definitely should not use any acids to try and clean it. You might try iron out, but I would want to try it out first on a rubbish specimen. There is just too much chance in ruining those delicate brochantite needles.

12th Aug 2018 02:27 UTCChris Rose

I find a lot of small linarite coatings along with chrysocolla and malachite on Quartz. Iron out and oxalic ruin them all but Quartz . I usually soak them and scrub them with toothbrushes, then dry them and repeat as many times as I have to. Its really tedious but sometimes its worth it
 
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