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Techniques for CollectorsCleaning Titanite

17th Oct 2015 02:27 UTCThomas E. Gore

As this is my first post to this forum, I would like to start off by saying hello to all of you, so... Hey there everyone!

Now, getting down to business, I recently returned from a successful few days of collecting in the Bancroft and Renfrew County areas of Ontario with a trunk-full of wonderful new specimens.

In particular, I collected one piece of orthoclase with a nice piece of titanite protruding from the side, but I'm not quite sure how to go about cleaning the specimen. I collected it at the Smart Mine (Miller Property) just outside of Eganville, and despite giving it a good soak in soapy water, I had little success cleaning the specimen, aside from removing some soil.

I'd like to know if there is any way to clean the surface of the titanite to bring out it's nice red colour and lustre, and of course, without damaging the specimen. I'm not too concerned with cleaning up the feldspar (it's quite pitted), although I would like to keep it undamaged as well, as it would be a real shame to cause harm to a euhedral crystal such as this one. I also have a few smaller samples in need of similar treatment that I could use as test subjects before attempting anything on this one.

I've attached an image of the sample if you would like to take a look at it.

Please leave a post if you have any recommendations, and thank you all in advance.

17th Oct 2015 04:51 UTCMatt Neuzil Expert

If it is another mineral on the titanite, options might be limited. It appears to have a similar surface appearance as the feldspar. Maybe super iron out could work or dilute muriatic. I'm not familiar with that exact property. If you have a similar piece to test on and not fear losing you can go trial and error on to see what works best.

17th Oct 2015 06:44 UTCBob Harman

TOM, WELCOME TO MINDAT!!!

You don't give measurements and the specimen looks a bit camouflaged by the similar background so it is difficult to get a good grasp on really what you have, but you have alluded to the fact that you have started the cleaning process. So the example has already been soaked and as you note it is pitted. It also seems to have several cracks and may not be very stable. I think it risky to do much more than a short soak in iron out with a followup soft toothbrush scrub and final rinsing. I do not think it will clean up much more and it just looks too unstable to stand much more; it may fall apart. I do suggest testing all this with your lesser examples. CHEERS.......BOB

17th Oct 2015 15:54 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

Some cannot be cleaned as it is partly altered to anatase like this:http://www.mindat.org/photo-276540.html

17th Oct 2015 17:17 UTCAndrew Debnam 🌟

Welcome Tom, The Miller property is a great place to start. Reiner is right about the Anatase alteration. I have collected quite a few pieces from Miller and some have a "skin" of Anatase. Having said that I have had good results with super iron out (you can buy it at Canadian Tire). Put a quarter of cup of it in warm pail of water and let it dissolve. Do this in a well ventilated area and wear chemical resistant gloves. SIO is an irritant so do not get it on your skin or in your eyes. You can soak the specimen for a hour to start, then check it for results. Super iron will remove iron stains and some others as well. Be careful with soaking some minerals (Feldspar - Apatite) to long as it can make them look bleached out. I then soak the material in distilled water afterwards.

this is a piece I cleaned with SIO- you can see some of the Anatase alteration

http://www.mindat.org/photo-701323.html

25th Oct 2015 20:56 UTCTim Jokela Jr

Definitely try iron out on a lesser piece, and on a feldspar.

Manual removal can be surprisingly effective.

A fresh Xacto knife blade, used with low-power magnification, or a new single-edge razor blade, can do wonders, on some pieces.

These can also do a lot of damage. Like leaving permanent scratches, or encouraging a hunk to cleave right off.

Air abrasion is another possibility.

My suggestion, if the iron out doesn't work, and you don't have a scope, leave it alone. Also, join a local club and ask members what to do.

Grats on finding a good titanite!

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