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Techniques for CollectorsHard crust/deposits on Amethyst

3rd Oct 2016 20:22 UTCSara M

Hi there,

I found a piece of Amethyst in Northern NJ that has a white/grey crust like deposit attatched to the crystals. I'm not sure what the crust is, or if it can even be removed. After a 5 day soak in SIO, some particles came off, better exposing the crystals- but the rest still remain. Scrubbing the specimen doesn't seem to make any change either. Is there any way to remove this crust? Thanks!

3rd Oct 2016 20:31 UTCErik Vercammen Expert

It looks as if the "crust" is the coating of the cavity the amethyst crystals have grown in, so the crust is the "bottom" of the crystals.

3rd Oct 2016 21:01 UTCBob Harman

Nice NJ amethyst find!

From your photos it is hard to tell whether the "crusts" are on the amethyst crystals per se or predominantly along their base. This seems important along with the size of your specimen. If the specimen is smaller than about 4" and the crust is along the base, your specimen might fall apart as you try to clean/improve it. If the crust is solely on the crystals and the specimen is greater than about 6", your specimen probably will be stout enough to withstand cleaning.

As to further cleaning options, I might try some vinegar or very dilute acid to see whether any part of the crust might be a dissolvable carbonate. And as a second option, I would try a hi pressure spot cleaning gun. Start gently and go toward higher pressure seeing if this will knock off more of the crust. Hope this helps. CHEERS....BOB

3rd Oct 2016 23:38 UTCSara M.

Thanks for the replies!

The specimens length is just over an inch and a half on every side. As for a base, it doesn't seem to have one- it's hard to describe, but it's sort of like one continuous ball-like purple cluster all around, with only one side having slightly larger crystals then the rest. (Amethyst flower?) I've found a few other amethysts before, and you can definitely tell where the base is, but this guy is a strange exception. I'll start with the vinegar and go from there- thanks for the tips!

3rd Oct 2016 23:40 UTCTom Henderson

Hey Sara! Bobs' advice seems right on target. But that looks like a pretty nice amethyst specimen you've got there, with a nice little pocket of bright colorful crystals. The crust appears to be part of the matrix. I'd be pretty pleased with it as it is! Good luck, TomH

9th Oct 2016 16:46 UTCD. Peck

Sara, I'm with Tom! I would leave it alone and enjoy it.

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