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Techniques for CollectorsGalena,Quartz and Calcite specimen

28th Nov 2007 10:52 UTCAnonymous User

Hello!

I left a specimen of Calcite,Quartz and Galena next to a solution of clothes-softener concentrate.On the bottle lists the following ingredients:15-30% cation surfactants plus perfume:Hexyl Cinnamal,Butylphenyl Methylopropional,Linalool,Limonene,Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone,Coumarin.

Could any of these chemical compounds have attacked my specimen(any of the minerals on it...),even microscopically?Is time a factor of the attack,or just a factor of the level of the damage(Is it sure that the compound fumes have attcked my specimen immideately and the damage is microscopical,or this compound could START attacking the specimen at a specific moment after contact with its molecules)?

Thank you a lot in advance!

-Kostas.

8th Dec 2007 17:59 UTCChickadee

Hello!

I am new to message boards.

In the high humidity area of your wash room and likely a high pH it might be possible for the formation of a lead carbonate or sulfate on the surface. You could also get off-gassing of the plastics, but not likely.

Hopefully your specimen is not too damaged. Good luck. Chickadee.

17th Dec 2007 02:13 UTCTim Jokela Jr

Well, what exactly happened to the specimen?

I have a hard time believing a clothes softener, in a bottle, with the lid on.... did any attacking of anything.

Stuff like bleach can take the luster off calcite in the blink of an eye; mild acids can turn lustrous galena dull black, did the specimen get washed in anythng dubious?

Tim Jokela Jr

20th Dec 2007 18:41 UTCAnonymous User

Hello!

Thank you for the kind replies!

Chickadee,welcome to the message board!

The specimens have no visual damage,but that's not the point.I try to understand the the grade of the damage(if any is caused) that is caused on a molecular level,not only visually.Fortunatelly,I do not need to be afraid of visual damage on Madan Galena.There are miners here cleaning the Calcite off Galena with 2% HCl(Hydrochloric acid).The Galena remains visually intact!!!The luster is maximum(mirror) ven after the treatment!

However,I try to understand if the specimens can be damaged in molecural level under the conditions I keep them.

Thank you very very much once more!

-Kostas.

31st Dec 2007 03:41 UTCHoward Heitner

Kostas,

An acid only reacts with the surface of a solid, it does not penetrate the crystal. There is a danger however in removing calcite from crystals with acid. Sometimes the crystal is fractured slightly and the cracks are filled with calcite. If this calcite is then dissolved the crystal may fall apart, making it appear that the acid attacked the crystal.

Howard Heitner

2nd Jan 2008 01:05 UTCAnonymous User

Hello and Happy New Year!

Howard,thank for your reply!Very interesting info!But if the crystal are porus,it should penetrate at a level,depending on the temperature,time and dimensions of ions/pores.

Thanks a lot!

-Kostas.

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