Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic Time
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral Quiz
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography
╳Discussions
💬 Home🔎 Search📅 LatestGroups
EducationOpen discussion area.Fakes & FraudsOpen discussion area.Field CollectingOpen discussion area.FossilsOpen discussion area.Gems and GemologyOpen discussion area.GeneralOpen discussion area.How to ContributeOpen discussion area.Identity HelpOpen discussion area.Improving Mindat.orgOpen discussion area.LocalitiesOpen discussion area.Lost and Stolen SpecimensOpen discussion area.MarketplaceOpen discussion area.MeteoritesOpen discussion area.Mindat ProductsOpen discussion area.Mineral ExchangesOpen discussion area.Mineral PhotographyOpen discussion area.Mineral ShowsOpen discussion area.Mineralogical ClassificationOpen discussion area.Mineralogy CourseOpen discussion area.MineralsOpen discussion area.Minerals and MuseumsOpen discussion area.PhotosOpen discussion area.Techniques for CollectorsOpen discussion area.The Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryOpen discussion area.UV MineralsOpen discussion area.Recent Images in Discussions
Techniques for CollectorsPhosphoric Acid
3rd Dec 2009 15:03 UTCMark & Linda Mahlum
Mark Mahlum
11th Dec 2009 15:58 UTCMark & Linda Mahlum
Mark
11th Dec 2009 16:26 UTCJolyon Ralph Founder
I've not used it for cleaning iron stains off quartz or fluorite though - not sure how effective it will be but it's reasonably safe to work with so try warming it up a bit.
Jolyon
11th Dec 2009 17:38 UTCIan Merkel
I have not been able to locate phosphoric acid. If you find a distributor, please let me know.
Cheers.
Ian
11th Dec 2009 17:42 UTCJared Freiburg
14th Dec 2009 01:37 UTCAnonymous User
Since recently I had been using Phosphoric acid very often to clean off carbonate from Galena.The reason why I stopped was that Citric can do the same(only much more difficultly) and it neutralizes much easier.
I don't see why one should use Phosphoric acid unless he/she wants to remove carbonate from a specific mineral.I find it very hard to neutralize the acid and this process takes longer than cleaning per se.
I buy Phosphoric acid (around 70% ?) from a local chemical supplier shop.Go to your local University of Chemistry and ask them for their supplier.
Phosphoric acid is great for removing oxidation!
-Kostas.
31st Dec 2009 01:41 UTChayat malik
I WANT TO CLEAN AQUAMARINE AND MICA SPECIMEN. SPECIALLY MICA HAVE IRON STAIN ON IT .CAN ANY ONE HELP ME FOR THAT.
THANKYOU
MALIK
31st Dec 2009 02:48 UTCNH
Since mica and aquamarine are pretty chemically inert, you can try an acid to remove the iron oxides as well. Oxalic acid (sold as wood bleach) and phosphoric acid (sold as rust remover) can both remove iron stains. Note that with both of these, if there is calcite present in the coating, it can form precipitates that are difficult to remove.
You can refer to Rock Currier's quartz cleaning guide for instructions on using the chemicals.
The only problem I can foresee is if the iron oxide is cementing the minerals together (removing it could make the piece fall apart) or if there is a clay coating (not easily removed by chemical methods).
23rd Jan 2010 19:03 UTCMark & Linda Mahlum
Mark
10th Mar 2010 02:21 UTCWalter Kellogg
13th Mar 2010 13:25 UTCAnonymous User
Just to mention that Super Iron Out is a brand with S.Dithionite as an active compound.I've heard it contains Citric Acid as well.
You won't have any problem using it to clean the Aquamarine with Mica,but when cleaning a Calcite you will.I always use clean compounds and not brands.S.Dithionite is neutral and will clean even Carbonates without causing any damage.
All the best!
-Kostas.
13th Mar 2010 15:14 UTCKeith Wood
11th Apr 2010 07:39 UTCJason Herrmann
www.vwrsp.com
11th Apr 2010 21:11 UTCJohn Lichtenberger
https://b2b.xpedx.com/marketing/tds/1131616.pdf
11th Apr 2010 21:55 UTCJohn Duck
Add sodium bicarbonate to Super Ironout solution to adjust pH to neutral or basic and you will be able to clean calcite without damage. You can adjust the pH up to about pH 10 with sodium bicarbonate. However carbonates of zinc and copper will dissolve if you allow the solution to be too basic.
15th Apr 2010 21:39 UTCPeter Haas
15th Apr 2010 22:42 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager
15th Apr 2010 23:54 UTCRonald John Gyllenhammer Expert
Presumably as a cleaner, maybe lime scale, etc?
Ron
16th Apr 2010 00:14 UTCAlex Homenuke Expert
I have used CLR to remove calcite from the Franklin rhodonites and it leaves the rhodonite shiny, not dull like hydrochloric acid. Works well for cleaning copper without making it "new penny pink"
10th May 2010 07:04 UTCJohn Attard Expert
Hydrochloric acid is best to remove iron ( when its use is OK) but it often causes an apparently never-ending bleed of yellow ferric chloride to come out of the slightest of pores in minerals after the acid has been rinsed off. Use of phosphoric acid at this point enables the slight amount of residual iron to be complexed by phosphate into something almost colorless. The only better complexing agent is fluoride but it is usually unnecessary.
Mindat.org is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 26, 2024 08:55:21
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 26, 2024 08:55:21