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Techniques for CollectorsCleaning crocoite

20th Jan 2012 13:32 UTCJohn Collins

I have a nice precimen of crocoite whose crystals are dark yellowish rather than reddish. I've seen mention of a cleaning agent "SIO", or is it "SlO" at this site but I don't know what it is.

Could help with this is and tell me how to use it.

Regards,

John

20th Jan 2012 14:41 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager

It stands for "Super Iron out" and is a commercial cleaning product in the US. It is very similar chemically to a Waller solution.

20th Jan 2012 14:58 UTCJohn Collins

Thanks David.

I'll pick some up next time I'm south of th border. I hope it is safe with crocoite.

John

20th Jan 2012 16:55 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager

There are a few retailers in Canada that carry it.

http://www.superironout.com/where-to-buy.php

20th Jan 2012 18:07 UTCJohn Collins

Thanks David,

I got some from Canadian Tire. I see that the directions have a plethora of recipes for different uses ranging from 1/4 to 1 cup per gallon of water. Of course, none of these is for cleaning minerals.

What is the recommended mix for cleaning crocoite or minerals of similar chemistry?

John

20th Jan 2012 18:10 UTCAndrew Haighton

I noticed that there are no instructions on the back of the bottle I purchased from Canadian Tire as to how much in what volume of water.

Any ideas? I just poured it in to clean Amethyst, Scapolite, "Hornblende" and Titanites from Ontario, and it cleaned them to some extent, but not fully.

Should we use hot, warm or cold water, and how much for a litre of water?

I suppose it also depends on what you are cleaning, i.e. acicular minerals might break during any formation of bubbles.

20th Jan 2012 18:39 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager

Instructions:

http://www.superironout.com/documents/SIO-Powder-Directions.pdf

20th Jan 2012 18:48 UTCJohn Collins

Andrew,

Peel up the bottom of the label (half way) and there they are.

John

20th Jan 2012 19:07 UTCAndrew Haighton

Thanks guys;

Didn't think to look under the label.

Noticed that it doesn't mention Crocoite on the label, so I assume it would be closest to the plastic ware at 1/3 cup. :-S

30th Jan 2012 14:30 UTCMark Willoughby Expert

Howdy John,

Before you go cleaning your crocoite specimen (I hope this gets to you in time), have you had it checked to see if in fact you have an accessory mineral on the crystals, such as dundasite or gibbsite? These can often coat the crocoite crystals and give them the appearance of a different colour!

If it is just dirt however, an ultrasonic cleaner with distilled water should be enough to clean it up.

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