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Techniques for CollectorsRehydrating mineral specimens.

12th Dec 2016 16:15 UTCBob Harman

Most of us know that exposure to sunlight has a bad effect on some mineral specimens.

I think that most of us have also seen uncurated specimens, mostly in museum display cases, that have, over time, lost their luster and slowly have become pale, dull and lifeless. Their lengthy display in the very dry ambient atmosphere seems to dehydrate the actual mineral(???). Some collectors prevent this with an occasional spritz of (distilled) water. This is fine, but what I am asking here is whether an occasional lengthy immersion in (distilled) water of a month or two might help to rehydrate a specimen and restore a more vibrant color and luster.

Examples that I have that might be in need of this include blue celestine from Michigan and several colors of chalcedony. Of course the immersion would only be for stout specimens gently placed in a bucket of water at room temperature. Anyone have any thoughts or experiences specifically with this treatment? CHEERS......BOB

13th Dec 2016 00:57 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

It maybe, might, perhaps, possibly (you see my high degree of confidence here) improve some chalcedony, opal or zeolites, but I can't see how it would do any good on anhydrous species like celestite that didn't have any water in them to start with.

13th Dec 2016 01:30 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

Does bring out the color on anhydrous minerals as long as it stays wet ;-)
 
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