Cleaning zeolites - Acton, CA
11th May 2018 22:53 UTCJoshua Frank
I live around Acton, CA and have been nosing around the basalt areas west of town proper and found a nice exposed outcrop of basalt containing pockets of zeolites. From my research, I believe the specimens I have found are Stilbite. (the most visible mineral). Other zeolites are present I am sure.
Pictures of 2 specimens attached. Both have undergone distilled water soaking for a week, warm super iron baths of a few hours, hit with the water gun lightly numerous times, and then a rinse bath in distilled water for another week.
The first specimen shows nice bowtie crystals. I assume this is Stilblite. After the cleanings it still has brown staining on the bowtie crystals.
Any help on how to clean the bowties directly without harming them ? I have tried various mechanical methods; toothbrushes and toothpicks to no avail.
The second specimen cleaned up well in my opinion. Wondering if and how I can get the first specimen to show the same?
The area is adjacent to the Emma Queen copper mine roughly 1/2 mile away so I assume copper minerals are in the matrix of the first specimen, I think.
Wanna post these to "collected my dirty hands" thread and request they be included in locality page for that area.
Any help in further cleaning is appreciated and I understand only so much can be done.
But you know how it is... you want what you self collect to look the best it can without to much transformation.
Cheers!
Joshua
