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Techniques for CollectorsIron Oxide Stains on White Opal?

14th Sep 2016 03:31 UTCSarah4793

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Hi!


I'm a fairly new rockhound, and for the most part, cleaning my specimens with water and a toothbrush has worked fairly well.


Recently, while at the Sterling Mine in Ogdensburg, NJ, I came across what I believe to be a white Opal in the large collecting area located there. I'm not sure where it is originally from, but I would like to clean it up!


It appears the specimen has some iron oxide staining. There are white parts to the Opal, and on other parts, light yellow-filmy stains. I can see the Opal shimmer beneath, and hope that if properly cleaned, the specimen will glisten. My question is as follows- is SIO a candidate for cleaning these stains? Will it harm the Opal? If this is so, are there any alternative methods I can use? Thank you!


 
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