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GeneralZeolite Hydration

28th Feb 2017 22:47 UTCToby Seim

Was just curious if anyone has a trick to keep zeolite specimens from dehydrating and losing the luster? Minerals like Analcime and Stilbite come to mind. I have some in my collection and I'd like to preserve the appearance.

Cheers!

1st Mar 2017 10:59 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager

The only zeolite where this is really a problem is laumontite. The others (and apophyllite is not a zeolite) are relatively stable under normal room conditions.

1st Mar 2017 13:24 UTCBob Harman

TOBY, DAVID VB didn't address your basic question so I will attempt to do so.

If you go to many museums and view their mineral collections, you might see additional mineral specimens that have lost their luster, looking dull and lifeless, due to long non-curated times in the warm and very dry atmosphere of the display cases.

Other than using just plain water, purists sometimes frown on trying to restore luster, but I suspect that even many dealers in fine minerals do things to restore or enhance their specimens' luster. So what to do?

If the specimens are not kept in a humid environment or in water, the easiest way might be to regularly spray the specimens with water (distilled water if the examples are higher end). Using a recycled and well cleaned spray bottle from any household cleaner give the examples a monthly spritz. The water helps, but may not be long lasting.

Perhaps better ways, at least for some minerals, might be to use either a dry silicone spray or a mixture of light mineral oil (or baby oil) and lighter fluid. Again use the spray bottle for this, shaking the mixture well before using and and spray sparingly once every several months. The specimen luster will be restored and excess oil will be quickly reduced due to the admixed lighter fluid. The luster should last longer than using water alone.

Hope this might be of some help. CHEERS.....BOB

1st Mar 2017 13:27 UTCErik Vercammen Expert

Toby,

Like David said, apophyllite is not a zeolite, but a mineral that occurs with zeolites, but has an other type of structure. For the zeolite group and the associated minerals, see https://www.mindat.org/min-4395.html

1st Mar 2017 14:35 UTCJolyon Ralph Founder

Bob.

I'm not sure that any of the species listed in the original question would dehydrate in the manner you suggest. Lack of lustre in cases may simply be down to dust

Jolyon

1st Mar 2017 14:38 UTCToby Seim

Great, thanks all for the input.

Looks like i'll be spraying or soaking my Analcime/Stilbite in water from time to time (and dusting).

Also, good to know that Apophyllite is not porous, I may have extracted one of the best pieces from Washington last weekend.

Cheers

1st Mar 2017 17:19 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

Rock Currier used to think that some minerals could lose luster from exposure to compounds in urban smog. I've no idea whether that's true or not, but I wouldn't doubt it.

1st Mar 2017 17:46 UTCMichael Wood

If the specimens are exposed to direct sunlight they might suffer from internal crazing; chabazite especially does this, even being in the sunlight for a few minutes is enough to craze freshly-collected chabazite... I put my specimens in the shade immediately when collected.

Other than that there shouldn't be much problem with specimens on display, except excessive heat and low humidity as already mentioned.

1st Mar 2017 21:44 UTCLászló Horváth Manager

Paranatrolite also dehydrates and becomes gonnardite. This particular gonnardite ps. paranatrolite is the former tetranatrolite which was discredited. Not all gonnardites are pseudomorphs after paranatrolite.

9th Mar 2017 23:56 UTCŁukasz Kruszewski Expert

I used to keep a plastic box with water by them. They sucked it quite quickly (or it was evaporating /:)

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