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EducationWhats the relationship b/w epidote and chlorine

30th Aug 2018 17:15 UTCAqua marine

Hi everyone

I need to know whats the relationship between chlorine and epidote during mineral formation.

As i have seen epidotes with green layer of chlorine, which is quite hard to remove. And if we could somehow remove that chlorine will it have a negative effect on the specimen?

30th Aug 2018 17:25 UTCAqua marine

As you can see in the picture. The light green stuff. Its chlorine or chlorite, something like that.

30th Aug 2018 17:43 UTCDoug Schonewald

Chlorite is soluble in Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4) and epidote is not. You need to be certain that the coating is truly chlorite before you proceed. If it is something else weird reactions can take place that are less desirable than leaving the chorite on the epidote. You can try with a small insignificant specimen, or a few broken crystals, first to see what happens. I would start with a dilute solution first and work up. Wear all appropriate safety equipment (PPE) and perform the operation outdoors. Remember, when diluting acids, "add the acid to the water like you oughter".

This is a handy reference.

https://www.mindat.org/article.php/553/Solubility+Data+on+646+Common+and+Not+So+Common+Minerals

31st Aug 2018 13:32 UTCLuca Baralis Expert

However, be aware that removing chlorite (that I think is not easy at all) will probably give you pitted epidote crystals.

Chlorite, in my experience, is usually intergrown with the guest crystal, rather than a coating.

1st Sep 2018 05:34 UTCAqua marine

Thats quite useful data.

But it says epidote is soluble in HCl, which is not correct. I have worked on epidote.

Also, it says chlorite is soluble in sulphuric acid, but sulphuric acid didnt have any effect on this green stuff. Could it be something else?