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Techniques for Collectors

Here's the place to read about techniques for collectors. Whether it's cleaning, preparation, labelling, curating or how best to extract a difficult specimen from a big boulder, this is the place to talk about it.

Note: Many other chemical treatments are dangerous and should only be attempted with caution and with a good understanding of the risks involved. Do not attempt any suggested chemical or physical treatment/preparation described here unless you fully understand the risks involved - which may not be fully described here.
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Latest Discussions

1wCleaning advice for a specimen on old, greasy tackPosted by Andrew Hodgson. 6 replies.1wCleaning Berbes FluoritePosted by Sonam Plomp. 13 replies.2wCleaning pegmatite material to preserve micro-mineralsPosted by James Roush. One reply.2wRemoving glue from a mineralPosted by Appel Bartelsen. 6 replies.6wCleaning Nanisivik Mine PyritePosted by Antonio Nazario. 3 replies.6wLimpieza de linaritaPosted by Maurizio Dini. 2 replies.8wCleaning psilomelanePosted by Aidan Cerenzie. 4 replies.8wOrigin type unlisted => purpose ?Posted by Herwig Pelckmans.10wChrysocolla Polishing HelpPosted by Baylor S. Goroski. 7 replies.13wMicromounting MethodsPosted by Nekkhi Murtishi. 20 replies.13wsolubility HCl vs waterPosted by cascaillou. 17 replies.13wWhich Minerals Get Damaged by Hydrochloric AcidPosted by Sean. 14 replies.13wCleaning or Polishing PyritePosted by Sabrina Nicholson. 42 replies.14wYup, it can happen. Too many rocks!Posted by Harold Skelton. 15 replies.15wHCl and SphaleritePosted by Stephen Callaghan. 17 replies.Jan 2026Cleaning Iron on Quartz. Surface dullPosted by KA RA. 16 replies.Dec 2025Cleaning millerite from Perseverence Mine (WA)?Posted by Howard Heitner. 3 replies.Dec 2025Cleaning Minerals with HClPosted by Appel Bartelsen. 8 replies.Dec 2025Cleaning Smithsonite with Descloizite Posted by Appel Bartelsen. One reply.Dec 2025How to clean Chalcopyrite and Dolomite?Posted by Daniel Pereira. 12 replies.Dec 2025Hard toothbrushesPosted by Appel Bartelsen. 7 replies.Dec 2025Cleaning with Sodium dithionitePosted by Appel Bartelsen. 4 replies.Nov 2025Cleaning minerals with distilled waterPosted by Appel Bartelsen. 3 replies.Nov 2025Recommendations of loupesPosted by Josiah Heyman. 30 replies.Nov 2025Cleaning epidotePosted by Appel Bartelsen. 3 replies.

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