|
Post by xenaswolf on Jul 21, 2007 18:59:24 GMT -5
A neighbor gave me this "desert rose" and I would like to clean it up so that I can display it. I don't really know what it's made of or anything but do realize its pretty fragile. Any ideas? AFTER CLEANING: Soaked in a solution of 1 tbs Oxyclean and water for about 2 hours
|
|
|
Post by sbreed on Jul 21, 2007 19:26:54 GMT -5
It is gypsum. I would try a can of air or a dry toothbrush (very lightly).
|
|
|
Post by parfive on Jul 21, 2007 20:19:12 GMT -5
I thought they were pretty much chalcedony, in other words hard. I got a few roses from Beefjello that are definitely hard. If it is hard stuff, Xena, I'd use soap and water and a toothbrush, then soak it in vinegar (a mild acid) for a few days. The serious treatment would be oxalic acid. Here's the whole scoop on that from John Betts Fine Minerals: www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/articles/minclean.htmRich
|
|
SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
|
Post by SteveHolmes on Jul 21, 2007 21:48:46 GMT -5
Xenas, What about going to a Dentists office and ask if they have any old tools they'd give you. I'm using one of the teeth scrapers to clean my opal specimen, and it's amazing how well they work. Good-Luck on the cleaning. Just take your time. Steve
|
|
agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
|
Post by agatemaggot on Jul 22, 2007 9:16:02 GMT -5
Thanks for the link Parfive, a person can do some serious drooling there !
|
|
|
Post by Lady B on Jul 22, 2007 9:46:08 GMT -5
I have a set of dental tools--pick and surface scraper--that I bought at Wal-mart. (Almost any of the Pharmacy chainstores carry them in the toothcare aisle). I also bought a battery-operated soft head toothbrush. I use these tools when I am cleaning matrix and debris away from my delicate fossil shells with great results.
Lady B
|
|
adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,789
|
Post by adrian65 on Jul 22, 2007 10:38:56 GMT -5
Try with some vinegar, but firstly test on a little bottom surface if it does not attack the rose. If it's ok, sink it in vinegar (the stronger the better) for few hours. It could help.
Adrian
|
|
|
Post by connrock on Jul 22, 2007 16:47:19 GMT -5
I have quite a few Barite Roses from OK and none of them are very hard at all. They can be Barite or Selenite depending where they are found . Here's a pretty good link about them. www.roserockmuseum.com/gallery/selenite.htmlIf that matrix is hard it may be a problem getting it off but if it's sofy I would use soap,water and a tooth brush. If ya messes it up just let me know and I'll send ya another,,,,er two!! connrock
|
|
|
Post by xenaswolf on Jul 26, 2007 22:07:13 GMT -5
Check out the after cleaning photo.
|
|
|
Post by joe on Jul 26, 2007 23:58:18 GMT -5
Well done! I had no idea how to clean it but you are now the expert!!
|
|
|
Post by Lady B on Jul 27, 2007 0:25:22 GMT -5
Nice job. I've never tried Oxyclean! Hmm.
Lady B
|
|
|
Post by xenaswolf on Jul 27, 2007 7:50:05 GMT -5
Don't try to use it as a burnish in your tumbler, it bubbles up and foams and your lids will pop...trust me LOL
|
|
|
Post by Lady B on Jul 27, 2007 8:55:01 GMT -5
Thanks Xenaswolf...I'm not going to use it in my tumblers because when I asked for help re: tumbling NO ONE suggested OxyClean [thank goodness the experienced RTHers look out for us Newbies. ;D]. But I have a lot of "dirty" fossil finds that can't be tumbled and OxyClean might be worth a shot on some of them. I'll try it on something obscure first and see what happens. That way I won't be in tears because I 'killed' one of my precious fossils.
Again, thanks for the heads-up.
Lady B
|
|
karenfh
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,495
|
Post by karenfh on Jul 27, 2007 14:03:47 GMT -5
Wow! Your rose turned white! I had no idea; I have one of those, too, and I thought it was supposed to be the reddish color. Do they come in different colors? I just remember Dad being thrilled he found it, because it's a double--rose formation on both sides.
|
|
|
Post by stoner on Jul 29, 2007 2:20:47 GMT -5
I can see Billy Mays on TV doing a commercial for oxyclean to clean your barite roses! Nice job xenas.
|
|
|
Post by xenaswolf on Jul 29, 2007 18:55:08 GMT -5
LOL I promise I won't tell that guy if you don't. He makes me nuts LOL
|
|
luv2hound
freely admits to licking rocks
I try & I try, but dang it! Those rocks just keep ending up in my pockets
Member since June 2007
Posts: 890
|
Post by luv2hound on Jul 29, 2007 19:08:57 GMT -5
That looks really great. I've only seen a couple of these and none in real life.
~~Mitzi~~
|
|
fossilman
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2007
Posts: 256
|
Post by fossilman on Aug 1, 2007 22:30:41 GMT -5
that's a selenite rose. Usually, I clean them with my sandblaster with a little baking soda inside. The snd flies off and the selenite stays the original color.
Speaking of barite roses (very heavy and reddish brown), I clean them with a pressure washer. I went collecting them on my recently returned from trip. As usual, I hit the jackpot ay my super secret dig site, and came with close to 200 pounds of them. No pics yet.
|
|