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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 DiscussionsMedia

11hHow to remove white stuff from Amethyst?Posted by Robert Kunze. 6 replies.20hCleaning Tourmaline with dithionite Posted by Filip. 14 replies.2dWhich removable glue?Posted by Luís Martins. 7 replies.1wCleaning pegmatite material to preserve micro-mineralsPosted by James Roush. 4 replies.4wVivianite darkening - controversy!Posted by J. R. Hodel. 7 replies.8wQuestions about storing behoitePosted by Mizhge shrimp. 3 replies.8wThin section by handPosted by Kyle Beucke. 19 replies.10wYet more on lifesaver labelsPosted by Harold Skelton. 5 replies.Jun 2026Paraloid B-72 as an adhesive (alternative to mineral tack and glue).Posted by Paris Zoulias. 12 replies.Jun 2026Cleaning weathered Lake Superior Banded Iron Formation Posted by Kelly Nash. 10 replies.Jun 2026Lapping advicePosted by Jeff Weissman. 7 replies.May 2026Recommendations of loupesPosted by Josiah Heyman. 34 replies.May 2026Cleaning advice for a specimen on old, greasy tackPosted by Andrew Hodgson. 6 replies.May 2026Cleaning Berbes FluoritePosted by Sonam Plomp. 13 replies.Apr 2026Removing glue from a mineralPosted by Appel Bartelsen. 6 replies.Apr 2026Cleaning Nanisivik Mine PyritePosted by Antonio Nazario. 3 replies.Apr 2026Limpieza de linaritaPosted by Maurizio Dini. 2 replies.Mar 2026Cleaning psilomelanePosted by Aidan Cerenzie. 4 replies.Mar 2026Origin type unlisted => purpose ?Posted by Herwig Pelckmans.Mar 2026Chrysocolla Polishing HelpPosted by Baylor S. Goroski. 7 replies.Feb 2026Micromounting MethodsPosted by Nekkhi Murtishi. 20 replies.Feb 2026solubility HCl vs waterPosted by cascaillou. 17 replies.Feb 2026Which Minerals Get Damaged by Hydrochloric AcidPosted by Sean. 14 replies.Feb 2026Cleaning or Polishing PyritePosted by Sabrina Nicholson. 42 replies.Feb 2026Yup, it can happen. Too many rocks!Posted by Harold Skelton. 15 replies.

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