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Techniques for Collectorscleaning topaz

10th May 2012 16:03 UTCCesco Ramakers

Hello everybody,

What is the best way of cleaning topaz from the Thomas Range Utah.

Especially the small layer of matrix surrounding the cristals.

Greetings,

cesco ramakers

11th May 2012 08:48 UTCRock Currier Expert

Send us a picture.

11th May 2012 11:07 UTCCesco Ramakers

Hey,

Here's a picture of some of the topaz specimens I have.

The largest crystal is about 3.3 cm.

cesco

11th May 2012 12:48 UTCSpencer Ivan Mather

Personally I'd leave them as you found them, I don't believe in cleaning off what is how they were found !

11th May 2012 13:32 UTCJames Christopher

They are most likely grown into the crystal, so "cleaning" them is not going to give you a smooth crystal face

11th May 2012 13:41 UTCDana Slaughter 🌟 Expert

Some use air abrasion tools to remove the rhyolite on the outside of the crystals but there is nothing one can do about the included rhyolite that is so common in these specimens. Not having an air abrasion tool, I mechanically removed the surface rhyolite (seems to be somewhat siliceous) with a range of dental picks under the microscope.

11th May 2012 14:29 UTCCesco Ramakers

Thanks everybody,

I shall give it try with the dentalpicks to remove some matrix.

12th May 2012 04:40 UTCJim Bean 🌟

That matrix penetrates well into the crystals you have shown, and in a perfect world where there was some magic chemical potion to remove the rhyolite matrix you would find them ending up very pitted anyway.

Enjoy them the way they are!