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Techniques for CollectorsHankesite

15th Jun 2015 01:38 UTCTom Epaminondas

I am from Brasil living in Rio de Janeiro and few years ago(2013) I purchased a very nice Hankesite crystal at Tucson this crystal are getting dull and I would like to know how to clean, I need a help please...

15th Jun 2015 02:48 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

1) Use a soft brush to wipe off as much as possible of the powdery alteration from the surface;

2) Dip it in a colorless mineral oil;

3) Seal it inside a glass jar together with a package of desiccant (either the silica gel type or the calcium oxide type, no matter).

15th Jun 2015 14:56 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

I find vaseline works better and lasts longer than mineral oil. Sealing it is good but not necessary if you periodically reapply vaseline at the first sign of any change ( in my case that seems to be every three years) . It depends a lot on the atmospheric conditions but I haven't yet figured out what combination of conditions causes it and similar minerals to "decompose" more rapidly. I had a hanksite thumbnail in a perky box with no treatment for 30 years that showed no sign of deterioration, however in the location I am now ( not much different from other places I had it ) it only took one year to start to decompose? I suspect it is some combination of humidity and temperature.

15th Jul 2015 15:13 UTCDoc

Hankesite will draw moisture from atmospheric humidity, which is why the crystal should be sealed. Mineral oil or petroleum jelly will work, as will clear acrylic spray. Re-seal periodically. Do not try and use water to level or clean the crystal, it will be damaged further. Look at the Gem-O-Rama web site or Trona, California to get other ideas.