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Techniques for CollectorsBest media for micro abrasion tool?

27th Sep 2017 22:33 UTCBrian Greenstone

I just ordered a Master Problast micro abrasion setup from Vaniman. the system comes with two canisters for media, and I'm wondering what two media are the best general purpose to use when cleaning mineral specimens. I hear a lot about glass beads, so I know I need that, but what's the best secondary medium? Sodium Bicarbonate or Aluminum Oxide, or something else?

Thanks,

-Brian

27th Sep 2017 23:47 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

What is the hardness of what you want to abraid? If the beads are harder than your specimen they will wreck it.

28th Sep 2017 00:41 UTCBrian Greenstone

I don’t know. I’m just looking for general purpose use, so a range of hardness. I know the glass beads are about the hardness of Quartz, so for the second media I need something softer.

28th Sep 2017 01:43 UTCHarold Moritz 🌟 Expert

Been using a similar setup for years. It very much depends on the hardness of the mineral to be cleaned, but also the difficulty of the coating to be removed. There is no "general purpose" medium. I use dolomite a lot for removing rust, micas and clays from oxides and silicates including tourmaline - but be careful on the terminations), and for carving away talc and serpentine from many a Tilly Foster specimen. Glass beads are more for removing tougher coatings on hard silicates and oxides (beryl, quartz, garnet, corundum, etc). Glass shards can cut deep into schist to expose hard porphyroblasts like kyanite, staurolite and garnet. Even walnut shells can be used on soft minerals. Sodium bicarbonate is another soft medium to use on softer minerals. You should get a range of media and test, test, test on the back side or on a sacrificial specimen.

28th Sep 2017 01:44 UTCAndrew Debnam 🌟

Then I would use sodium bicarb. It is soft and produces good results. Always test on a junk piece if you can. Crushed walnut shells are also an option although I am not sure you can use them in your machine.

29th Sep 2017 17:21 UTCDonald B Peck Expert

I have not used one of these devices, but would sawdust be a good medium for a softer mineral?

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