Cleaning Quartz Crystals With Muriatic ACID - My First Attempt

[@robertbradford3461]

a couple things to keep you safe. Follow this order when using acids of any kind. Do this in well ventilation, outdoors if possible of not wear a respirator the fumes are dangerous Get your water, put your stones in the water, then add acid till reaction starts. NEVER add material to acid or acidic water it may react badly or splash. Never pour water into acid as it may react badly and or splash ( this is why you add acid to water and not water to acid) if it does react stop immediately so as not to worsen reaction, neutralize acidic solution with baking soda before removing rocks to rinse water or the rinse water will become acidic, or you can neutralize the rinse water before you rinse your rocks, but it's safer to neutralize the solution before removing rocks as it eliminates chance of splashing acidic water when removing rocks. Don't handle materials around acid with anything but gloved hands, no tongs, this is why you add material before acid and neutralize before removal, no tongs necessary. AND DO NOT GET THE ACID HOT BEFORE USE, HEATED ACID IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS

[@GeoForge]

I forgot to include a section in the video explaining some of the steps to stay safe like what you listed here in case anyone wanted to try this on there own which I would only recommend after they have all the equipment they need and understand all the hazards. I've worked with worse acids than this while in chemistry along with some other nasty chemicals (nothing to crazy though). Safety is important when doing this and I did take the necessary precautions but if I wanted to, I could have done this a little more safely but a little common sense goes a long way too. Thanks

[@robertbradford3461]

@@GeoForge be safe, not meant to offend

[@GeoForge]

@@robertbradford3461 No offense taken, Thank you for posting it.

[@courtneyallen6779]

Thank you for this info!!

[@sh3lbynicole]

@@GeoForgewhat do we do with the iron out water when it’s done?

[@cwallace9713]

Perfect timing on posting this video. I recently found a quartz vein on my property and tried cleaning the quartz, but it did not look so great-I Will use lab safety in the process of cleaning the quarts. Really enjoy your videos, I learn something every time I watch one. I am a year and a half away from getting my BS in Geology.

[@GeoForge]

Sounds great, hope they clean up well. If they are stained internally then there is not much you can do. Glad your enjoying the video's and I wish you well in your studies, I'm about 2 years from my BS in Geology as well.

[@veronicamoore3777]

Try oxalic acid. Works great!

[@TheKingsSon2403]

Why dilute the muriatic acid? Can it not be used straight? Thanks.

[@rockgoblinadventures5520]

Hey Wyatt, Your Crystals are looking really clean and clear. The acid definitely helps to get those rocks all nice looking. You did make me laugh a few times. i loved the little hand jives at the end of your video lol. Keep it Rockin!!!

[@nicolegonzales6201]

Totally informative and useful. Wondering why they need to neutralize for so long?

[@GeoForge]

I soak them that long just for safety and to make sure it works its way into any small cracks in the rocks. Probably overkill though.

[@PhiberOptik1979]

@@GeoForge yes. overkill indeed. it needs a baking soda/water bath after taking out of the acid until it stops bubbling which should only take minutes

[@mariannezura6210]

Great video! Why 3 weeks (rather than 1 or 2) to neutralize? And would it work faster if you used a stiff toothbrush or is there a reason for soaking instead of brushing? Thanx :)

[@GeoForge]

I'm sure you could do it for 1 week or 2 but I was just over doing it for the soaking period to to be sure the solution had time to soak down into all the cracks. Using a toothbrush is always good and I gave them a quick brushing before soaking them. The heavy iron oxides might do best with a mix of soaking in iron out and brushing to get all of that off.

[@bettyedmonds7106]

I watch way too many scary movies to stick my hands in that, chemical gloves or not lol. Dollar tree tongs are my recommendations.

[@beatrisiversen7519]

Thanks Wyatt, I have def learned something thanks. Even though the video was short I can honestly say that your quarts look beautiful when you soaked it in the baking soda :)

[@GeoForge]

The acid is what did most of the work. The baking soda was to neutralize any of the acid that was still on the crystals. Sorry for the late response, I did not see a notification for your comment. .

[@serrielu8025]

Why does the neutralizing not happen immediately. I am suppressed you have to soak so long.

[@PAPAGUYJ]

You have way more patience than i do. All together mine took about half the time lol. I couldn't wait any longer. Yours turned out very nice though.

[@ahmedmahdi1849]

Do chemical treatment effect the hardness and sharpness of the crystals?

[@GeoForge]

If your talking about visual sharpness of the crystals, if not properly cleaned afterward it can leave a residue on the crystal. It should not effect the hardness of it.

[@lisunovroman]

Hi! Thanks for the video! Why do you need to dilute the acid? Can you use 35% acid? If you can’t, why?

[@RobWenzel84]

I use the muriatic acid straight out of the container on my quarts mine is 31.45% I never dilute it

[@RobWenzel84]

Quartz sorry auto correct got me lol

[@kristinmajeski2975]

So I really want to clean up some with iron out. But it’s winter. Will it be ok in the garage if I keep checking on it you think?

[@GeoForge]

Iron out is a household cleaner so you could have them soaking indoors if you wanted. I've had rocks soaking in small containers in my place but if you want it in your garage, that works too.

[@gcurrell]

Did you use diluted water with baking soda? Thx

[@GeoForge]

For the baking soda I just used regular water. For the acid mixture, I used distilled water.

[@minnisauce]

So when you go to neutralize the acid with baking soda how much baking soda should you use? I used 8 cups of acid to 8 cups of water to make my mix.

[@jubi400]

So what do you do with the acid bath after you're all done? How do you dispose of it safely??

[@GeoForge]

I slowly add baking soda into it which turns the acid into CO2 gas, water, and NaCl (salt).

[@vaiduriampalaniappan9021]

When a volcanic rock is tested similar to what you described in the video, say for a one to two weeks, I saw powdery calcites on the surface of the rock. Can I continue this experiment further or stop it? Tiny crystals I saw in the bottom. Are they quartz or diamonds? Your explanation understandable even for a layman like me. Your laugh also cute. From India..

[@Savva-copper]

beautifully

[@jeramiahrueb6300]

use distilled water. works way better.

[@larastrazdas6961]

How do you dispose of the acid?

[@GeoForge]

You can neutralize it with baking soda (Sodium bicarbonate). It will turn this acid into water, table salt, and Co2 gas. Or you can take it somewhere like to a local disposal location. If you put baking soda into the acid, do it slowly because it will want to foam over.

[@amandaking7519]

some of my amethyst turned yellow after neutralizing and dried.. :(

[@GeoForge]

Oh no! The technique I used in this video is specifically for regular quartz crystals. Amethyst is more sensitive to acid treatments, even sunlight can cause it to change colors after a long time. I've never cleaned amethyst but you want to use less harsh acids, or don't let them soak as long and clean them well afterwards.

[@elizabethlewis3509]

How do you dispose of acid when your done?

[@ashleymatalavage6940]

Add lots of baking soda to acid until there is no longer a reaction. You can also use wood ashes. Then, pour mixture into a sealed container and dispose of properly.

[@veronicamoore3777]

Maybe try oxalic acid. I think it does better than muriatic does as far as crystals are concerned. The muriatic works excellent on rocks with clay build up.

[@GeoForge]

Thanks for the recommendation, I will probably give this a try when I have more crystals to clean.

[@veronicamoore3777]

They really cleaned up quite well. On the oxalic acid you have to have a big pot to boil the solution then put the crystals in. So it’s a longer process. Your muriatic seen to work just as Well.

[@veronicamoore3777]

I just watched a video of 6 different chemicals and the muriatic acid did the best on cleaning.

[@navanthghadi231]

What is the name of this crystal ?

[@GeoForge]

These are quartz crystals.

[@internalinjectiontrulyhere6182]

I've done it my self

[@rutherfordclan5693]

I heard heat makes a different

[@wrenchinnerd8173]

So what kind of pipe do you use to smoke this kind of crystal?

[@GeoForge]

A Kimberlite pipe

[@fakiriyoussef5597]

I have a one

[@minnisauce]

How did that one crystal that all that rust on it turn out?

[@GeoForge]

It was still covered in oxidation. I could have let it soak longer and maybe with a higher concentration, it would have cleaned up.

[@minnisauce]

Yeah I tried it your way. I just put the quartz into water/baking soda today after soaking for a week in the muriatic acid. Some still have chunks of the iron on them. I think I’m gonna try the oaxic acid now. Not sure how much to mix though since it’s powder.

[@samanthajayjones2645]

Oxalic acid for iron stains

[@GeoForge]

I'll have to remember that for next time, thanks.

[@minnisauce]

I bought a bag of oaxic acid powder. How much powder should I mix with how much water? Also should it be distilled?

[@samanthajayjones2645]

@@minnisauceI used about a table spoon to one pint but its all new to me so not sure. you can always add a little more or soak a second time if you dont get results you want

[@RobsRC]

Does the bowl with acid should stay closed with lid ?

[@GeoForge]

Yes, this to prevent dirt and other things from getting into it and also for safety so animals or other things don't get into it. I put small vent holes into the lid to release the vapors. Avoid breathing the vapors also.

[@monurai6265]

Mere paas bhi hai Mujhe bechna hai

[@UmeshChauhan-qv1sc]

एसे पत्थर मेरे पास है

[@UmeshChauhan-qv1sc]

मेरा नाम मनीषा he

[@davidhastings7714]

Oxalic acid for iron staining