How to Clean and Polish Garnet Crystals in Matrix

This is how I cleaned and polished up my Almandine Garnet Matrix Pieces from Little Pine Garnet Mine. I have done a handful and my learning experience & process continues to grow ..... I do enjoy the hours of quiet time while doing this trimming process. Hope you enjoy the final results! Every piece is like a work of art as you expose the crystal beneath.
Really ..... Go very, very light with the Rouge Polish. I have had to rebuff many pieces just to get it off and start to repolish it again. :) Then use a clean polish pad at 4K rpm and buff the crystal as the final phase.
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Instagram: Crystalminerrockson
Music Credit to www.bensound.com

[@tylerandus2051]

theres a lock button on your dremal chuck

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

mine's kinda busted a bit. hehehe

[@Anatoliys_Adventure]

Thanks so much for this video! I've been looking for a video on cleaning up/removing gems from the matrix they're in. And coincidentally garnets are the exact stone that I'm dealing with ATM!

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

You are very Welcome. 👍👍

[@madamecampsalot6384]

Just subscribed. This was an awesome tutorial. Thanks so much! I'm from Connecticut and have recently started my Garnet journey. I've mostly been going for quartz crystals over the years. I've been hesitant to try oxalic & have mostly used vinegar. I think you convinced me to give the oxalic a try. I worked with it for years in my previous profession, so I don't really know why I've hesitated so long. Anyway, thanks again for the great videos.

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Thank you so much. Glad to be of help. I am currently cleaning some Grossular geen garnets I found in Utah. small buggers but fun pieces

[@richardlasky7894]

😮😮😮😮😮 Carbin cutting disc..!!! 🤔🤔🤔🤔😲 With all the metal's in a Garnet's the disc heat up and arc Polishis the whole entire thing 💜💜 really nice............. 💜🤍

[@glengruber5466]

This is 101 version, there are some things others should note; Don't use a steel dremel brush to finish the any type of stones, use a leather round not felt either it generates way too much heat... Also when soaking in murteric or oxylic acid use a heat tray to expiedite the acids etching effects and it was kind of surprising to here that you've been refining this process and you don't use any advanced processes , but your pieces came out ok in the end ...cheers HH

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Thanks for the tips. always learning.👍👍

[@trptrungblogs]

🇻🇳❤️💎❤️💎❤️

[@FAMILYFUN-un1zm]

Wow beautiful! I have some tourmaline in quartz that I want to extract. Any suggestions on how to do this?

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Thanks for watching. I haven't tried my hand a extracting tourmaline as I have only found some one time and I did bust a few out with a small hammer gently, most came out ok but I feel it was also luck they didn't shatte so I can't say how you will fare. Good luck. something I have always wanted to try was to drill a small hole - put a small half nail or momething and then press it in a vice to split the quartz. but its only theory. lol

[@FAMILYFUN-un1zm]

@crystalminerrocks6122 I like the theory, we will try one way or the other. We want to break it open haha!

[@debraboe8496]

Thank you I would have messed up

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

You are very welcome. Have fun on your crystal trimming 😄

[@teroe2322]

Dude you are awesome, i live in Finland and i just found some huge garnets i wish i could show you!

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Oooh I would like to see some Finnish Garnets. Find Crystal Miner Rocks in Facebook and join - share your finds and collection pieces. Others would enjoy them too👏👏👏👏

[@ianjohnson8128]

Do you get wire brush on your stones or does the acid get rid of your wire brush marks

[@PaPawGOT]

I was just there at the Little Pine Gem Mine. My wife, son, granddaughter and I took home a full 5 gallon bucket full of loose garnets and a lot of matrixes. Cool place!! I live in Hiddenite NC neat the emerald mine. That is another fun place but not much luck digging so far, Thanks for the video.

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Awesome. You are so close. I am jealous! Hey, join Crystal Miner Rocks on Facebook and post some of the "good" when cleaned up. Would love to see them😁

[@mrrey8937]

Thank you very much for sharing!! Like you, I had been searching for a way to either extract or clean up a rock with crystals encased in it. Your video is the first I have come across in over a year of searching......thank you, thank you, thank you!! I never thought to do it with a handle held pick, never thought it would be possible and yet it is, as you you have shown. Something else you may want to look into is an "air scribe", I recently discovered this for cleaning fossils in matrix. Again, thanks for your videos!!

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

You are very welcome. Yes, I have heard of the air scribe but have not bought one yet. As I continue to get better, I have found that the tiny jewelers/eyeglass 7 pack screwdriver set works even better than the pick as the points are smaller. I wish I could post a picture. Go very light on the rouge as well. I used way too much in the video. LOL. Have a great one

[@WorldofRockhounds]

Such beautiful specimens!

[@aguilillamichoacan3441]

HI SIR DO YOU HAVE ANY CONECTIONS TO SALE RHODIUM, MIX WITH PLATINUM, SILVER, GOLD, PALLADIUM ALSO I DO HAVE JADEITE OR JADE IMPERIAL, REGULAR JADE ALL COLORS .METEORITES LOTS A DIFERENTS IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE AND YOU CAN GUIDE ME I GIVE YOU HALF OF ALL

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Hi ... sorry I dont have any connections. Good Luck

[@shawndrakeula2416]

You are very amazing thank you for the video this is what every new Rock hounder is looking for! I live in New York state and there are garnets everywhere most of them are smaller I have some beautiful specimens from the twin tiers area of New York

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

You're very welcome. I was just up in NY doing Herkimers and saw a bunch of Gemmy Garnets at the museum. I had no idea. LOL. They are sooo much completely formed and gemmy than the LIttle Pines ones I found here.

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Hey Shawn, post some garnets on Crystal Miner Rocks on Facebook. Would love to see them👍

[@richiesun9676]

I have some granite pegmatite with feldspar, mica, tourmaline. Can I dissolve any of it in acid to expose any crystals inside?

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

No, those minerals are not very reactive to acid. Even a 100% pure HCL will take a very long time to wear it down, I bet

[@giorgiaptsiauri8815]

pegmatite?

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

All my specimens were from a tailings pile, already removed form the mice about 50 feet away.

[@renizzl23]

I'm working on polishing up my garnets front the same mine. They are still looking a little Grey when dry, does this mean I need to keep sanding / grinding away before applying polish? They look great when wet with water, but when it dries I see more grey.

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

The grey you see is the matrix still in those pesky crevices. Get some jewelers screwdrivers or a dental pick set with a sharp tip and just slowly wear/scrape that matrix out of there as I have showed you in the video. If you do grind and sand, you are likely to not get all those crevices out. Those pieces from LIttle Pine are just so porous. Good luck. Its super time consuming. I still have boxes of then to get to as well. LOL

[@Autumn-hu9sx]

Thank you so much for this video!!!! I've been struggling trying to figure out how to remove some of the matrix around some small garnet clusters and this is so helpful!

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

You're very welcome. I have a small pile left to get to "sometime". Perhaps Christmas break!

[@lisamarlenerose]

I really appreciate your approach to sharing your test and learns!!!!! Super helpful to see your thinking process and approach and fun to come along on your journey!!!! Thank you! ✨✨

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

You are most welcome, Lisa👍👍

[@TheOldladyB]

They are beautiful. You cleaned them up really nicely. Somewhere in my messy house I have a smaller piece of mica with small garnets that I picked up from the Frank Slide in Alberta/British Columbia Canada.

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Thanks... When you find the little Gem, post a pic on Crystal Miner Rocks on Facebook. Would live to see it. I dont think I own any pieces from Canada yet.

[@reneespiricueta3543]

If the mica scheist is bigger would it have more garnets in the inside if you were to break it apart?.

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

50/50% I think when you see any mice. what was the best indicator for me was if I saw litttle molds of where the garnets used to be that popped out. then I had a better chance when I broke one of those chunks.

[@richardlasky7894]

😮😮.. 2 hours in the iron out.. ~ Baking soda Bath them and remove them.. 💯 💪 The mica will look better~~ 💯

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

The iron out will undoubtedly remove the coloring. I presume the baking soda mixture will start to dissolve the mica schist. How successful have you been in "spot" dissolving the mica just over the garnet? I assume a complete soak in a bath may looses the garnet from the matrix, which is what I do not want to accomplish.

[@tomreagan6555]

Way more solid info.every other but of info is very vague.thanx for being so patient and thorough on your entire process and explanation

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

You are very welcome, my friend. May your finds be epic and your cleaning ... peaceful

[@mischiefmaker5]

Thank you so much for making this!! I also am a visual person and have scoured and scoured the internet for help learning how to properly clean rocks and crystals and thank goodness I finally found you. You are a gem!!

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Susan, you are most welcome. My only additional info point is to use even less Rouge Polish as you see me apply in the video at teh end. I discovered that I was happier with much less. But everyone has a different level of beauty and you can always buff the excess off. Thanks for watching and your support.👍👍

[@Experiment.626]

Im working with same garnets in Connecticut huge help cause I have tons on matrix

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

You are very welcome

[@jeytex3161]

Appreciate you taking the time to show us your process. I too am a visual type person. Thanks again.

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

You're welcome. I just found another necessary tool. The cheap $7 store 6 piece eyeglass screwdriver set has tiny fine points that I have been using to scale out the tiny cracks. works great.

[@GeoRockNerd]

Awesome, those garnets are sweeet! Thanks for the great instructions, appreciate it!

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

You are welcome. I am still fine tuning as I learn. In the video, I used way too much rouge. throttle way back. and only use as needed. and final buff with a clean pad to get the shine out. I am doing a garnet giveaway this weekend. go to my other garnet video - subscribe and take a guess. Thanks for the support. 👍

[@diananunez6951]

Thank you. I have wondered what I needed to polish with. They look stunning.

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Thank you. If you get some cleaned up - post the to my group Crystal Miner Rocks. Would love to see them. Have you see my other Garnet video? Take a guess a my Garnet Giveaway. Good Luck

[@RobertLucero-qj1dd]

Awesome thank you I'm getting ready to start on my own journey. Thank you 🤜💥🤛

[@mischiefmaker5]

Also, your pieces are breathtaking. You do incredible work!!

[@lameckzulu3276]

How much is uncut red garnet

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Try this site. Good Luck facebook.com/groups/344354622406990

[@MatthewCo77ins]

Need to find out if it's a natural red common Garnet or ALMADINE because if it's ALMADINE then chances are you have some hues in it that are orange 🧡 at different angles....and if you have orange it's not a standard common red garnet it falls under what is CALLED SPESSARTITE OR SPESSARTITE! AND THAT IS WHERE THE GOLDEN GROVE IS! ❤ YEAH BUDDY! KEEP DIGGING YOULL SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND DOOR 🚪 🗝️ 👁️😇✋

[@RockHoundingAdventures]

Well done, you did a great job bring them out. I always like seeing garnets one the matrix. Very beautiful. I’m subbing

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Thanks. Will check out your adventures as well this weekend!

[@reneespiricueta3543]

Great video. We just brought some pieces and I was thinking of how I was gonna clean them. They are small bit hopefully we can find some bigger ones. Thank you for the info. We live in Colorado and we like to rockhound with our grandkids.

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Thanks. happy to help. Soooo glad you're getting them involved.

[@orana23]

Thank you for most helpful sharing!!!! Very generous heart. Appreciate your insights 💎

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

You are very welcome!

[@dustinfindsrocks]

Awesome job! Those really cleaned up NICE!!! I’m really impressed with your mineral displays and how you prepare your pieces. I’d consider it B grade material but... you took it to A+!!! I’m going to get some power tools and a tumbler soon! You know I got a TON of that B grade 😂 but... seeing what you did with these garnets I’m feeling like maybe I can turn them into something amazing. I know I have some agates that will be cool. Way to spot that hidden beauty and bring it out! The before and after on these man... WOW! Good job Anthony 👍🏼

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Thank You. Totally not the "Gemmy" grade. LOL. But its the size that matters, right! 👍😂 I love that its chlorite included mica schist and makes the specimen stand out a bit. But perhaps I will eventually find that 1 perfect 12 sided crystal there....in time. Thanks for watching

[@hkshepherd9839]

I'm from India

[@christopherort2889]

Cool video

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Thank you sir👍👍

[@mintumia32]

Price1 pic

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

tell me by the timeline what image you are referring to?👍👍

[@jairprado5538]

Show

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Thany you very much

[@ourjourney4970]

Nice video!

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@beverlymasonlpcpc4264]

Hi Anthony.

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Hello. Hope you enjoyed the video & garnets👍

[@alwlll9151]

Great tutorial! Love your vids🔥🔥

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

Thank you .... You're Amazing!

[@speedydeep]

“Finding pages and pages of put it in a rock tubler or warm soapy water” this is exactly my experience after gem mining in NC as well. Thank you for this video, this is exactly what I was looking for and you have been a tremendous help! Earned my sub for sure!

[@crystalminerrocks6122]

LOLOL