[Rockhounds] muriatic acid for cleaning...

[Erich Kern]

I would first ask Cynthia what it is she wants to remove from her "raw rocks". If it's simply dirt, soak in a bucket of water overnight, then rinse under running water and scrub with an old toothbrush if the specimen is not delicate. If it's clay, add a cup of ammonia to the bucket of water; this helps loosen clay. Acid may not be necessary, and if her "raw rocks" are carbonates, HCL will damage them. 

A cup or two of HCL in a bucket of water is about as harmless as vinnegar. After all, HCL is used in swimming pools to balance the PH. I put my bare hands in 1:4 HCL solutions, then rinse in clean water ASAP. Remember, "the dose makes the poison". One safety precaution is to have a bucket of clean water nearby for rinsing hands, or washing your face in case of splashes. 

I know of no cases of death or illness from breathing CO2 except when a freakish natural event released a huge volume of the gas in a lake which was in a valley and all the animals died. CO2 is much heavier than air and the gas cloud clings to low elevations. You'd likely breathe more CO2 by inhaling over a freshly poured glass of seltzer water than from cleaning minerals. Yes, those bubbles in soda are CO2. 

Erich Kern
Murrieta, CA


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Jim Daly 
To: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors 
Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2007 6:15 AM
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] muriatic acid for cleaning...


Three main points to keep in mind:
  Dilute the muriatic at least 50:50 with water (adding acid to water, not vice versa)
  Do it outdoors, in a loosely covered plastic pan.
  Rinse thoroughly with the garden hose and let dry before touching the specimens.
  Jim Daly

Frederick Olmstead <folmstead at rcn.com> wrote:
  HELLO

I received this email from a club member and I am passing it along to 
the list for help in answering the question.

Thank you

GeorgiaO

__..--..__..--..__..--..__


> Hello....
>
> I received this message from Cynthia XXXX
>
> Please forward to 'all' -
> 
> We are TOTAL beginners... have purchased Muriatic Acid for cleaning 
> our new finds 'in the raw' and need basic guidance on how to use with 
> raw rocks.
> Should we stir or ok to leave as is, apx. how long based on general 
> volume of rocks (just a few for first batch), etc.
> 
> If you can, please call ......
> 
> Greatly appreciated!
> 
> Cynthia
> 
>
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> If you can help, please contact her.
>
> Cheerio, Wxxxxl 




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