Shoutout to the vinegar trick for cleaning calcite samples

Last month I had a box of specimens from a Utah trip that were totally dull, so I soaked them in white vinegar for 15 minutes and they came out way shinier. Anyone have a better method for calcite that won't damage it?

3 comments

3 Comments

wendy6282mo ago

Did you rinse them right after or let them dry with the vinegar on?

daniel_martin2mo ago

Rinsing it off defeats the whole purpose. The vinegar needs time to work, letting it dry is way more effective.

anthony_campbell882mo ago

Actually, rinsing it off is the key step. You need to stop the chemical reaction before it starts to eat into the calcite itself. Letting it dry just leaves acid on the surface longer.