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Danburite
Below is a mixture of information and tips. They
could be later catagorized and moved to a different
page on this site.
Where
do I start?
If you are a beginner you may be wondering how
should I start collecting? Where can I get ideas?
see the link above.
Things to Bring on a Field Trip
The following lists are merely some suggestions to
give you some ideas to choose from:
Hammer or Pick
Chisel
Goggles
Leather Gloves
Shovel
Steel Toe Boots
Hard Hats
First Aid Kit
Insect Repellant
Hat (sun protection)
Sunscreen
Food/Drink
Cloth Bags or Plastic Buckets (for carrying rocks)
Newspaper (for wrapping minerals needing protection)
Field guide book
Area (including street) Maps
Compass
Magnifying Glass
How to
Polish Amber
Use fine
sandpaper to remove crust.
Follow with medium steel wool.
Then use extra fine steel wool as a prepolish.
Polish the piece with toothpaste, car polish, or
armorall using denin cloth.
Mineral Size
Classifications
Cabinet minerals - will fit in a 5"
cube
Miniature minerals - will fit in a 2" cube
Thumbnail minerals - will fit in a 1" cube
Micromount minerals - require magnification
How
to Remove Glue from a Mineral Specimen
I
do not chose to use glue on mineral
specimens, but have sometimes purchased
minerals that were glued onto
styrofoam. There are many types of
glue, and I've been fortunate enough to
only have to deal with soluable glue
removal, which is the type that I will
speak for here. If you are trying to
remove the glue from a mineral specimen,
it is important to not attempt this if the
mineral itself is water soluable or
sensitive to temperature changes. This is
how I have done it:
First try to remove the mineral from the
styrofoam, leaving as little styrofoam as
is practical.
Next soak the piece in a cup of warm
water. Not scalding hot, not
lukewarm, but warm. Let it sit for about 5
minutes.
Remove the piece and carefully try to
remove the glue and styrofoam with your
fingers. If too difficult and area
(too deep and to small) try something like
a metal pin. Wipe the piece with a
cloth when done. If more glue
remains, repeat the process once or twice
more. At this point you hopefully
have a clean specimen. My own
results always good, with one
exception. One piece long ago had
some small chips break off.
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