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 Pyrite 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. 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 soluble 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 soluble 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 an area (too deep and to small) try something like a wooden tooth pic to remove the glue from crevices. Wipe the piece with a cloth when done. If more glue remains, repeat the process once or twice more. After that, it might be good to place the mineral into the water again and look at it while it is submerged,because sometimes remaining glue is more apparent in this state. Repeat the previous process if needed otherwise 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. How to
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