How to Polish Crystal Rocks

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Things You'll Need

  • Bag for collecting the rocks

  • Hose with a variable nozzle attached to a water source

  • Seam ripper

  • Super Iron Out Stain Remover

  • Slow cooker

  • Rubber gloves

  • Rock buffing cloths

Crystals, or crystal quartz, can be found under the ground throughout most of the world's mineral mines. It is used for making jewelry, medical equipment and polishing agents. Crystal quartz is of the harder type of mineral stone and is very hard to damage in its raw form. You need to polish the quartz to a fine sheen so the rocks can be used for jewelry, artwork or just as a collectible. You can do this with a few easily obtained items.

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Step 1

Gather as much of the crystal quartz as you can find and place the specimens in a soft but sturdy carrying bag.

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Step 2

Allow the mud in which you found the rocks to dry and harden. It is best to keep them in a sunny warm place until the mud hardens.

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Step 3

Use your hose at the lowest setting and mist off any mud that will come off. Let the rocks dry, preferably in the sun again, and then use the next setting up on the nozzle to hose the rocks. Let them dry and continue to do this, increasing the nozzle pressure each time and allowing them to dry in between until all the mud is gone.

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Step 4

Take a seam ripper and remove any dug-in or stubborn mud or dirt that has not been washed away. Dig gently so as not to dig past the surface of the crystal.

Step 5

Put cold water into a slow cooker. Add 1/3 cup of Super Iron Out Stain Remover. Put the rocks in and turn the cooker on to the low setting in a well-ventilated area.

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Step 6

Let the rocks remain in the slow cooker for about eight hours or overnight. Turn the cooker off without removing the cover and allow to cool for at least eight more hours.

Step 7

Place the rocks directly in the sink and run warm to the touch water on them for about an hour and then use rubber gloves

Step 8

Let the rocks dry and give them a final buff with rock buffing cloths to bring to a high luster.

Tip

Do the rocks as you bring them home so that they do not pile up ad become overwhelming.

Warning

The fumes from Iron Out can be toxic, so use in an area with open windows and fans blowing away.

Do not use the same slow cooker for cooking and cleaning rocks. Pour the water from the pot down the drain or into the toilet and flush immediately.

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