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Vent: I tried using a potato to clean a really stubborn calcite sample
I was cleaning a big calcite cluster from a dig in Kentucky, and it had this awful, greasy clay stain stuck in all the cracks. Nothing was working, not even a soft brush and soapy water. I remembered my grandpa saying something about using a potato to clean old coins, so I figured, why not? I cut a raw potato in half, rubbed the wet side all over the calcite, and let it sit for about ten minutes. When I rinsed it off, most of that nasty stain just washed away. I think the oxalic acid in the potato juice did the trick. It felt pretty silly, standing there rubbing a rock with a potato, but it actually worked. Has anyone else ever used a weird kitchen item to clean a mineral find?
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luna_white936mo ago
Potato trick is a classic. Vinegar works on some stuff too.
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the_julia6mo ago
Okay but isn't that oxalic acid a bit harsh for calcite long term? I'd be worried about etching the surface. @luna_white93 mentioned vinegar, which is also acidic and could do the same damage. Sometimes the old kitchen tricks are a little too strong for softer minerals.
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