HOW TO CLEAN CRYSTALS with Oxalic Acid | Cheap & Simple DIY Mineral Cleaning
Today's episode is an instructional & educational video for all you rockhounds and mineral collectors out there interested in learning more about the process of cleaning your own fresh quartz crystal finds from Arkansas. Oxalic Acid is the premier way to remove iron oxides and other mineral stains from your quartz crystals. It also works well on all other types of quartz (Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Smoky Quartz) and some other minerals.
Oxalic Acid is what all the commercial crystal mines in Arkansas use and it is readily available for purchase at most mines and a few rock shops. Below is a link to purchase oxalic acid on the internet if you can't find it locally.
Other products that work are Iron Out or Barkeeper's Friend. Oxalic Acid is the active ingredient in both of those.
Some mines (e.g. Sweet Surrender Crystal Mine) have such heavy mineral deposits on the crystals' surfaces that Muriatic Acid is used.
Extreme care needs to be considered when handling any acid.
I hope you find this video helpful and insightful.
Smash that like and subscribe button and leave me a note in the comments!
Here are instructions in writing:
1 pound of oxalic acid diluted in 2 - 3 gallons of water is the best and correct amount.
You can use this solution many many times until it gets dark green and sediments collect at the bottom.
To clean (sandstone base) clusters, try to use a fresher solution.
Points will clean easily in a mild solution and in older mixtures.
Heating up the solution will greatly speed up the process, but a cold soak also works.
Always use acids in a well-ventilated area (outside).
Before disposing of the acid, make sure to neutralize it with wood ashes, lime or baking soda.
Extreme care needs to be considered when handling any acid.
⚫ OXALIC ACID MSDS:
www.tn.edu/ehs/msds/o/Oxalic%2...
⚫ 10 LBS Bag Oxalic Acid:
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⚫ 2 LBS Bag Oxalic Acid:
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⚫ Spot Cleaning Gun:
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⚫ Pressure Washer:
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⚫ Heavy Duty Long Gloves:
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THANK YOU!
Thank you Crystal Jesus
Hey man we went to Ron Coleman's mine after seeing your video with our four and six year old and had an absolute blast! It was on a Sunday so they weren't hauling up fresh loads and we didn't find any monsters but it was definitely worth it and we did find lots of smaller crystals. Thank you so much for putting your information out there like this I definitely have a bunch of crystals to clean today!
Excellent information in a nice steep by step order. As a nurse, I loved that you shared the safety data sheet as well. Thank you!
I appreciate your kind comment and feedback! Many blessings
Great video! So many helpful tips!
Thank you. That was super informative
Thank you for sharing! This was awesome!
I see why you so carefully gather the small specimens you find. Very nice. 👍
Absolutely stunning! I like them natural and clean❣️
Great video. This will help me clean the crystals I got in Arkansas 3 years ago. Met you at Wagner's where we had a great time buying.
Thank you for showing us your methods. Keep up great vids.
Thank you!!
Another amazing video, really is incredible the difference after cleaning!! I'm so happy when I see so many quartz samples,well done my friend!! Thank you for sharing it and see you in your next video!! Good follow up my good friend and always be careful!!
Outstanding Performance ❤
Excellent demonstration.
Thank you SO much for this VERY informative video!! All of my questions got answered perfectly!!
That’s awesome! There is written instructions in the description for a quick reference. If cleaning sandstone clusters, use fresh acid for best results. Thanks for watching!
This is a very useful video. It solved my question. I hope I can find all the ingredients and apply them. Thank you very much.
Such quality information stay safe mate ❤
Love it! Great explanation and follow through on everything!
Thank you!!
Very clear instructions and pathways. Thanks❤
You’re welcome 😊 thank you!!
Perfect video! No fluff, all useful, responsible, and straight to the very informative point. A pleasure!
Amazing, thank you for sharing.
Another great video! Thanks for taking the time and showing us your process. I'll definitely try the "crockpot" method next time.
Thank you! It works great
Thank you so much the advice about surface iridescence!❤🎉
You are so welcome! Those are my favorite
Very thorough and super helpful! Thank you!
My pleasure! Thank you 💚
Dude, most informative video I have seen!Thumbs up much appreciated
Glad it was helpful! I appreciate that!
Thanks for the demonstration of cleaning crystals
My pleasure! I’ll have another follow up video sometime this year. Thanks for watching and commenting!!
Thanks for the info I did iron out on some Arkansas clusters but while it did lighten it still needs another another round of removal and was looking for something with a little bit more power.
Very informative. Thank you. Following.
The sandstone clusters are phenomenal!😁
Thanks for a nice and informative video. Oxalic will really do my crystals justice. Cheers 🥂
this video is so great. thank you for sharing. I've been using oxalic acid but never with heat. Gonna try it!
You have a certain calmness in your eyes THANK YOU SO MUCH
That’s kind of you! Thank you
Great Video with detail from start to finish. Great to watch all stages in one video including two processing methods (Crockpot and Solar). Thank you.
Thank you!
Always natural So beautiful Dragon tears. Thank you for your calm informative and safety concious explanation. Mount ida for life.
All your finds are gorgeous!thank you for all the details I’ve only ever used iron out but it never does them this beautifully
Iron out is Oxalic Acid
@@RagnarRocks Not really. Not PURE oxalic acid.
Always impressed when someone references the MSDS in a KZhead video!
Safety first!!
Thank you so much for this video! Just dug at Ron Coleman last weekend for the first time. I’ve watched your video several times but I never caught what temp the crockpot should be on? I saw it on Hi at one point, and Lo at the end.
Great video! I used your process and my crystals from Twin Creek turned out beautifully! Thank you so much!
Wonderful! My pleasure
Thank you for the useful information you bring to watch and I really like it and I have Subscribed to your video program🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭 from fans page Thailand🇹🇭🇹🇭
Thanks for the well produced video! It was fun to meet you at your store and talk about adventures. When I'm back in Mount Ida I'll stop by again.
Thanks Peter! Looking forward to next time.
Thank you! I visited Ron Coleman mining, and my family and I spent 2 days there. We're going through the cleaning process right now. This video is super helpful. Just got home yesterday. Hi from Northern Kentucky. 👍👍👍
This is so funny, we are going through the cleaning process as I found your comment. We went to the same mine and all. Hi from Southeastern Kentucky!
Great work ! Thanks so much !
We love going to Board Camp Crystal Mine! Love Orville and Cheryl. ❤
I will still have to check that location out.
Love the video so much help thank you
Thank you for this amazing video! We just got back from Arkansas and this helped so much!!! Much love xoxo
That makes me happy!!
Thank you very much for sharing your experience, you are a very nice guy. I took crystals from the Alpes in France. White and brown quartz. I will follow your advice. 🥰🥰
Awesome, thanks for showing this 🙂
Wonderful video. I have watched endless videos trying to get my crystals clean with Iron out only to fail. Your video is just what we needed! Thanks so much 🙌💎 Subscribed
Glad it helped. You are very welcome. I’ll have another follow up video with more tips coming this winter.
Thank you so much for this video. ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Hello Dominik, thanks for the video, though I’ve been cleaning crystals for years now, I’ve learned a couple of things from today video. Thank you. My husband and I were actually at Jim’s one day when you and your friends showed up. It was one of those times we had the field to by ourselves for a while. Even tho I have to deal with the high iron, we really like going Jim’s. Cheaper and closest to home, but you got hit them at the right times. Stay safe
Jim Coleman’s is awesome. It’s all about timing! It was fun digging together! Hope you did well!
Thank you for your knowledge
My pleasure!
Awesome video ! My wife and I dream to take a trip to Arkansas to dig quartz and South Carolina for amethyst some day
I appreciate this video so much!! I took my three young sons two of mine over the summer and we have all these wonderful crystals but I don’t know how to clean them so they’ve just been sitting. I finally started looking up how to clean them and your video has been the best! Can’t wait to try. I love the crockpot idea because I was trying to figure out how they were going to stay in warm water. ❤
Thank you so much! Feel free to message anytime if you have more questions.
I like your voice and your accent. Very soothing.
Thank you so much 🫶
THANKS SO MUCH for this inspiring comprehensive DIY crystal cleaning vid. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 I was particularly IMPRESSED (and Thankful) with the way you addressed SAFETY MEASURES PROTOCOL with regards to the handling of potentially dangerous chemicals. This was my first time visiting your channel and I was "subscribed" BEFORE even completing the vid!!! WISHING you ALL THE BEST OF SUCCESS with all your positive, inspiring, crystal related adventures. 🌈💖🦄
thank you for tutorial, and merci pour la vidéo ^^
Thank you best wishes from australia
I really appreciate your crystal cleaning video. I’ve had problems with my crystals looking cloudy after iron out cleaning. I’ve tried rinsing them after acid and putting them in a baking soda and water solution.
Sometimes it’s the nature of the crystal, but oxalic acid usually doesn’t leave a residue. Try a ultrasonic cleaner also to remove the dullness maybe.
You're awesome!!! Thank you ❤
Hi Dominic quick question about Jim Miller mine. Have they started mining again and dumping tailings? Last year he told me he had stopped 6 months prior. Was there several years ago enjoyed it would love to go again if they are active again.
I live in Texas and the ranch is a s ton of flint. Some of the flint has some kind of crystal in it. They are small but when clean the pieces of flint, some black some brown are beautiful. Would this be ok for the crystal flint?
I am a novice, and only for myself and my wife. Not to your scale. Thank you so much for this, learned so much. I have taken a liking to Jasper, I leave the points for my wife.
Love your easy vibe
Thank you 😊
Thank you so much.. now I can clean my findings from cristal park..Montana..
Wonderful! Glad it was helpful
You found some really nice pieces at Jim's. I was digging out there yesterday and found some good ones, although not nearly as nice as yours. I think I will try the Oxalic Acid method on my next batch. We need to go digging together again sometime soon. Take care my friend.
Looking forward to our next dig brother!
Hey! Thanks for the recommendations. I am trying to clean a ton of quarts with lots of iron deposits. Which had been difficult in the past. I’ve use iron out in the past but I tend to find that I get a yellow residue and is impossible to get out. I’ve found oxalic acid to be my best method. Cheers!
Awesome!! Thank you Oxalic works well even though it can sometimes leave residues also. Phosphoric acid is another good one and may help clean your acid-stained pieces.
Hey man, great video. can you use this acid on rubies, sapphires and emeralds?
I have used it successfully on rubies and sapphires. I am not sure about emeralds.
Nicely done.
Thank you!
Is the runoff from washing the crystals safe for the grass (maybe not) or driveway? I live in the city and trying to figure out where to do this! I have crystals from a trip almost a year ago that I’m finally soaking! Thanks for the video!
Amazing 👏🏼 & Thanks a million for the info. Question can one use Oxalic acid let's say in the cleaning of other colored gemstones that may have rust?
Thank you! Yes I have used it on different types of Quartz, kyanite, rubies, garnets and more. Be sure to test on a small piece first and never use on porous minerals. Also sometimes just a cold and fresh solution is better than hot. Use caution and please do further research, don’t ruin your specimen
Thank you for the detail.......
My pleasure!
Very nice friend
OHH MY MY DUDE YOUR CRYSTALS❤️
Thank you sooo much for this incredibly thorough and easy to follow video on crystal cleaning. I'm a budding crystal shop and have struggled to find clear info on cleaning iron until your video! One question if you don't mind, would this method also help with white/cloudy deposits on the surface of clear quartz & amethyst quartz crystals? I have some beautiful pieces and idk if there is an acid bath that would help or if it's something I would have to polish off 😅. Thank you again for all your help!
Thank you so much! The deposits you are referring to are usually other minerals or etchings that will not be removed by oxalic acid. Even stronger acids will not remove some of these deposits. A polish would be a viable option.
@@CrystalsofArkansas Oh ok, thank you for the reply. Much appreciated!
Excellent video! Was the large black bucket, plastic or metal? Also, love that you’re teaching how to neutralize the OA.
Thank you Melissa! Yes, plastic works best for oxalic acid but I have also used metal utensils with no problem, yet eventually more corrosion.
Ótimo trabalho
Бул.ташты.ким.алатекен.
So does the acid solution have to be hot for it to work or does that just help it work better? Super informative video btw it’s really helpful!!
It speeds up the process but it doesn’t have to be hot necessarily. Points will clean in cold solutions as well but the more iron stains the lesser it works in cold solution
Hey Dominik! Das war mal interessant zu sehen, wie man die so schön klar bekommt! Herzliche Grüße vom Rand der Schwäbischen Alb! Elke
Danke! Ich komme im Mai endlich mal wieder nach Berlin! Zum geburtstag meiner mutter. Ich freu mich darauf!
Saving for my Watch Later so I don't miss it
Yay! Thank you
Thanks you very usefull
I love the smal i make hanger beatyful cristal you have
Wonderful video ✌️🧡😁
Thank you
Love your budget friendly tools, equipment. Maybe cover the bucket with a screen so insects and animals don’t fall in. 😏
Solid video man! 11:39 how many hours on high should you leave it on for? Then how many hours of low? Noticed you started at high then ended on low just wanted to know how many hours for each?
No specific rule, 4-5 on high, 6-8 on low or 8-10 on low is good too
Can I use this cleaning method to clean flourite?
hey man! Ive been going about this for a few 3 days now, had been keeping it indoors to nto much avail, upped the oxalic acid dosage and warmed up the water quite a bit, roughly how long did it take in that time lapse to work?
8 hours
@@CrystalsofArkansas its been 3 months and i had left the acid alone, forgot about it completely, outward spiral crystals have started to form on the base, about 3, and i got a crystal from the upper lip of where the fluid made contact, for some reason its growing upwards, how fragile are these stones as a whole?
Hi my friend me gustan mucho los cristales dime si vendes donde voy para comprar gracias me gustan todos tus videos bye
thanks !!
Hi, will it clean fluorite without any damage?
No
Cool video
Hi again! Finally got my OA and ready to use it. I’m using a gallon bucket and lid. Will I have much success, once the water cools down overnight? The temps here are warm, but only in the mid 70s during the day. This particular piece is probably gonna take roughly a week, based off my friends experience with her crystal cleaning. Is there a way I can heat up my bucket each day so the warmth can do its best work?
Start off with hot solution and just leave it in there, it should do the trick even after it cools down. Otherwise find an old window and create a greenhouse effect over the bucket.
Clean is beatyful
Hi I use to go to Mt Ida and got a lot of crystals about 6 yrs ago, I moved Oregon do you know of any places around In Oregon to go Crystal hunting? I love you video thank you.
There are definitely spots. Sunstone, obsidian, carnelian There are groups on Facebook that may be helpful for localities
Thanks!
Thank you!!! 🙏🫶🥳
Can the acid also be used to clean colored crystals like amethyst? Or will it take the purple color out of the specimen?
Is the colour on the outside only? Are the crystals quartz or citrine?
Clear quartz, color on outside only. Sometime, very rarely the color is trapped inside
Do you have plans for making a cleaning station? I'm looking simple and cost-effective. Just a beginner at crystal mining.
Yes, filmed a video on it a while ago and hope to have it published this fall or winter.
Hey, just wanna ask if carnelian is safe in lemon juice. I have a lovely wire wrapped carnelian pendant and wanna clean the oxidised copper with lemon juice and wanna make sure it won't dissolve the copper
Absolutely safe
I’m so psyched to see this because I’ve got crystals and I’ve got oxalic acid but that’s as far as I’ve gotten.
Heck yeah! All the info you need right here. Enjoy!
@@CrystalsofArkansas It really was perfect! Gotta find an old crock pot and I’m set! Thanks for this video, it was perfect and easy to follow.
Any tips for someone who lives in Canada and it’s cold outside right now? How bad are the fumes? Can i put in a plastic bucket and put a cover or will the presure make it explode?
It is not explosive. If you don’t heat it, fumes should not be too bad.
I have a very large moss agate tower with druzy everywhere. It’s very white stained and yellow stained. I was hoping to get it to sparkle and look less dirty. I’ve seen muriatic acid suggestions and oxalic acid. Worried about harming it. I’ve tried the iron out and although it’s not as dark brown in spots it didn’t seem to do much else. And the whiter coated druzy spots now look even more dull so nothing came off those. Would this work? What do you suggest?
Simply using a a high pressure textile water gun may get rid of some of the white deposits. Using a fresh oxalic solution should be fine especially if you already used iron out. If you can get a hold of phosphoric acid, that could also work.