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Remove Salt Crystals After Acid Prep


LiamL

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I've dipped a fossil piece into diluted acetic acid and removed it after an hour.  It's currently sat in water, but's in the short time it' been in there it's developed lots of salt crystals on the surface.

How should I remove these? Wait until it dries and use Acetone?

Thanks.

Yorkshire Coast Fossil Hunter

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4 hours ago, LiamL said:

I've dipped a fossil piece into diluted acetic acid and removed it after an hour.  It's currently sat in water, but's in the short time it' been in there it's developed lots of salt crystals on the surface.

How should I remove these? Wait until it dries and use Acetone?

Thanks.


Continue with longer soaking in water. Change water a few times. If you were dissolving calcium carbonate you created water soluble calcium acetate. 

Edited by DPS Ammonite
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Acetone will not dissolve salt crystals. Leave it in water for a longer time. 

Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes (Confucius, 551 BC - 479 BC).

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fully submerge any fossils in water as any part above the water line will have crystals form

 

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