Storing Your Stones and Minerals
Creating the right environment for our collections is a crucial step. It determines how often they need to be cleaned (if at all), whether they will maintain their physical characteristics, and whether they are safe for us to handle.
The extent of storage care we need to exercise depends on the stones themselves. For instance, polished amethyst carvings require less specific storage specifications than cinnabar specimens. Let's go over proper storage methods for various pieces.
Least extensive storage method:
It is best for polished shapes and carvings, such as spheres, palm stones, flames, skulls, and animal carvings. It is also suitable for anything in the quartz/amethyst family.
Stones may be stored on regular surfaces like shelves, mantles, and ledges.
Some may also be stored outdoors! (Note: Ensure your stones are sun-safe before placing them outside or on windowsills. See the "Stones in the Sun" section below for details.)
Curio cabinets are a great option to reduce the necessity of frequent cleaning. They minimize interaction with the overall room's airflow, which means they also reduce dust accumulation.
Take care that your storage surface is stable and out of the way to prevent damage to the stone or harm to a person or pet.
Always wash your hands after handling crystals and stones. Never ingest or inhale them.
Medium extensive storage method:
This method is best for most raw specimens (except potentially hazardous materials). Research each mineral type to determine whether it is potentially dangerous.
It may be stored in sturdy boxes or trays, cabinets made for geological specimens, or organized drawers that slide shut. Keeping specimens organized and apart from each other prevents cross-contamination between different minerals.
Storage materials should be inert (like stainless steel, wood, or plastic) so specimens are not exposed to material failure or harmful byproducts.
Storage containers should be sealed as well as possible. This helps maintain specimens' physical characteristics and keeps us safe as collectors by preventing mineral dust from entering the air.
Label specimens. It's essential to know precisely which mineral we are handling!
Always wash your hands after handling raw minerals. Never ingest or inhale them.
Pervasive storage method:
Best for potentially hazardous minerals like asbestos or cinnabar.
It should be stored in polyethylene self-sealing bags. Minerals like these should never be left in the open air.
Label specimens. Again, we need to know precisely which mineral we are dealing with!
Research your mineral type before acquiring it! Some specimens will require precise storage methods. For instance, cinnabar specimens should be stored in a vapor barrier envelope to mitigate mercury vapor emission.
Always wear a toxic dust respirator, gloves, and safety goggles when handling potentially hazardous minerals. Wash hands after handling them. Never ingest or inhale them.
Regardless of which storage method you use, be aware of pyrite decay! This phenomenon comes from high humidity (over 60% RH). Pyrite decay occurs when the iron pyrite in some mineral specimens reacts with water and oxygen in the atmosphere to convert to iron sulfate. This reaction will typically cause the specimen to crack into pieces and fall apart. It will also produce a distinct sulfur smell. To prevent pyrite decay, specimens containing iron pyrite should be stored in as dry an environment as possible.
Speaking of wet vs. dry conditions...
Cleaning Stones: Water or No Water?
There are multiple reasons why a collector would wish to clean their stones. One reason is to keep the pieces in good physical condition so that scientific observations about their properties are more accurate. Another reason is to ensure that the stones remain beautiful and eye-catching. Yet another reason is that some people use crystals and stones for spiritual purposes, and they believe cleaning practices help maintain stones' metaphysical effectiveness. Whatever the reason, most crystal enthusiasts eventually become interested in cleaning their stones. Their first question is often this: Can I use water?
Generally, only stones with a rating of 6 or above on the Mohs hardness scale should be water-cleansed. However, a high Mohs rating shouldn’t be the only determining factor for water cleanses since some more complex crystals have other features or inclusions that mean they can’t get wet (such as copper or iron ore).
Here are some stones that are perfectly safe with water:
Agate
Obsidian
Rose Quartz
Smoky Quartz
Clear Quartz
Amethyst
Jasper
Aventurine
Tiger’s Eye
Citrine
Carnelian (freshwater only!)
Opal
Here are some stones that shouldn’t get wet:
Labradorite
Fluorite
Azurite
Kyanite
Selenite
Apatite
Calcite
Lepidolite
Aquamarine
Hematite
Kunzite
Black Tourmaline
Pyrite
Moonstone
Lapis lazuli
Turquoise
Amazonite
Angelite
Malachite
Here are a few methods for cleaning water-safe stones:
Use a spray bottle to moisten your stone, then wipe clean with a cloth or paper towel. This method is best if your stone is just a little dusty.
Run under a tap and scrub with dish soap. Regular sponges, dishcloths, and even toothbrushes work well for this method.
Soak in soapy water for 24 hours, then rinse. Scrub if needed. This method especially helps loosen any caked-on dirt that has accumulated.
Acetone (found in nail polish remover) is the best method for anything that does not come off with water—but be careful! It may erode stone treatments, making smooth surfaces rough in some cases (especially if using 100% acetone).
How should we clean stones that cannot get wet? There are multiple methods to do this safely:
Soft cloth dusting. Use a soft cloth to dust your stones. This method works best for smooth stones without vugs or druze.
Soft-bristled brush. Dust your stones with a small soft-bristled brush. This method is suitable for druzy or vuggy stones. Makeup brushes work incredibly well!
Compressed air can. Use a can of compressed air to blow dirt and dust away.
Dry toothbrush. Use a dry toothbrush to scrub away grime for a deeper clean, then wipe off the residue with a cloth.
Dental pick (use with caution!). This method is suitable for removing caked-on chunks of dirt. Be extremely cautious when using this method on soft stones under a six on the Mohs hardness scale, or you might scratch your piece.
Of course, you can also use any no-water method for your water-safe stones!
We must understand which stones can be cleansed with water and which cannot. If you are wondering about the water safety of a stone that isn't listed here, please get in touch with us at rockcollagejjpbey@gmail.com
Stones in the Sun
Why are some people interested in placing their stones in direct sunlight? Just like with water cleansing, there are multiple reasons. Some people wish to showcase their pieces on windowsills. Some people enjoy decorating their yards or gardens with stones. Still others believe in stones' metaphysical properties and use the sun for charging. But no matter why you wish to expose your piece to sunlight, it is best to know whether doing so is safe (for you and the stone!).
First, everyone should be aware that quartz spheres should never be placed in sunlight because they act precisely like magnifying glasses and can start a fire in seconds. Other stones, like amethyst, fluorite, and many more, will merely experience a color fade. Some rocks, like blue calcite, will become brittle due to sun exposure.
Here is a list of stones that are fine in sunlight:
Rose quartz
Obsidian
Carnelian
Labradorite
Selenite (for under 4 hours)
Tiger’s eye
Amazonite
Hematite
Angelite
Howlite
Red Jasper
Pyrite
Lapis Lazuli
Moss agate
Black onyx
Malachite
Sunstone
Tourmaline
Here is a list of stones that shouldn’t be exposed to sunlight:
Clear quartz (danger of fire, will start to crack)
Amethyst (color will fade)
Green aventurine (color will fade)
Smoky quartz (color will change)
Blue calcite (color will fade, stone will grow brittle)
Fluorite (color will fade)
Citrine (color will fade)
Aquamarine (color will fade)
Kunzite (color will fade)
Opal (color will fade)
Turquoise (color will fade)
Unakite (color will fade)
We want to maximize our stones' physical potential. Some rocks are happy in the sunlight, and some prefer to remain in the shadows.
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