Home >> Collecting >> Rock Collecting

How to Remove Calcite From Rocks

Calcite is a mineral composed of calcium carbonate. It is the main component of limestone and can be clear, white, gray, pale yellow or honey brown colored. It sometimes builds up on other rocks and needs to be cleaned off. Calcite can be cleaned off rocks effectively by soaking the rocks in white vinegar followed by a second soaking in ammonia. Rock collectors and gardeners may desire to clean calcite off their rocks to maintain the original appearance of the rock.

Things You'll Need

2 plastic tubs
White vinegar
Water faucet
Ammonia
Toothbrush
Clean rags

Instructions

- 1
  Fill one plastic tub with enough white vinegar to cover the rock you want cleaned. Place the stone into the plastic tub and soak the rock for eight to 12 hours.
- 2
  Remove the rock from the plastic tub and rinse the stone under a water faucet. Make sure that all of the vinegar has been rinsed from the surface of the rock. Rub the rock as you rinse it to help remove any loosened calcite from its surface.
- 3
  Fill the second plastic tub with enough ammonia to cover the rock. Place the rock into the plastic tub. Soak the rock in the ammonia for eight to 12 hours.
- 4
  Remove the rock from the ammonia and rinse it thoroughly under the water faucet. Brush the rock with a toothbrush as you rinse it to remove any remaining calcite from the surface of the rock.
- 5
  Dry off the rock with cloth rags once all of the calcite has been removed.

Rock Collecting