Cleaning Aquamarine

The Aquamarine Restoration Lab

Advanced diagnostic and procedural guide for iron oxide removal. Specializing in Reductive Cleaning (Iron Out/Waller’s) vs. Acid Etching.

Specimen Diagnostics

Analyze the physical state of your specimen to generate a safe treatment plan. Not all Aquamarine can survive acid.

Surface Oxidation Light orange/brown film on crystal faces. No depth.

Deep Fractures / Growth Tubes Staining inside the crystal. High risk of “yellowing” if not leached.

Sensitive Matrix Associated Feldspar, Mica, or Fluorite. Acid sensitive.

Prescribed Treatment

Awaiting Input…

Select conditions on the left to calculate the safest chemical approach.

RISK: LOW

Formulation Bench

Choose your method: Retail Convenience vs. Professional DIY.

The Museum Standard

Waller’s Solution Recipe

This formula uses Sodium Citrate as a chelating buffer, preventing the Dithionite from decomposing too quickly and keeping the pH neutral (7.0). This protects fragile matrix minerals like Calcite or Fluorite that acids would destroy.

20g

Sodium Dithionite

The Active Agent

40g

Sodium Citrate

The Buffer

20g

Sodium Bicarbonate

The Neutralizer

Mixing Instructions: Dissolve Sodium Citrate and Bicarbonate in 1 Liter of RO Water first. Add Sodium Dithionite last. Use immediately (solution degrades in 12-24 hours).

Restoration Protocol

The 3-stage lifecycle of safe cleaning. Skipping “Leaching” causes long-term damage.

Hydration (Pre-Soak)

Duration: 4-24 Hours

Submerge specimen in pure Reverse Osmosis (RO) water. This fills deep fractures and growth tubes with clean water, slowing the penetration of chemicals. This prevents “shock” and makes it easier to rinse chemicals out later.

The Active Bath

Duration: 2 Hours – 2 Days

Apply your chosen agent (Waller’s or Iron Out).

Use a plastic container.
Monitor color: Clear/Blue liquid turning gray/brown means iron is being removed.
Safety: Do this outside. Sulfur smell is strong.

Leaching & Neutralizing

CRITICAL STEP

Neutralize: Soak in Water + Baking Soda for 1 hour to kill any acid reaction.

Leach: Soak in fresh RO Water for 3-5 days, changing water daily. This pulls iron salts out of the cracks. If you skip this, the crystal will turn yellow in 6 months.