New nuggets come out of the ground dirty. In AZ Gold Basin they can
be covered with a white hard chalky substance or calcite.
Just enough gold showing to let you know its real.
So how do we go about cleaning it?
Here's a simple two step method..
Step 1
This is what I start with a little Lime A-Way in a jar.
Let it soak for a couple hours shaking it every now and then.
The action starts immediately, you will see the dirt coming off.
Step 2
For a brillant shine you might use this step. Pour a small jar or vial half
full of vinegar and then salt.
Put in your nuggets and shake them every now and then. The vinegar
helps give them a brillant shine and the salt acts as a mild abrassive to
clean off any bad or dirty spots. One nugget was to large to go in the
small bottle so a cup had to do.
This is how it should come out all nice and clean!
Another example of dirty just out of the ground nuggets.
Same nuggets cleaned by above methods.