Special Handling

Some crystals require a little more special attention, because they have toxic properties, are water soluble, lose color when left in the sun, or more. Make sure you learn about any special handling that your new crystals might require. The lists below are not exhaustive, but will give you a good start.

AVOID WATER​

A good rule of thumb is not to submerge crystals with a MOH hardness level of 5 or less, and MOH hardness of 7 or less for salt water baths. Additionally, if you plan on submerging a crystal for a long period of time, make sure it doesn’t contain iron, because it can cause them to oxidize/rust.

If you are unsure about the hardness of a crystal, use another method for clearing your crystal.

  • Amber – loses luster, can shatter with extreme temperatures
  • Angelite – dissolves
  • Azurite – breaks apart
  • Calcite (Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow, etc) – dissolves
  • Carnelian – salt water causes fractures
  • Chalcanthite – dissolves
  • Desert Rose – dissolves
  • Dioptase – cleaves
  • Galena – rusts
  • Gypsum – dissolves
  • Halite – dissolves
  • Hanksite – dissolves
  • Hematite – rusts
  • Himalayan Salt (salt lamps)
  • Imperial Topa
  • Kyanite – breaks apart, can shatter with extreme temperatures
  • Kunzite- can shatter with extreme temperatures
  • Labradorite – dissolves
  • Lapis Lazuli – porous, do not soak, dry after cleansing
  • Lepidolite – flakes apart
  • Lodestone – rusts
  • Lopezite – dissolves
  • Magnetite – rusts
  • Malachite – can break in hot water
  • Mica – flakes apart
  • Moldavite – can break in hot water
  • Moonstone – dissolves
  • Muscovite – flakes apart
  • Obsidian – can shatter with extreme temperatures
  • Opal (Fire, Chocolate, Welo, etc) – cracks/breaks
  • Pruskite – dissolves
  • Pyrite – combined with water, produces sulfuric acid
  • Optical Calcite – dissolves
  • Selenite – dissolves
  • Turquoise – fades
  • Tschermigite – dissolves
  • Ulexite / Optical Selenite / TV Stone – dissolves
  • Villiaumite – dissolves
  • Any raw or rough stone

PHOTOSENSITIVE: KEEP OUT OF SUN

​Some crystals lose luster or the color will fade in the sun, release toxic fumes when hot, or even dissolve in sunlight. Keep theses crystals out of direct sunlight.

  • Amber – can shatter when hot
  • Amethyst – loses color
  • Arsenopyrite – releases arsenic as heated
  • Calcite – loses color
  • Chalcanthite – dissolves
  • Fluorite – loses color
  • Opal – can shatter when hot
  • Orpiment – crumbles when exposed to light, releases deadly arsenic
  • Rose Quartz – loses color
  • Vanadinite – fades

EASILY SCRATCHED

Consult the MOH’s Hardness Scale.

Any mineral below the hardness of 5 is easily scratched by Quartz.

  • Celestite
  • Chrysocolla
  • Fluorite
  • Malachite