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Cleaning minerals is a complicated process sometimes and each specimen will dictate the technique to be used. But the two most important tools used most often in the process of cleaning specimens are water and usually an ultrasonic cleaner. Water alone can remove many muds, clays, some coatings, loose oxides and just plain dirt, but after the first rinse and possibly even a scrub with a brush, an ultrasonic cleaner will remove even more dirt. Its ability to reach into cracks and crevices no brush can reach and remove the "dirt" on a microscopic level is invaluable. | |  An ultrasonic cleaner is simply a tank for holding a liquid, with a sound generator (transducer) attached to the base of the tank. I'll leave a detailed explanation of how it works for your study. You can find this easily on the web. But simply put, an ultrasonic cleaner uses sound (extreme sound) to do the cleaning. It transmits the sound into the liquid in the tank and the sound causes microscopic bubbles to form in the liquid. The bubbles then collapse, called cavitation (a mini implosion), and the energy released ruptures the dirt from the surface of the rock. An ultrasonic cleaner is not the end-all of all cleaning problems, but many specimens need no further cleaning after a treatment. | 
Animation: Ultrasonic Cleaner Action
This cycle occurs continuously and possibly millions of times per second:
• microscopic bubbles form in the water or fluid used,
• the bubble cavitates, or implodes, and collapses,
• releasing energy into the water,
• and the energy impacting the mineral specimen and loosening the dirt. | | From my experience, you don't really need a huge ultrasonic machine to clean the vast majority of the specimens you collect. I use a small unit most of the time, which only holds 8-12 ounces of water - pint size. Units are available in any size you need, but I doubt many of us would need a unit which holds 1 gallon of water. The smaller units also work faster and remove more dirt. The cheapest way to try ultrasonic cleaning is to purchase such units found in the WalMart type stores. They all offer a unit for cleaning jewelry. These are small machines with a price range of $25-$40. Understand that these are not built to last or to operate with the highest possible power range to be truly effective, but they should still give a decent cleaning. | | To step up to a better machine or to learn more about them, the Internet is priceless for information. Try www.cleanosonic.com for another simplified explanation of the technology. Bransonic is one of the leaders in the manufacturing field, but there are many more. You can even find new and used machines on eBay at decent prices. To be safe though, do not buy a used machine without a confirmed return guarantee (it or the transducer may be worn out). The basics to look for are units with at least 40 mHz of power (on the small machines). Some of the larger units have an adjustable power range, also heaters and degasser controls. You actually don't need the latter two functions. Adjustable power would be needed for extremely delicate crystals/minerals. A heater is actually an enemy of all minerals and mainly used for cleaning non-geological objects, ex: machine parts, equipment, etc. The degasser control is almost useless (more on this later - page 3).
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