Crater of Diamonds State Park offers tips on how to clean and polish your found diamond

Many park visitors enjoy cleaning and displaying their crater stones and minerals at home. One of the most popular methods of cleaning and polishing stones is tumble polishing.
Crater of Diamonds State Park has information on polishing stones and minerals and what to look for when polishing.
Tumbling requires a stone tumble, a machine that uses repeated impact and friction to smooth and polish rock and minerals. There are different drum sizes, but most have a sealed barrel that is rotated by a motor throughout the drumming process.
The stones you drop should be free of voids and cracks and have a smooth texture.
In tumbling, hardness determines how long it takes to turn a type of rock or mineral.
Stones of similar hardness should be rolled up. Use the Mohs hardness scale to determine the hardness of minerals relative to other objects. Use a nail file or pocket knife to test the stones before flipping them. Another helpful tip is to look for stones with unique patterns or colors. Tumbling can further bring out the hidden beauty of these stones.
The tumbling process can be broken down into at least four stages, including three polishing stages and a final polishing stage. Start by tumble-drying the stones, water and an abrasive grit according to the tumble dryer instructions and tumble dry 24 hours a day. The grit is usually synthetic silicon carbide, available in at least three sizes.
Check the stones every few days to monitor their progress and avoid heat build-up in the dryer.
After the stones have fallen for about a week, clean them thoroughly with the bin. A popular method is to wash the stones several times with a sieve. Always clean your stones outdoors; Never wash sand that falls into the pipes as it will solidify like concrete and clog the pipes.
Inspect your stones carefully after cleaning. If you notice they are still rough, flip them over with a new grit of the same size before switching to a finer one.
Once your stones are perfectly smooth, it's time to polish them. There are different types of polishes that you can use. The most common is aluminum oxide. Put lapping compound and water in the barrel with your stones and spin it for about a week.
If your stones appear blurry after polishing, one trick is to use an unscented ivory soap bar. Rub the ivory soap into the barrel with the stones and water and swirl for about 30 minutes to reveal the glossy finish.
For more information, visit www.CraterofDiamondsStatePark.com , call 870-285-3113 or email CraterofDiamonds@arkansas.com .

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