The rust colored angel wings were the only specimens we picked up at that location, and (to answer Bob Brenner's question) the rest of the specimens we found were in a different area and were all fine, with no stains. It is interesting that the "old rusty wreck" just off Cedar Key would cause this and now that I have an explanation I think I'll just enjoy them, as is! Thanks for everyone's suggestions which I will keep in mind for future reference. Bev - Clearwater >From: "Brenner, Bob" <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Conchologists List <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Cleaning Angel Wings >Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2005 09:05:13 -0800 > >I have used oxalic acid to clean rust stains from mineral samples - usually >silicates and oxides. Both of those groups are GENERALLY insoluble in MOST >acids. Usually, calcium carbonate with any acid is not a good combination >for the carbonate, neither calcite nor aragonite. I have found rust to be >nearly impossible to remove since it many times is IN the shell as well as >on it. > >I guess it depends on how you look at it. A taxonomist might feel that the >rust stain is a characteristic of the shells found on Cedar Key and is an >important feature that illustrates the variation within the species and >won't expend much effort, if any, to remove the stain. > >On the other hand, if aesthetics is most important to the collector, one >might not be as concerned with the location as with the appearance. Given >the difficulty of stain removal, one might better expend his time at >another >location. > >Are the shells of other species found there on Cedar Key stained, too? > >-----Original Message----- >From: Bev Dolezal [mailto:[log in to unmask]] >Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 7:53 PM >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Cleaning Angel Wings > >Just got back from a shelling trip to Cedar Key, Florida where a number of >us dug for angel wings. The specimens we brought back seem to have a rust >color on their exteriors and even after days of bleaching (and with >changing the solution each day) none among the 6 collectors can get a pure >white exterior. Any ideas on how to get rid of this rust coloration? >Bev - Clearwater > >_________________________________________________________________ >Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! >http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >[log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs To >leave this list, click on the following web link: >http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1 >Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and click leave the >list. >---------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________ Don’t just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search! http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs To leave this list, click on the following web link: http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1 Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and click leave the list. ----------------------------------------------------------------------