Is It Possible To Polish Mineral Crystals? This is one that comes under the heading of repair, it can be indeed polished but how well depends on how damaged. And here is a breakdown through different pathways :
DPA. Photo-Absorption Dendritic ConatminationTechniques polishing Mining Crystals.
It is possible to polish a mineral crystal — especially if we are dealing with minimal dings or scratches. This process normally involves the use of specific products such as Polywatch or diamond paste. They will help the surface to a certain extent, but require finesse and time. For example, buffing the scratched area with a flat tool while keeping pressure at particular angles for effective removal of imperfections 23 using diamond paste applies.
But, be aware that although polishing might remove some surface scratches and help them look a bit better, it will not work on deep gouges of chips. In those cases, it may not be possible to maintain the crystalline physical structure ofa crystal and replacement more practicable.
Limitations of Polishing
As with any gemstone, however, there are limits as to how well you can polish mineral crystals. When a crystal is left to be scratched or chipped, it may not polish back to its original luster and/or durability. These are the cases where a replacement is required. To avoid compromising function and aesthetics, for example, professionals often recommend restoring severely damaged crystals 14.
Additionally, the day comes when polishing can actually damage a surface if not done properly.mineral crystal repair (ad) The risk of scratching more or changing the shape is also present, especially in case dome crystal 6
When Replacement is Necessary
If the scratch is deep enough or has left a chip in your tooth, replacing it may be necessary. On top of keeping the water resistance and general integrity 5, this makes sure that although perfectly keeps value. A sapphire version is also popular to replace mineral crystal since it is significantly harder and more scratch-resistant, being an upgrade that improves the functionality as well as appearance of 14.
To sum it all up mineral crystals can be polished but will require a lot of time and may not provide the best finish when replaced so its better to replace instead.