[Jewelry making - Article 01187] - Re: [Orchid] Acid polishing Coral?

[MillsGem]

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    All, I can't think of a single good reason to use acid to polish
    Coral or any other calcite gem or ornamental material. It is done in
    foreign factories for the sake of productivity, but I am afraid that
    it is a very dangerous practice which is deleterious to the health
    of the workers. Mexican calcite onyx is usually polished using
    oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is poisonous and cannot be justified as a
    shortcut in polishing inasmuch as polishing nearly always introduces
    microscopic particles and droplets into the atmosphere and it is
    nearly impossible to screen them out. Coral and other calcium
    carbonates can easily be polished on a conventional wheel using Zam
    or similar compounds. Risking ones' health for a few pennies saved is 
    ludicrous ! Ron at Mills Gem, Los Osos, CA.

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