DSS-Ch.03.01 — Mineral Deposits (removable)

Mineral deposits (removable) are bonded surface residues from hard water, irrigation overspray, construction rinse, or marine aerosol that sit on the glass and do not produce subsurface attack when promptly addressed. After a proper Non-Invasive Reveal (neutral pH/distilled water + lint-free microfiber) deposits may partially or fully clear; stubborn bonded residue may remain but, when fully removed without altering glass, no etched micro-texture is present. Classification here is appearance-only (method-agnostic). Inspect under VIS lighting/geometry and record surface numbering and worked-surface status on Forms:

• Spot constellations, rings/halos, or sheet-like films following spray/run patterns, sills, and mullions.
• Whitish/opaque or crystalline look at the densest spots; no modeled micro-texture after complete removal.
• Common at irrigation lines, spandrels below roof edges, kitchen/service elevations, and marine/coastal exposures.

Surface-catch class (MSRT)

• Before removal, MSRT may feel gritty/proud residue (do not use MSRT across crystalline nodules).
• After Non-Invasive Reveal and careful residue lift, a true deposit-only case will read SC-0 (no relief) on the glass substrate.
• Use one light, non-marring pass only to confirm substrate relief status after residues are lifted at a small test area; polymer stylus if a coating is suspected. MSRT supports classification only.

Visual signature

• Discrete spots with ring halos and run trains; may show crystalline sparkle at steep oblique before removal.
• When fully removed, no residual modeled micro-texture/frost remains on glass.

Viewing / lighting

• Evaluate clean & dry at 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal incidence and oblique sweep (~60°-120°) with raking light. Use raking after a controlled reveal test to confirm substrate is free of micro-texture.

Location / access

• Record pane ID and surface numbering (#1-#4; laminate-internal). If fixed parallax indicates between-pane contamination (e.g., IGU deposit), classify CAT-5 by location (out of in-place scope).

Mechanism cue (context)

• Irrigation overspray, leaky sills/weep paths, HVAC plume drift, kitchen/food-service aerosols, coastal salt (with inland dust) that dry to mineral films.

Assign CAT by appearance under VIS geometry after reveal testing of a small, representative area. If, once residues are removed, the substrate reads SC-0, classify within CAT-1. If etch is present (SC-class > 0 with modeled micro-texture), use Ch.03.02 (staining, non-etch) or Ch.03.03 (etching) as appropriate.

• CAT-1 (Benign / non-relief): Deposit only; after removal the substrate is SC-0 with no micro-texture; visibility at acceptance distances falls away when clean/dry. Indicative substrate relief: 0-10 μm (optical only).
• Reclassify when:
• Shadow persists after full removal but reads SC-0 → consider Ch.03.02 Mineral staining (non-etch).
• Modeled micro-texture remains with SC-1/SC-2 → classify Ch.03.03 Mineral etching (CAT-2/3/4 by cues).
• Between-pane → CAT-5 by location.

CAT is appearance-based; acceptance is separate under VIS-A at 12/36/72 in. Do not abrade to “force” removal during classification.

• vs. Mineral staining (Ch.03.02): Staining leaves a cleaning-resistant tone shift but SC-0; deposits remove fully with no shadow.
• vs. Mineral etching (Ch.03.03): Etch shows modeled micro-texture and SC-1/SC-2 after thorough removal.
• vs. Alkaline/acid etch (Ch.01/.02): Chemical etch presents flow-organized films and SC-class > 0 on the substrate after residue removal.
• vs. Hot-particle pepper (Th.01.xx): Pepper shows discrete fused nodules/pits and bright pit rims; deposits lack fused bodies.
• vs. Coating anomalies (Co-family): Coating rub/patchiness persists as sheen/color shift while substrate may read SC-0; if on a worked coated face, such anomalies are not permitted at acceptance (VIS §6.2.e).

• Photo set (VIS): 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal + oblique; capture pre-reveal overall and post-reveal test patch showing substrate condition; include raking macros verifying SC-0 after deposit removal. Record distance/angle in-frame.
• MSRT result (substrate only): After lifting a small representative deposit without abrasion, record SC-class (expect SC-0 for deposit-only). Do not stylus across crystalline nodules.
• Forms: Pane ID; product family & surface numbering; worked surface Y/N; functional coating present on worked surface? (Y/N/Unknown); reveal status; lighting/time; geometry checklist; photos attached.
• Acceptance split: Post-restoration acceptance per VIS-A §6 at 12/36/72 in; classification ≠ acceptance. Coated-face rules apply per VIS §6.2.e.

• Ch.03.01 Mineral Deposits (removable) - Bonded surface deposits on surface #___; post-reveal test shows substrate SC-0 with no modeled micro-texture; visible at [12/36/72 in] pre-reveal only. Morphology: spot/ring/sheet film; no fused nodules or chip-flank sparkle. Classification: CAT-1 (deposit only). Reclassify to Ch.03.02 (staining) if tone shadow persists with SC-0, or Ch.03.03 (etch) if SC-class > 0 remains. CAT-5 if between-pane. Forms + photo set attached; acceptance per VIS-A §6.