mineral

Desert Rose (Baryte or Selenite variant)

Barium Sulfate (BaSO4) or Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) with Sand inclusions

Hardness: 2 (if gypsum) to 3.5 (if baryte). Color: Sandy brown, tan, or reddish-brown. Luster: Dull/Earthy due to sand. Crystal Structure: Orthorhombic (baryte) or Monoclinic (selenite) forming radiating bladed 'petals'.

Hardness: 2 (if gypsum) to 3
Color: Sandy brown, tan, or reddish-brown
Luster: Dull/Earthy due to sand

Identified March 21, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in arid, sandy conditions where groundwater evaporates, causing sulfate minerals to crystallize in a circular, bladed pattern trapped within sand grains. Typically formed in the Pleistocene or Holocene epochs.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a mineral specimen for collectors, decorative purposes, and in metaphysical rock shops. Not used in heavy industry due to its sand content.

Geological facts

Famous for resembling a blooming rose petal, these are essentially 'fossils' of mineral-enriched water evaporation from ancient lakebeds or desert basins.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its unique petal-like radiating crystal structure and sandy texture. Commonly found in the Sahara Desert, Saudi Arabia, and Oklahoma (where 'Rose Rock' is the state rock).

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