mineral

Desert Rose (Baryte/Gypsum)

Barium sulfate (BaSO4) or Hydrated calcium sulfate (CaSO4·2H2O)

Hardness: 2.0 (Gypsum) to 3.5 (Baryte). Color: Sand-blasted brown, tan, or grey. Luster: Vitreous to pearly but often dull/sandy. Crystal structure: Orthorhombic or Monoclinic.

Hardness: 2
Color: Sand-blasted brown, tan, or grey
Luster: Vitreous to pearly but often dull/sandy

Identified June 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 2.0 (Gypsum) to 3.5 (Baryte). Color: Sand-blasted brown, tan, or grey. Luster: Vitreous to pearly but often dull/sandy. Crystal structure: Orthorhombic or Monoclinic.

Formation & geological history

Formed in arid sandy conditions through the evaporation of mineral-rich groundwater, where crystals grow in a circular, plate-like pattern incorporating sand grains. Common in the Holocene-Pleistocene epochs.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as decorative specimens for mineral collectors, metaphysical practices, and occasionally in lapidary work.

Geological facts

The 'petals' are actually crystals of baryte or gypsum that have trapped wind-blown sand as they grew. Oklahoma’s official state rock is a baryte desert rose.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its unique 'rosette' shape resembling a blooming flower. Commonly found in deserts like the Sahara, the Gobi, and arid regions of Oklahoma and Mexico.

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