Desert rose (crystal)

  Desert rose is the colloquial name given to rosette formations of the minerals gypsum and barite with poikilotopic sand inclusions. The 'petals' are crystals flattened on the c crystallographic axis, fanning open along characteristic gypsum cleavage planes. (See also: Crystallography)

Additional recommended knowledge

How to quickly check pipettes?

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Daily Visual Balance Check

The rosette crystal habit tends to occur when the crystals form in arid sandy conditions, such as the evaporation of a shallow salt basin. Gypsum roses usually have better defined, sharper edges than barite roses.

The desert rose may also be known by the names:

• sand rose
• rose rock
• selenite rose
• gypsum rose
• gypsum rosette
• barite rose

Pictures of desert roses from Büdingen, Hesse, Germany