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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. 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. (source: Wikipedia) Photos by Michael Marcotte This is another example of a Desert Rose selenite stone. The amounts of selenite, gypsum, barite, and poilkiloptic sand acn greatly vary the outward appearance of the stone, as evidenced by the two examples above. Return to List Back to Michael's Hobbies page Back to Michael Marcotte's HomePage