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Rose Rocks are aggregates of barite (barium sulfate) crystals and sand whose iron content gives them a reddish hue. The barite crystals form a circular array of flat plates, giving the rock a shape similar to a rose blossom. Rose rocks appear either as a single rose-like bloom or as clusters of blooms, with sizes varying from dime-sized to rare clusters two feet or larger in diameter. The rose rock was selected as the official state rock of Oklahoma in 1968. I collected these examples were in Norman and Noble, Oklahoma. Rose Rocks have also been found infrequently in California, Egypt, Jordan, north central Canada (Nunavut). A sandier-colored version also occurs in Asian Georgia. Oklahoma rose rocks were formed during the Permian Period, 250 million years ago, when western and central Oklahoma was covered by a shallow sea. As the sea retreated, barite precipitated out of the water and crystallized around grains of quartz sand. This left behind large formation of reddish sandstone, locally called Garber Sandstone, containing deposits of rose rock. (source: Wikipedia) Photos by Michael Marcotte Return to List Back to Michael's Hobbies page Back to Michael Marcotte's HomePage