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.
The desert rose may also be known by the names:
- sand rose
- rose rock
- selenite rose
- gypsum rose
- gypsum rosette
- barite rose
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Büdingen, Germany
Famous quotes containing the words desert and/or rose:
“We black men seem the sole oasis of simple faith and reverence in a dusty desert of dollars and smartness.”
—W.E.B. (William Edward Burghardt)
“...the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Exodus 32:6.