Desert Rose

 
is the name given to rosette formations of the minerals gypsum and barite with sand 
inclusions. The 'petals' are crystals flattened , 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.

Desert roses are mineral formations that are found on the surface and are beautiful examples of the 
natural power of the shaping forces of wind, water and pressure in dry, arid regions. These formations 
are also called Sand Roses, Rose Rocks, Selenite Roses, Gypsum Roses, and Barite Roses

Desert roses are crystal-like formations and may produce a rose shape, multiple plates adjoining at 
angles or the formations may look like a cluster of cereal flakes. They can look like flowers that have 
turned to stone. Native American stories told us that these were rocks carved into flowers by our 
ancestors to let us know they were here before us. Desert Roses take on the color of the sand because 
Selenite is a fibrous mineral and fine sand becomes trapped between the fibers as it crystallizes.

Desert roses form out of two minerals. One of those is Barite, which is the heavier of the two. The other 
is a type of Gypsum called Selenite. Selenite is the more fragile of the two. Gypsum (Selenite) roses 
usually have better defined, sharper edges than barite roses.

Desert roses are only found in deserts, which is how they got the name. Gypsum Selenite Desert Roses 
are mostly from the Sahara Middle East Region, Southwest USA and Mexico. The Barite Rose Rocks 
are more abundant in Oklahoma than anywhere else in the world and are the state rock of Oklahoma. 
Once these rock formations reach the surface, they are eroded quickly by the forces of wind and water. 
The quality of the specimen reflects how quickly it was collected. Larger multiple rosette specimens are 
always in demand and draw much higher prices.
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Desert Rose is a name given to specimens of Gypsum, Baryte, Celestine and other minerals that form this particular shape.

Desert Roses usually form in arid conditions (such as deserts, hence the name) when the mineral precipitates from the groundwater, with sandy inclusions giving the distinctive texture.

There are few minerals, other than diamonds, that have been name-checked in pop songs. The Desert Rose is one such mineral. In 1987 U2 released the album “The Joshua Tree”. One song, “In God’s Country”, actually has “Desert Rose” in the opening lines!

Desert Rose is also a name given to both a real and a mythological type of plant. The mythological variety was supposed to act as a love potion if you fed the petals to the object of your desire!
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This listing is for a great piece of barite desert rose rock. 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 ranging from pea sized to four inches (20 cm) in diameter. This is a beautiful specimen piece.

This piece measures about 2.75 inches in diameter.

From Wikipedia

"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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Identification
Formed in arid areas, desert roses are crystal-like in nature and have a rosette shape. They can look like flowers that have turned to stone. They can also appear like breakfast cereal flakes bound together haphazardly. Since the outsides of the stone have bonded with sand, they take on the color of the sand.

Types
Desert roses form out of two minerals. One of those is barite, which is the heavier of the two. The other is a type of gypsum called selenite. Selenite is one of the softer minerals, able to be scratched with something that is as soft as a fingernail. On the Moh's scale of hardness designed for minerals, selenite rates a 2. To put this in perspective, a diamond is a 10 and talc is a 1. Desert roses made of gypsum have more defined edges than those composed of barite.

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Geography
Desert roses are found in areas of the Earth where arid conditions exist, hence the desert part of the name. Countries such as Egypt, Mexico, Libya, and Saudi Arabia produce desert roses, as do New Mexico, Oklahoma and California in the U.S. The barite rose rock has been named the state rock of Oklahoma. Once these rock formations reach the surface, they are eroded quickly by the forces of wind and water unless collected.

Size
The largest single desert rose ever found that was formed from barite measured 17 inches long and 10 inches high. It weighed 125 pounds, but most desert roses are considerably smaller, ranging from a half inch to 4 inches. The selenite desert roses are smaller and lighter than those that formed from barite.

Considerations
Desert roses are collected and sold as decorative ornaments. The barite types can "grow" in clusters, sometimes weighing several hundred pounds. These can come in some odd shapes, resembling animals, hollow logs and bird's nests. Some collectors of desert roses will sell their finds to shops that in turn sell them to the public.Sources : 
http://www.ehow.com/about_4577488_desert-roses.html

http://www.etsy.com/listing/48827361/desert-rose-barite-specimen-geology-rose

http://www.boltonmuseums.org.uk/collections/geology/rocksminerals/desert-rose/

http://www.spiritrockshop.com/Desert_Rose.html