2006-10-06 08:52:14 · 4 answers · asked by Mnimaka 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
A desert rose is a mineral formation of barite, selenite, or gypsum. These minerals become impregnated with sand as they are forming and crystalizing and a rosette pattern forms. Some of these formations do highly resemble roses, however, their texture is grainy and rough and not at all smooth. Desert roses are used as specimen stones in display cases for rockhounds and collectors, as party favours, and large specimens can even be used as centerpeices. The most common use of these beautiful stones however is by placing them in potted plants or in the garden especially around roses to increase production and health of the plants.
The selenite rose can be found in places like California, Libya, Mexico, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, just to name a few. They are distinquished from the barite rose with their characteristics - the edges of selenite roses are sharper and the crystalline structure is less hard (on the Mohs scale of hardness) than the barite structure.
I have found a few over the years and have perhaps 8-10 in my possession at this time.
2006-10-06 09:09:51 · answer #1 · answered by h2odog 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Desert roses are a crystalyzed form of sand. They are called roses because of the shapes that they take. Check the link below for a picture. And if you want to find them, you gotta go to the desert and dig around. Preferably somewhere there used to be water. **** Luck!
2006-10-06 09:01:05 · answer #2 · answered by krodgibami 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Desert rose is the colloquial name given to rosette formations of the minerals gypsum and barite with sand inclusions
2006-10-06 09:00:27 · answer #3 · answered by Guv`nor 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Search under "rose rocks"
2006-10-06 10:58:25 · answer #4 · answered by Catspaw 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋