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Desert rose
The Desert rose is made of gypsum crystals in connection with sand. The chemical formula is
CaSO4 * 2H2O. The hardness is about 1.5 to 2. Desert roses crystallize, because of the gypsum crystals
in the monoclinical crystal system. There are sulfatic solutions which crystallize near the surface and form these
aggregates
with the desert sand. So it is the structure of the gypsum crystals. The process only takes place in desert areas, so we can
find desert roses in the Sahara and in the Southwest of the USA. There exist little stones and also stones which are several
meters high. The reason of the name is firstly that we find the Desert rose in deserts and the second syllable is because of
the form. Desert roses consist of many wafers which are one in another and which have got a round form. At the each they are
thin and they become thicker in the middle. Desert roses are redbrown, but bright.
|
Data about the Desert rose
| | Chemical formula |
CaSO4 * 2H2O |
|---|
| Mineral class |
sulfates |
|---|
| Crystal system |
monoclinical |
|---|
| Hardness |
1.5 to 2 |
|---|
| Density |
2.3 g/cm3 to 2.4 g/cm3 |
|---|
| Color |
red-brown |
|---|
| Line color |
white |
|---|
| Gloss |
glass gloss |
|---|
| Break |
unevenly |
|---|
| Fissileness |
perfectly |
|---|
Author and Webmaster: Lukas Czarnecki
If you have got questions about desert rose you can send me an e-mail under the following adress:
webmaster@hpwt.de
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Last Update: 03.11.2004