9.2" Desert (Selenite) Rose Formation - Sahara Desert

Desert rose is the name given to rose-shaped formations of selenite (a form of gypsum) with sand inclusions. The “petals” of desert roses are flattened selenite crystals, fanning out from the cleavage planes. They form in deserts and similar arid, sandy environments. Sand inclusions from their surroundings give these roses their colors. Native American legends say that they are rocks carved into flowers by their ancestors.