A barite rose is a rosette-like crystal aggregate of barite that grows within sandy or clay-rich sediment. Its flower-like form comes from interlacing thin, tabular barite blades. It occurs in arid regions where evaporating barium-rich groundwater allows the mineral to crystallize around local sand grains.
Is this barite rose?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch barite rose with a known reference. Barite Rose sits at Mohs 3-3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, reddish-brown, tan, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals forming radiating rosette-like aggregates.
Often found alongside barite rose
Minerals reported to co-occur with barite rose. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- BaSO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 4.5 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals forming radiating rosette-like aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect basal
- Fluorescence
- Sometimes fluorescent under UV
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Decorative
- Host rock
- sedimentary
Where rockhounds find barite rose
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Oklahoma, USA
- Mexico
- Tunisia
- Morocco
- Egypt
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: sedimentary. If you start seeing quartz, calcite, gypsum in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals forming radiating rosette-like aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Kansas. Start trip planning there.
More barite rose photos
Common questions
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Find barite rose on the map
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