Barite roses are fascinating rosette-like crystal aggregates of barite that grow within sandy or clay-rich sediments. Collectors prize them for their distinct, flower-like appearance formed by the interlacing of thin, tabular barite blades. They are frequently found in arid regions where the evaporation of barium-rich groundwater allows the minerals to crystallize alongside local sand grains.
Is this barite roses?
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 roses with a known reference. Barite Roses 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. Barite Roses leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Barite Roses typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 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 roses
Minerals reported to co-occur with barite roses. 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
- Typical price
- $5-50 depending on size and definition of the rose petals.
Where rockhounds find barite roses
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Oklahoma, USA
- Mexico
- Tunisia
- Morocco
- Egypt
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary country — that is the host setting where barite roses typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, calcite, gypsum in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals forming radiating rosette-like aggregates habit, so 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.
Common questions
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Find barite roses on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
