RocksdayDesert Rose vs Selenite
To tell Desert Rose from Selenite: Selenite is clear and bladed, not a sand rosette.
A sand-filled rosette of gypsum or of barite. The petals are flat crystals that grew in loose sand.
Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0
The clear, bladed variety of gypsum. Thin sheets peel off and bend, and a fingernail scratches it.
Photo: Parent Géry, CC BY-SA 3.0
Key differences
- Selenite is clear and bladed, not a sand rosette.
- A desert rose is a sand-filled rosette, not a clear blade.
Side by side
| Property | Desert Rose | Selenite |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 2–3.5 | 2 |
| Luster | Earthy to vitreous | Vitreous to pearly |
| Streak | White | White |
| Colors | Brown, White, Yellow, Orange | Clear, White, Gray, Brown |
| Crystal system | Rosette of gypsum or barite | Monoclinic |
| Specific gravity | — | 2.3 |
| Formula | — | CaSO₄·2H₂O |
| Found in | Sahara, Tunisia and Algeria; Chihuahua, Mexico | Great Salt Plains, Oklahoma; Naica, Mexico |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify desert rose
- Rose or ball of sandy petals.
- Gypsum roses scratch with a fingernail and feel light.
- Barite roses need a knife to scratch and feel heavy.
- Neither fizzes in acid.
Crystal system: Rosette of gypsum or barite
Full Desert Rose guide →How to identify selenite
- Colorless blades or windows you can see through.
- A fingernail scratches it (hardness 2).
- Thin sheets bend and stay bent; they do not spring back like mica.
- Does not fizz in acid and does not taste salty.
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Full Selenite guide →More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between desert rose and selenite?
Desert Rose is a mineral with a Mohs hardness of 2–3.5 and an earthy to vitreous luster, usually brown, white, yellow or orange. Selenite is a mineral (CaSO₄·2H₂O) with a Mohs hardness of 2 and a vitreous to pearly luster, usually colorless, white, gray or brown.
How can you tell desert rose from selenite?
Selenite is clear and bladed, not a sand rosette. A desert rose is a sand-filled rosette, not a clear blade.
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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