August Sandrose (gypsum)

In the context of our current special exhibition “Blühende Minerale” a sand rose may not be missing in the category mineral of the month. Therefore, the mineral of the month August is this beautiful small sand rose. Of course, this is not a petrified rose. It is only the rose form, which gives the name. Mineralogically it concerns in this case gypsum. These sand roses are formed in hot and dry desert areas. The special climatic conditions ensure that groundwater is brought to the surface by capillary forces. The content for the mineral gypsum are dissolved in this water. Due to evaporation and supersaturation of the solution, gypsum crystallizes in these characteristic leaf-shaped structures. The most famous sand roses are found in North Africa. In our exhibition you can see and even touch several large sand roses. So feel free to come by again sometime!

Ca[SO₄]·2H₂O 0

Locality: Nefta, Tunesia

Size: 5x7x4 cm (HxLxW)

Weight: 100 g

Foto: Fabio Joseph, Mineralogical State Collection Munich