Generally melanterite is known as having a white or green color. Melanterite is also the name of a group of only five monoclinic sulfates of which melanterite is the only somewhat common member. Members of this group have the same basic structure as melanterite, but can have in place of iron, ions of manganese, zinc, cobalt and copper. Color is white, green, yellowish green or blue-green. Luster is vitreous to silky.
Crystals are translucent to slightly transparent.
Crystal Habits include stubby prismatic or blocky to tabular crystals, sometimes as pseudo-octahedrons. Also acicular, fibrous and capillary and found as encrusting, stalactitic and concretionary masses. Cleavage is perfect in one direct but only distinct in another. Fracture is conchoidal. Streak is white.